Both Montclair and Montclair Kimberley Academy football teams broke out in a big way last weekend.
The Mounties had a big test at St. Peter's Prep and passed for the first hurdle of a season that Montclair hopes will lead to the Group 4 North 1 state title at the now MetLife Stadium.
Montclair held on in the end as the Mounties defeated St. Peter's Prep, 43-41, at Rutgers University in Piscataway. Montclair quarterback Khalif Herbin continued his all-state play as he collected five touchdowns, four on the ground, and one via a kickoff return in the third quarter. Overall Herbin started where he left off last season and registered 391 in total yards on the night. The senior was 6-for-9 for 82 yards in the air, 202 yards on the ground and 107 yards in kickoff returns.
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Senior running back Stephaun Marshall scored the other Montclair touchdown with a 10-yard run in the third quarter.
And Montclair Kimberley also got off on a flying start with a 70-6 victory over Morristown Beard at home on Saturday at Van Brunt Field.
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From the start, the Cougars took advantage of a school that is back to varsity play after taking a year off.
In his last season, quarterback Gabe DiMasi threw for 171 yards and three touchdowns while the trio of Joe Amato, Matthew Gregory, and Max Herrmann ran across the goal line twice each. In addition, Naaman Jackson, Mike Sasso, and Power Lawrence added a touchdown each for the MKA onslaught.
Montclair travels to West Orange on Saturday and Montclair Kimberley hosts Emily Fisher Charter School of Trenton in an independent game, also on Saturday.
Soccer
In a battle of the two teams in last year's Essex County Tournament final, Montclair girls soccer team notched a 0-0 tie at Livingston on Monday.
The Lady Mounties got the better of the play but could not put a shot behind Livingston's goal keeper Samantha Rothenberger who made eight saves on the day. Sophia Lattanzio also had her day for Montclair in goal and got the shutout.
Montclair opened the season at 1-0-1 with a 3-0 victory over Millburn in the season opener last Friday.
The luck might be changing for the Montclair boys team. The Mounties (1-1) defeated Livingston, 2-1, on Monday in a battle of the Super Essex Conference American division. Last season the Mounties were knocked out of the state playoffs by Livingston. The difference was an own goal in favor of Montclair in the second half for a 2-0 lead. Livingston scored later to cut it to 2-1, but held on in the end. Andrew Lombard scored in the first half to take a 1-0 lead. Alex Patel assisted on Lombard's goal.
Montclair Kimberley's boys team raised its record to 2-0 after defeating Glen Ridge, 2-0, on Monday in Montclair. Cougars goalie continued his mastery over the Ridgers as MKA was undefeated last season against Glen Ridge. Lane also converted a penalty kick and Kieffer Hessler added a score to help the Cougars.
On the girls side Montclair Kimberley tied Mount St. Dominic, 2-2, in the season opener. The Lady Cougars were 0-1-1 after losing 3-1 to West Orange on Monday.
In the draw with the Mount, MKA's Kim Kirnan scored two goals in the game including one in the second half to help the Lady Cougars grab a draw in the battle. Fiona Smallman scored in the loss to West Orange.
Top game outside of Football and Soccer
In the battle of the two schools, Montclair's field hockey team defeated Montclair Kimberley, 5-2, on Tuesday. The Lady Mounties pulled away in the second half with three goals. The Mounties raised its record to 2-0 while the Lady Cougars dropped to 0-2 in the early going. Montclair's Heather Hammerling and Jessie Kent-Cutillo notched a pair of goals each while Kent-Cutillo added an assist. Jasmine Cole and Diana Arena scored a goal each for MKA.
Player of the Week
While Herbin gets all the headlines, Montclair head coach John Fiero believes that it was junior kicker Taylor Ullrich that won it for the Mounties. Ullrich was a perfect 5-for-5 in point-after attempts, but a couple kicks were not of the usual chip shot kind. Because of penalties after the touchdowns, Ulrich hit two extra points that were between 35 and 38 yards out including one after a 62-yard run. Ullrich's point after gave the Mounties a 43-34 lead with two minutes remaining that forced St. Peter's to have to score twice to beat Montclair.
Quote of the Week
“I thought we could play better, but I am happy with the outcome against a very good team," said Montclair head football coach John Fiore about the 43-41 win over St. Peter’s Prep in the 2011 opener on Friday.
