Two-Point Conversion in Final Seconds Lifts Montville

In a rare twist, Montville Township High School football coach Gerry Gallagher received some advice from his players toward the end of Thursday's game against Vernon.

The Mustangs had just scored on senior Brian Keane's 6-yard, left-side scamper and trailed the Vikings 27-26 with 19.1 seconds left.

"The team talked me into going for the two-point," Gallagher said after Keane ran in the conversion for a 28-27 win in Montville's 2010 home-opener at Mustang Field. "They were emphatic about going for it. They believed in themselves."

The Mustangs led 20-12 at halftime and seemed to be in control of the game. A sloppy third quarter saw Montville turn the ball over three times, two of which led to Vernon touchdowns, and suddenly the home team was down by seven entering the final 12 minutes.

Montville started its winning driving on its own 10 with less than five minutes remaining. A 16-yard run on second-and-three by senior running back Brandon Barnes and a 17-yard pass from quarterback Jordan Gajdos to receiver Vinny Delle Fave put the ball at midfield.

Gajdos , a senior, then hit Matt Kelly for 16 yards and, after a pass interference penalty against Vernon, found Peter Tollis open for a 15-yard gain, putting the ball at the Vikings' 6-yard line. Keane ran it in from there.

"We didn't want to lose this one, especially after leading at the half," Gajdos said. "That quarter was bad, but we stuck together and never gave up."

In fact, Gallagher called the third quarter "the worst in Montville football history."

Montville fumbled the ball away on its opening driving and then was called or a roughing the kicker penalty that led to Vernon's first score of the second half and cut the Mustangs' lead to 20-19.

The Mustangs'  fumbled again on its next possession and, again, Vernon scored to take a 27-20 lead. Next, Gajdos was intercepted, but the Vikings failed to capitalize.

"We just came out flat in the second half," Keane said. "Things got pretty bleak."

Montville (2-0) scored three times in the first half on a 7-yard run by Matthew Kelly and runs of 1 and 3 yards by Gajdos.

"Our goal every week is to go 1-0," Gallagher said. "Now we have to get ready for Morris Hills [at home next Friday at 7 p.m.] They have some pretty big weapons."

Defensively, Gallagher praised senior lineman Taylor Bernstein.

"He had some big stops all game," Gallagher said. "He'll play as hard as he can to make them for you."

"We got the big play on offense when we needed to and that got us fired up," Bernsten said of the final drive.

BOX SCORE:

M—Kelly, 7-yard run (Keane kick)

V—Deutch, 52-yard fumble return (Kick failed)

M—Gajdos, 1-yard run (Kick failed)

M—Gajdos, 3-yard run (Keane kick)

V—Soltes, 1-yard run (Pass failed)

V—Conklin, 45-yard run (Soltis kick)

V—Dinelle, 1-yad run (Soltis pass to Fazio)

M—Keane, 6-yard run (Gajdos pass to Keane)

RUSHING:  Barnes 17-113, Gajdos 13-91, Keane 5-20, Denigris 3-7, Kelly 3-5.

PASSING: Gajdos 6-8, 101 yards, 1 INT, 1 sack for -5 yards.

RECEIVING: Kelly 2-49, Tollis 2-33, Dellefave 1-17, Keane 1-7.

RECORDS: Vernon (0-2), Montville (2-0).