WEST ORANGE, NJ – The Seton Hall Prep football team won its second game of the season defeating Montclair, 31-24, last Saturday, Oct. 29, at Joe Suriano Stadium at West Orange High School. This was the Pirates’ first victory over Montclair since 2010.
The Pirates improved to a 2-6 record. Montclair moved to 4-3.
SHP freshman quarterback Matt Colantuono scored on a quarterback sneak from one yard out with 2:54 left in the fourth quarter to break a 24-24 tie. Earlier in the quarter, Montclair scored a touchdown to tie the score at 24-24. SHP had taken a 24-17 lead on the last play of the third quarter when sophomore quarterback Aidan Gilman hit senior tight end Paul Theobald on a 72-yard scoring pass.
Earlier in the quarter, Montclair had overcome a 17-7 deficit on a touchdown pass and a field goal. SHP opened the second half when Theobald recovered the Montclair onside kick. Colantuono hit junior wide receiver Andrew Perez on a 45-yard scoring strike to give the Pirates a 17-7 lead.
In the first quarter, Montclair took a 7-0 lead before sophomore kicker Zach Hoban kicked a 21-yard field goal with 7:14 left in the second quarter to cut the lead to 7-3. SHP then took a 10-7 lead into halftime when Gilman hit senior wide receiver Dwayne Warren on a 10-yard touchdown pass with :24 left in the second quarter.
Following the game, senior defensive tackle Michael Ferguson, who had three sacks on the day, including two on the last Montclair drive, said, “I really went after the quarterback hard. Defensive coordinator Doug Hellstern called for an outside blitz and it worked for those two sacks to end the Montclair drive.”
Senior running back Michael Mughetto said, “We really worked very hard this past week. We stayed focused on the fundamentals and only looked at the Montclair game. This victory feels really great.”
SHP head coach Vito Campanile said, “No one plays a tougher schedule than us and today the kids showed their toughness. The team, especially the seniors, showed a lot of character and never quit, even though Montclair had a lead on us early in the game and came back to tie us in the third quarter. As a coach, this has been the best Senior Day I have ever been a part of and I am so proud of them.”
SHP game stats:
Passing: Gilman, 11 of 14 attempts, 136 yards, two TDs, one interception. Colantuono: 5 of 6 attempts, 69 yards, one TD.
Rushing: Mughetto, 16 carries for 82 yards. Colantuono: 22 carries for 55 yards, one TD.
Receiving: Theobald, four catches for 87 yards, one TD. Warren, eight catches for 70 yards, one TD. Perez, three catches for 52 yards, one TD.
Defense: Sophomore linebacker Jonathon Alvarado, 13 tackles (four solo). Linebacker Theobald, 11 tackles (three solo). Senior linebacker John Lynch, 11 tackles.
Special teams: Hoban, 4-of-4 extra points, 1-of-1 field goal.
Next game: The Pirates will visit Bergen Catholic (5-3) on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m.
SHP football team defeats Montclair for second win of season on Senior Day added by Jeff Goldberg on
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