--USE THIS ONE---------- : Swinton Runs Wild; Montclair Prep Wins

There weren’t any programs available at Kennedy High on Friday for the second round of the Inland Conference playoffs. The 100 or so Ontario Christian fans will remember him simply as “No. 9.”

That number belongs to Montclair Prep running back Riche Swinton, the Mounties’ fleet-footed senior whose 1,666 yards and 20 touchdowns on 207 carries led his team to the Alpha League championship. Appropriately, he led the Mounties to a 35-0 victory over Ontario Christian, the former 10-1 team, at Kennedy.

It was a sweet victory for the Mounties, who, at this time last season, were waiting for next year. They were beat in the second round by Ontario Christian.

“Our guys were excited when they heard we were going to play Ontario,” Montclair Prep Coach John Hazelton said. As the game wore on, the excitement grew on the Mounties’ sideline. Across the field, the Knights appeared stunned.

The Mounties (9-3) scored on their first three possessions and even on one of the Knights’ possessions; Swinton ran an interception back 22 yards for a score in the first quarter.

On the first play of the second quarter, Montclair quarterback Reggie Smith handed the ball to Swinton, who broke free for a 50-yard touchdown.

Ontario Christian couldn’t move the ball on four plays, punted and then watched as Swinton took off again, this time for 59 yards and a touchdown.

Hazelton attributed much of the success to Montclair Prep’s offensive line.

“Our offensive linemen did a number on those guys,” he said. “There’s no way you can do that to a team like Ontario Christian without a great offensive line.”

Montclair Prep’s line and Ontario Christian’s frustration peaked in the first half. Montclair had a third-and-five at its 35. Swinton got the call, dashed around left end and headed down the sidelines but took a crushing blow from James Noonan at the Ontario Christian 46.

Noonan came off the bench to tackle Swinton, who almost broke that tackle. The Mounties were awarded 15 yards after officials determined that Swinton would have been tackled regardless before he reached the end zone.

However unsportsmanlike Noonan’s action may have been, his frustration alone was understandable. Swinton carried 15 times for 208 yards and 3 touchdowns in the first half. One touchdown was a 22-yard interception return. He ended with 218 yards on 20 carries.

Ontario Christian (10-2) finished second in the Olympic League.