Montclair Prep Missing Spark in 7-6 Loss

The game over for but a few seconds, Montclair Prep Coach George Giannini took a long look at the scoreboard in the end zone.

It never changed.

Giannini’s mind did.

“If I had to do it over again, I’d go for two,” he said. “Even if it was 7-7 right now, I’d probably be saying the same thing.”

A failed point-after attempt, however, was the difference as St. Monica defeated Montclair Prep, 7-6, on Friday night in a nonleague game at Culver City High.

Trailing, 7-0, in the fourth quarter, sluggish Montclair Prep crossed the 50-yard line for the second time, completed its first pass and . . . finally scored with 2 minutes 49 seconds left.

It was a long time coming, but the thrill would soon be nil. The Mounties elected to go for the game-tying point-after, and while the snap to holder Brad Fullmer seemed sound, Ed Cibrian’s kick was blocked by Nail Benjamin and at least two other St. Monica players.

Montclair Prep regained possession of the ball at its own 20 with 42 seconds remaining, but four incomplete passes later, it was all over.

And the Mounties, racked by ineligibilities and player defection, fell to 0-2.

“I still think we’re a good football team,” Giannini said. “I think we still have a good shot at Division X. We just have to come together and get ready.”

With All-American tailback Derek Sparks gone for the season--he withdrew from school Wednesday afternoon--Montclair Prep turned to sophomore Eliel Swinton (64 yards) and senior Greg Cole (80), who accounted for 144 of the team’s 151 offensive yards.

It was Swinton’s nine-yard run that gave the Mounties their only score, capping a 10-play drive in which he carried the ball nine times.

Yet while Montclair Prep’s decision to try a point-after seemed critical, an earlier letdown was just as crucial.

The Mounties took possession at their own 44 with 3:33 left in the third quarter and behind Cole, who carried on six consecutive plays at one stretch, moved to the St. Monica eight. Cole carried twice for three and zero yards, setting up a third-and-goal play from the five. Quarterback Mike Lincavage--who completed one of nine passes for 11 yards and threw one interception--missed receiver Cibrian on a slant pass. On fourth down, Lincavage’s pass was intercepted by defensive back James White after receiver Shad Knighten appeared to have run the wrong route.

Whatever happened, somebody messed up, and it wasn’t White.

“There was some miscommunication,” Giannini said. “That’s my fault. I guess I didn’t make it clear.”

Running primarily out of the wing T set, St. Monica rushed for 177 yards, 100 of it coming from tailback Benjamin in 17 carries.

The Mounties were unable to establish anything offensively in the first half, either, gaining just 41 total yards--all of which came on the ground.

Cole gained 36 yards in the half but also short-circuited a pair of drives with fumbles.

St. Monica scored the only touchdown on the first half with 5:17 left in the second quarter. Defensive back Keith Walk-Green stripped Cole of the ball at the 50. The Mariners twice converted third-down plays in a 47-yard drive that was capped by Benjamin’s one-yard dive inside.