Montclair Prep Gets a Big Kick Out of Comeback

Down by 21 points in the fourth quarter against Kilpatrick, Montclair Prep tried a desperation tactic--the onside kick.

Three times kicker Robert Lopino squibbed the ball in the middle of the field, and three times the Mounties recovered, sparking a 43-42 victory that left Montclair Prep with a 4-0 record.

“That never happens,” Mountie Coach George Giannini said. “We were very lucky.”

Jason Spratt, Brandon Alves and George Osawa recovered the onside kicks, but the real hero was Lopino, who was enjoying his moment in the spotlight.

“It feels pretty good,” he said.

It wasn’t the first time.

Two weeks ago, Lopino kicked a 40-yard field goal to defeat Ambassador Christian, 17-14.

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Unable to find a reliable kicker, Coach Bill Redell of St. Francis promoted Scott Smiland from the freshman team last week.

Smiland responded by making four of five conversion kicks to earn the starting spot.

Redell also tried the fumblerooski play for the first time this season. Offensive guard Ken Bowman ran for 10 yards against Pasadena.

The St. Francis varsity, sophomore and freshman teams are a combined 12-0. Redell has been teased about his team’s lack of passing through the years, but quarterback John Sciarra has passed for 779 yards and nine touchdowns.

“I’m trying to prove we can throw the football,” Redell said.

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Credit defensive coordinator Joe Fama of Alemany for confusing Notre Dame last week with a new defense.

“I figured they’ve been watching films for three weeks,” Fama said.

Fama had his outside linebackers line up inside the defensive ends in a 4-3 alignment, something the Indians hadn’t done before Friday. They also shifted each time Notre Dame’s center touched the ball.

“My big concern was keeping [quarterback] Jonathon Brewster in the pocket and not running around,” Fama said.

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Tailback Charles Burnley, the top player on Crespi’s 4-0 freshman team, was moved up to the varsity last week against Burbank and rushed for 58 yards in the Celts’ 12-7 victory.