(From the 1945 Yearbook provided by Nick Ruggiero.) The season
1944 (From the 1945 Yearbook provided by Nick Ruggiero.) The season started with a roar when Keith King ran the opening kickoff of the Orange game 80 yards for a touchdown. At the end of our first game with Orange, the scoreboard showed an 18-0 defeat for the Tornadoes and Montclair was well on its way for another sensational year. The pre-season Blue and White had seemed weak in reserves and inexperienced. However, in our next game with Paterson Eastside, our line proved itself, recovering five Eastside fumbles at more or less crucial points enabling the Mounties to carry off the goal posts to the tune of 20-6. The now elated Montclair rooters saw the shadow of Kearny looming ahead. Kearny, never exceptional, was rated to give the home team trouble. At five that afternoon, nothing had developed in that way, for the victory song was sung throughout Montclair for a 34-0 mangling of the Kardinals. The following Saturday dawned rainy and bleak. Mud covered the Nutley field as two fine teams raged up and down the sludge to a scoreless tie. What would have happened under good conditions is a matter of conjecture. Slightly dampened by this setback, the Big Blue strode into the East Orange game to come from behind and win 13-7. “Nookie” Lombardi let loose for the first time his passing arm but to offset this discovery, George Southerland broke his collarbone and he sat on the bench for the rest of the season. Weakened by this loss, Montclair was scheduled to come up against one of the strongest teams in the country. Living up to this reputation, the Columbia Gems scored twice in the first quarter to forge ahead 13-0, when, lo, Joe Furnari, substitute end for Southerland, converted from the backfield, snaffled two of Lombardi’s passes to push the Blue and White to the fore. When the sun set that evening, the big black letters showed a 20-13 victory for the Blue and White. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, the Mounties traveled over the mountain to down the West Orange Cowboys, 27-6. Now, the season almost over and two toughest games of the year to face, the Montclair aggregation went to little Glen Ridge to return a sobered team. The plucky little suburban conference team had stopped us cold 14-7. Montclair just wasn’t on the ball, the only bright spot being the 140pound lad in the shape of Bob Halpin who played over half the game in Keith King’s position. Well, the big day arrived. Bloomfield, untied, undefeated was out to flatten once tied and once beaten Montclair. Quite a surprise they were in for. “Butch” Fortunato put Keith King in the fullback position and Bob Halpin started at right half. From the whistle the game was an exhibition of a finely coached, smooth running, and cooperative Montclair combine, running over the over-confident Bengals with a devastating 20-6 rout. Everyone starred, with Lombardi shining through as he tore the opposing line to shreds. Everyone went wild as the season closed with as loud a bang as it had come in. Then Montclair was awarded the Group 4 championship on the basis of its win over Bloomfield. Cheers for the team! Cheers, too, for Butch and Frank who led the team! Let’s hope that we may cheer next year’s squad in the same way.
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1944
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1945 (From the 1946 Yearbook provided by Bob Davis.) Montclair began the 1945 season with a crash as a strong Orange eleven capitalized on the mistakes of an inexperienced Blue and White outfit to run off with a 24-0 victory. Montclair returned in a driving rainstorm to submerge a favored Paterson Eastside team in a 6-2 upset, although the weather severely hampered both teams. Showing the benefit of the previous two weeks’ experience, the Mounties gave their first real exhibition of offensive football when they trounced the Kearny gridmen by a decisive 28-6 score. Underdogs to an undefeated Nutley powerhouse, the squad put on a magnificent performance. Montclair scored early in the first period and valiantly fought off determined Nutley attempts to score until late in the fourth quarter, when an unexpected pass went for a touchdown. The kick, which tied up the game at 7-7, was a tough break for Montclair. On October 27 a fighting East Orange team came up with two touchdown passes to upset Montclair, 13-7, after the Mounties had scored in the opening minutes and had appeared to have the game well in hand. Although any hopes for a championship were lost, Montclair returned to defeat Columbia 13-7 with a powerful overland attack. The team had little difficulty in smothering Glen Ridge, 21-0. The Turkey Day contest with Bloomfield was postponed to the following Saturday because of a downpour. The Mounties, although they were again underdogs, outplayed the Bengals and led them in every department but failed to score and were defeated 13-0. Bloomfield had a heavy line and fast backfield and after Delli Santi and Gates were removed from the game for injuries, two long marches almost to the Bloomfield goal line, proved fruitless. The Bengals scored twice on runs from midfield following a pass in the first half and an interception in the second. December 1 the Blue and White squad wallowed in the mud and snow for a 12-0 victory over West Orange in a game postponed earlier in the season. Both teams were held to the ground with Montclair’s power the deciding factor. This game ended a season of five wins, one tie, and three losses, in which Montclair outscored its opponents 94-72. The Mountie team, inexperienced and uncoordinated at the start of the season, developed into a strong team with a powerful offense and a consistent defense. Hampered by injuries at critical times, the Mounties never were seen at their top strength. “Butch” Fortunato must be commended for an excellent coaching job.
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1946 As the opening gun of the season went off, many of us were dubious as to what Coach Clary Anderson could do after his return from service, with a practically untried line on his hands. Right from the start these doubts were dispelled as the Mounties tallied in the opening moments of their first game and went on to upset a highly favored Orange team by a 13-0 count. The line was exceptionally strong, holding experienced Orange backs to slight gains. Encouraged by this shutout triumph, the Blue and White traveled to Paterson to swamp a weak Eastside team by 60-0. The second, third, and fourth teams saw action with Swede Swensen, Bob Stephenson, Charles Innerella, and Dick King scoring along with regulars Larry Coleman, Joe Furnari, and Doug MacLachlan. A rugged Kearny team tasted defeat the following week when “Crazy-legs” Coleman ran wild to score or to set up every touchdown. The Mounties took the game in stride (19-0) and set out for Nutley, where a bruising game saw the Blue and White come from behind to down the Maroon by a 14-6 decision. An overflow crowd witnessed the battle in which several Mounties were injured, including passcatching specialist Doug MacLachlan. The Montclair pass defense had to be particularly on guard against the accurate tosses of Nutley’s Kappeier. Then came the big test of the year – whether Montclair would be able to stand off East Orange’s rampaging aggregation. A quick touchdown put the Mounties in the lead (6-0), but before the afternoon was over, everyone’s nerves were on edge. The stalwart lineman of Montclair turned threat after threat back. Finally, an intentional safety saved the day and Montclair scored with a 6-2 victory. The following week procured an easy victory over traditionally strong Columbia. Several Mountie reserves came to the fore in this contest. “Bugs” Jackson – later to play such a big role in the Bloomfield game – demonstrated his ability at the fullback spot. John Emery, substitute end, took two touchdown passes. Ernest Petrullo also crossed the G-Stripe. And now came the Commandos (sophomore team) to be victims of Columbia’s only offensive efforts of the afternoon, but Montclair’s lead was sufficient and the Blue and White romped off with a 31-13 margin. The now confident team sailed into the West Orange stadium only to be stopped cold by a stonewall of a line for three periods. But the Mountie forward wall was tough too and finally opened up the Cowboy line for Furnari and Coleman to go over in the last period and the conversions made it 14-0. Home came the team and remembering their surprise defeat of two years ago at the hands of little Glen Ridge, were possibly tense as they faced this Group 2 team. Surprise, surprise! In the first three minutes of play, the Ridgers forged ahead 7-0. But the Montclair power was too much for the plucky little team and snowed them under by a 32-7 count. “Red” Gilruth and Pete McSpadden, in addition to the regulars, made touchdowns in a hard-played game on a dreary day. Then came an interval of almost two weeks of waiting, hoping, rallying, cheering, and the team practicing day after day. A huge crowd packed Woodman field on a beautiful morning. An hour before game time a bunch of Montclair High School girls did a very clever take-off on the coming game resulting, naturally, in a win for Montclair. The two bands and twirlers performed; at last the time came.
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The whistle blew. For one whole period and half of another, the two teams were deadlocked between the two 20-yard lines. Then, suddenly, the Mounties broke loose. Before the half, they had scored thrice on passes by Deacon and Gustavson, and plunging by Furnari. The second half featured the brilliant play of “Bugs” Jackson, substitute for wounded Coleman. Furnari’s blocking and plunging and, more spectacular, passing by Deacon and Gustavson and catching by MacLachlan, Cox, and Jackson. Before the final whistle blew, the Commandos had entered the game and Montclair had piled up a 58-0 lead over the dispirited Bengals! Another State Championship for Montclair, the third in four years and a brilliant season. A hand for coaches Clary, Butch, Seelback, and Gathany and for every member of the team that made this great year possible!! Note – Future Astronaut “Buzz” Aldrin was our center.
1947 “Hail the all conquering heroes” was a familiar cry at the close of the 1947 gridiron campaign. Under the leadership of two of the finest coaches in this or any state, the Mounties rolled through nine games without a defeat and continued a winning streak that has totaled nineteen. The last time a Montclair team suffered a defeat was on Thanksgiving in 1945. But now for this season’s play. In the opening game against Orange, Dick King and Bobby Stephenson ran wild. King scored on two pretty runs and Stephenson galloped 70 yards down the sidelines for the third tally. The Montclair High School line held the Orange backs in check all afternoon. (19-0). Against a weak Paterson Eastside squad, Montclair, led by fullback George Gilruth, won 41-0. Emery’s pass catching set up two scores and he countered once himself. Gilruth crossed twice as Montclair won in a romp. The next opponent, the Kardinals of Kearny, bit the dust by a 33-8 count as they fought gamely but in vain. Held down early in the game, Montclair opened up as King broke loose with runs of 47 and 38 yards and Stephenson went 75 yards through the line for another. Also scoring were McMahon on a long jaunt and Al Ericsen on a 35-yard pass from Coleman. On the following Saturday Nutley invaded Woodman Field and was shellacked 40-0. Coleman, Reeves, and Gilruth all joined in throwing touchdown passes, twice to Fitsgerald, and once each to Testa and Webster. The traditionally tough East Orange Panthers were the next victims. In this hard fought contest, we came out on top 14-7. Cummings, Love, Panza, Testa, DeNicola, and Gilruth shone in halting the East Orange backs. Gilruth scored on a buck and King on a 20-yard run. The highlight of the game came as quarterback Reeves made a game saving tackle in the waning minutes of play. Columbia was the next to tumble as Clary played many of his reserves in a 20-6 win. Acocella started the ball rolling by falling on Gilruth’s fumble over the goal line. Early in the second half, Coleman zigzagged 20 yards for a score and a few minutes later, Cummings intercepted a Columbia pass and skirted over untouched. Montclair High School extended its winning streak to 16 consecutive games as a weak West Orange eleven fell 26-0. In the first period a jump pass, Reeves to
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Coleman, terminated a 48-yard march for the first tally. As the second half began, Reeves went over on a quarterback sneak. The other two scores came as Joe Fortunato tossed passes to Emery and Fitzsgerald. In the most widely publicized game of the year, the Blue and White ruined a 17 game winning streak of the Clifton Mustangs by winning out 18-0. Defensive measures taken by Clary and Butch held the famed Bobby Boettcher in check throughout the game. Emery, Acocella, and Testa joined in catching three T.D. passes from Coleman. The forward wall of our side again shone as Love, DeNicola, Panza, Fleming and backers-up Gilruth and Cummings tackled often and vicously. The flanks with Testa and Acocella sharing most of the defensive work were well protected against end sweeps by the Clifton backs. For the second year in a row and the fifth time since 1940, Montclair High School conquered the Bengals. A muddy gridiron and a rejuvenated Bloomfield team held the score to 13-0. The bad footing hindered the backs of both sides. The largest crowd of the year watched as Reeves passed to Emery for the first touchdown and Coleman tossed to Testa for the other. Special credit is due those who seldom make the headlines, but whose presence would indeed be missed. We are speaking of J.V. and “Commando” coaches “Norm” Gathany and Fred Seelbach who played outstanding roles in the team’s successful campaign. Of course every team is as strong as its reserves. So hats off to the fellows like Acocella, Voight, Baltimore, Brigham, Fitzgerald, Fortunato, Smethurst, DelPresto, and the other squad members who impersonated our opponents and gave their all in scrimmaging so well that it gave the varsity power. - 84 -
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1948 Again in 1948 the football version of the Mounties rated “tops” in the Collition system and won sectional honors. The J.V.’s went unbeaten and the Commandoes lost only to Nutley. Backed by their fine coaching staff, the Montclair teams piled up an enviable record in 1948. Orange, with the best backfield in the state that included their two speedy halfbacks, Robinson and Stevens, presented a balanced and tricky team; but the Mounties outscored this fast, hard-running outfit by a 33-21 count. Jack McMahon romped for three touchdowns on passes from Joe Fortunato who had an astounding average of ten completions in fifteen attempts on his passes. Montclair received its first defeat in two years at the hands of an inspired Kearny High team that capitalized repeatedly on recovered fumbles and intercepted passes. Kearny’s forces were led by Al Webster (Yes, THE Alex Webster), and Bill Gurkas who ran and passed exceptionally well. Webster’s 69-yard jaunt on an intercepted pass provided the winning margin for Kearny. Special credit should be given to Gene Naspo who filled in more than ably for the injured McMahon. Montclair lost 13-8. Bouncing back from their defeat, Montclair subdued Nutley the next Saturday, 20-6. Pushing over all three scores in the first half on a 22-yard sprint by McMahon, a plunge by a hard-driving Andy Coleman and a scoring pass from Lannin to Acocella, the Mounties contented themselves with holding the Nutley team until the final quarter when Nutley scored against the Mountie reserves. The traditional battle with an undefeated East Orange team took place the following week at Woodman Field. East Orange went off the field at halftime with a 7-0 lead. Earlier the Panthers had capitalized on a recovered fumble and scored. Soon after the beginning of the second half however, Montclair marched for its first score with Acocella making a clutch catch of the pass from Fortunato for the touchdown. Coleman tied the score by plunging over the extra point. The Mounties then stalled an East Orange drive on the two-yard line. Then “Red” Jones centered the ball over Tom Brown’s head in the end zone and the Panthers got an automatic safety and the lead, 9-7. Following Acocella’s 79-yard kickoff, putting East Orange in the hole, the Mounties came with a rush. Fletcher, DiGeronimo, Love, Kimber, and DeNicola ripped large holes in the drifting line of East Orange and climaxed their drive with Coleman’s crashing over with a winning score as the game ended, 14-9. Columbia felt the full power of the Montclair team at its peak as a 61-0 score snowed them under, the highest ever made in a Montclair game. The score rolled on in spite of the fact that Clary cleared the bench of all 57 players. The Mounties line with Acocella and Sar at the ends and Rennals and DelPresto backing it up did a great job as usual. The next game took us to West Orange where after throwing a real scare into the Mountie fans when they scored within the first two or three minutes, West Orange succumbed by a 34-6 score. Our hard-running backs led by McMahon, Coleman, Graf, and Burke had a good day as they ran around and through the weak West Orange line. For the second time in the two years that we have played them, Clifton came to Woodman field with an unblemished record. Clifton got off to a good start when they booted a field goal in the early minutes of the game. The score remained 3-0 - 86 -
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until late in the second period when McMahon heaved a reverse pass to Coleman who snared it on the eight-yard line and romped over to put Montclair into a lead it never relinquished. In the final quarter the Mounties iced the game when they scored twice. McMahon roared 68 yards to set up one touchdown and Graf took a pitch out from Fortunato and scampered 6 yards to the goal. Acocella, DeNicola, Kimber, Rennalls, and Fletcher spearheaded the line. Montclair won 19-3. The Mounties wound up the season by handing Bloomfield its third consecutive Turkey Day beating. The Bengals didn’t go down without fighting however, in fact, they went off the field at half time with a 7-6 lead. But the Mountie power was too much for them to handle and in the second half, the Mounties ran wild as Coleman, Acocella, and Fischer scored in that order. Mounties, 26-7.
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1949 (From the 1950 Yearbook provided by Beverly Van Wagner.) The 1949 eleven, with only two returning regulars, pulled the “rabbit out of the hat trick” by deftly turning in an undefeated season. This surprising feat must have been of great satisfaction to the two coaching magicians, Clary Anderson and Butch Fortunato, who molded this team that scored at least four touchdowns in every game, and had at least a thirteen-point victory margin in each contest. The team was small, alert and smart and showed speed and finesse in gaining consistently on line power plays, end runs or sensational forward passes engineered by the pin-point pitching of Joe Fortunato. Offensively the team lined up with a pair
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1944
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1945 (From the 1946 Yearbook provided by Bob Davis.) Montclair began the 1945 season with a crash as a strong Orange eleven capitalized on the mistakes of an inexperienced Blue and White outfit to run off with a 24-0 victory. Montclair returned in a driving rainstorm to submerge a favored Paterson Eastside team in a 6-2 upset, although the weather severely hampered both teams. Showing the benefit of the previous two weeks’ experience, the Mounties gave their first real exhibition of offensive football when they trounced the Kearny gridmen by a decisive 28-6 score. Underdogs to an undefeated Nutley powerhouse, the squad put on a magnificent performance. Montclair scored early in the first period and valiantly fought off determined Nutley attempts to score until late in the fourth quarter, when an unexpected pass went for a touchdown. The kick, which tied up the game at 7-7, was a tough break for Montclair. On October 27 a fighting East Orange team came up with two touchdown passes to upset Montclair, 13-7, after the Mounties had scored in the opening minutes and had appeared to have the game well in hand. Although any hopes for a championship were lost, Montclair returned to defeat Columbia 13-7 with a powerful overland attack. The team had little difficulty in smothering Glen Ridge, 21-0. The Turkey Day contest with Bloomfield was postponed to the following Saturday because of a downpour. The Mounties, although they were again underdogs, outplayed the Bengals and led them in every department but failed to score and were defeated 13-0. Bloomfield had a heavy line and fast backfield and after Delli Santi and Gates were removed from the game for injuries, two long marches almost to the Bloomfield goal line, proved fruitless. The Bengals scored twice on runs from midfield following a pass in the first half and an interception in the second. December 1 the Blue and White squad wallowed in the mud and snow for a 12-0 victory over West Orange in a game postponed earlier in the season. Both teams were held to the ground with Montclair’s power the deciding factor. This game ended a season of five wins, one tie, and three losses, in which Montclair outscored its opponents 94-72. The Mountie team, inexperienced and uncoordinated at the start of the season, developed into a strong team with a powerful offense and a consistent defense. Hampered by injuries at critical times, the Mounties never were seen at their top strength. “Butch” Fortunato must be commended for an excellent coaching job.
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1946 As the opening gun of the season went off, many of us were dubious as to what Coach Clary Anderson could do after his return from service, with a practically untried line on his hands. Right from the start these doubts were dispelled as the Mounties tallied in the opening moments of their first game and went on to upset a highly favored Orange team by a 13-0 count. The line was exceptionally strong, holding experienced Orange backs to slight gains. Encouraged by this shutout triumph, the Blue and White traveled to Paterson to swamp a weak Eastside team by 60-0. The second, third, and fourth teams saw action with Swede Swensen, Bob Stephenson, Charles Innerella, and Dick King scoring along with regulars Larry Coleman, Joe Furnari, and Doug MacLachlan. A rugged Kearny team tasted defeat the following week when “Crazy-legs” Coleman ran wild to score or to set up every touchdown. The Mounties took the game in stride (19-0) and set out for Nutley, where a bruising game saw the Blue and White come from behind to down the Maroon by a 14-6 decision. An overflow crowd witnessed the battle in which several Mounties were injured, including passcatching specialist Doug MacLachlan. The Montclair pass defense had to be particularly on guard against the accurate tosses of Nutley’s Kappeier. Then came the big test of the year – whether Montclair would be able to stand off East Orange’s rampaging aggregation. A quick touchdown put the Mounties in the lead (6-0), but before the afternoon was over, everyone’s nerves were on edge. The stalwart lineman of Montclair turned threat after threat back. Finally, an intentional safety saved the day and Montclair scored with a 6-2 victory. The following week procured an easy victory over traditionally strong Columbia. Several Mountie reserves came to the fore in this contest. “Bugs” Jackson – later to play such a big role in the Bloomfield game – demonstrated his ability at the fullback spot. John Emery, substitute end, took two touchdown passes. Ernest Petrullo also crossed the G-Stripe. And now came the Commandos (sophomore team) to be victims of Columbia’s only offensive efforts of the afternoon, but Montclair’s lead was sufficient and the Blue and White romped off with a 31-13 margin. The now confident team sailed into the West Orange stadium only to be stopped cold by a stonewall of a line for three periods. But the Mountie forward wall was tough too and finally opened up the Cowboy line for Furnari and Coleman to go over in the last period and the conversions made it 14-0. Home came the team and remembering their surprise defeat of two years ago at the hands of little Glen Ridge, were possibly tense as they faced this Group 2 team. Surprise, surprise! In the first three minutes of play, the Ridgers forged ahead 7-0. But the Montclair power was too much for the plucky little team and snowed them under by a 32-7 count. “Red” Gilruth and Pete McSpadden, in addition to the regulars, made touchdowns in a hard-played game on a dreary day. Then came an interval of almost two weeks of waiting, hoping, rallying, cheering, and the team practicing day after day. A huge crowd packed Woodman field on a beautiful morning. An hour before game time a bunch of Montclair High School girls did a very clever take-off on the coming game resulting, naturally, in a win for Montclair. The two bands and twirlers performed; at last the time came.
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The whistle blew. For one whole period and half of another, the two teams were deadlocked between the two 20-yard lines. Then, suddenly, the Mounties broke loose. Before the half, they had scored thrice on passes by Deacon and Gustavson, and plunging by Furnari. The second half featured the brilliant play of “Bugs” Jackson, substitute for wounded Coleman. Furnari’s blocking and plunging and, more spectacular, passing by Deacon and Gustavson and catching by MacLachlan, Cox, and Jackson. Before the final whistle blew, the Commandos had entered the game and Montclair had piled up a 58-0 lead over the dispirited Bengals! Another State Championship for Montclair, the third in four years and a brilliant season. A hand for coaches Clary, Butch, Seelback, and Gathany and for every member of the team that made this great year possible!! Note – Future Astronaut “Buzz” Aldrin was our center.
1947 “Hail the all conquering heroes” was a familiar cry at the close of the 1947 gridiron campaign. Under the leadership of two of the finest coaches in this or any state, the Mounties rolled through nine games without a defeat and continued a winning streak that has totaled nineteen. The last time a Montclair team suffered a defeat was on Thanksgiving in 1945. But now for this season’s play. In the opening game against Orange, Dick King and Bobby Stephenson ran wild. King scored on two pretty runs and Stephenson galloped 70 yards down the sidelines for the third tally. The Montclair High School line held the Orange backs in check all afternoon. (19-0). Against a weak Paterson Eastside squad, Montclair, led by fullback George Gilruth, won 41-0. Emery’s pass catching set up two scores and he countered once himself. Gilruth crossed twice as Montclair won in a romp. The next opponent, the Kardinals of Kearny, bit the dust by a 33-8 count as they fought gamely but in vain. Held down early in the game, Montclair opened up as King broke loose with runs of 47 and 38 yards and Stephenson went 75 yards through the line for another. Also scoring were McMahon on a long jaunt and Al Ericsen on a 35-yard pass from Coleman. On the following Saturday Nutley invaded Woodman Field and was shellacked 40-0. Coleman, Reeves, and Gilruth all joined in throwing touchdown passes, twice to Fitsgerald, and once each to Testa and Webster. The traditionally tough East Orange Panthers were the next victims. In this hard fought contest, we came out on top 14-7. Cummings, Love, Panza, Testa, DeNicola, and Gilruth shone in halting the East Orange backs. Gilruth scored on a buck and King on a 20-yard run. The highlight of the game came as quarterback Reeves made a game saving tackle in the waning minutes of play. Columbia was the next to tumble as Clary played many of his reserves in a 20-6 win. Acocella started the ball rolling by falling on Gilruth’s fumble over the goal line. Early in the second half, Coleman zigzagged 20 yards for a score and a few minutes later, Cummings intercepted a Columbia pass and skirted over untouched. Montclair High School extended its winning streak to 16 consecutive games as a weak West Orange eleven fell 26-0. In the first period a jump pass, Reeves to
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Coleman, terminated a 48-yard march for the first tally. As the second half began, Reeves went over on a quarterback sneak. The other two scores came as Joe Fortunato tossed passes to Emery and Fitzsgerald. In the most widely publicized game of the year, the Blue and White ruined a 17 game winning streak of the Clifton Mustangs by winning out 18-0. Defensive measures taken by Clary and Butch held the famed Bobby Boettcher in check throughout the game. Emery, Acocella, and Testa joined in catching three T.D. passes from Coleman. The forward wall of our side again shone as Love, DeNicola, Panza, Fleming and backers-up Gilruth and Cummings tackled often and vicously. The flanks with Testa and Acocella sharing most of the defensive work were well protected against end sweeps by the Clifton backs. For the second year in a row and the fifth time since 1940, Montclair High School conquered the Bengals. A muddy gridiron and a rejuvenated Bloomfield team held the score to 13-0. The bad footing hindered the backs of both sides. The largest crowd of the year watched as Reeves passed to Emery for the first touchdown and Coleman tossed to Testa for the other. Special credit is due those who seldom make the headlines, but whose presence would indeed be missed. We are speaking of J.V. and “Commando” coaches “Norm” Gathany and Fred Seelbach who played outstanding roles in the team’s successful campaign. Of course every team is as strong as its reserves. So hats off to the fellows like Acocella, Voight, Baltimore, Brigham, Fitzgerald, Fortunato, Smethurst, DelPresto, and the other squad members who impersonated our opponents and gave their all in scrimmaging so well that it gave the varsity power. - 84 -
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1948 Again in 1948 the football version of the Mounties rated “tops” in the Collition system and won sectional honors. The J.V.’s went unbeaten and the Commandoes lost only to Nutley. Backed by their fine coaching staff, the Montclair teams piled up an enviable record in 1948. Orange, with the best backfield in the state that included their two speedy halfbacks, Robinson and Stevens, presented a balanced and tricky team; but the Mounties outscored this fast, hard-running outfit by a 33-21 count. Jack McMahon romped for three touchdowns on passes from Joe Fortunato who had an astounding average of ten completions in fifteen attempts on his passes. Montclair received its first defeat in two years at the hands of an inspired Kearny High team that capitalized repeatedly on recovered fumbles and intercepted passes. Kearny’s forces were led by Al Webster (Yes, THE Alex Webster), and Bill Gurkas who ran and passed exceptionally well. Webster’s 69-yard jaunt on an intercepted pass provided the winning margin for Kearny. Special credit should be given to Gene Naspo who filled in more than ably for the injured McMahon. Montclair lost 13-8. Bouncing back from their defeat, Montclair subdued Nutley the next Saturday, 20-6. Pushing over all three scores in the first half on a 22-yard sprint by McMahon, a plunge by a hard-driving Andy Coleman and a scoring pass from Lannin to Acocella, the Mounties contented themselves with holding the Nutley team until the final quarter when Nutley scored against the Mountie reserves. The traditional battle with an undefeated East Orange team took place the following week at Woodman Field. East Orange went off the field at halftime with a 7-0 lead. Earlier the Panthers had capitalized on a recovered fumble and scored. Soon after the beginning of the second half however, Montclair marched for its first score with Acocella making a clutch catch of the pass from Fortunato for the touchdown. Coleman tied the score by plunging over the extra point. The Mounties then stalled an East Orange drive on the two-yard line. Then “Red” Jones centered the ball over Tom Brown’s head in the end zone and the Panthers got an automatic safety and the lead, 9-7. Following Acocella’s 79-yard kickoff, putting East Orange in the hole, the Mounties came with a rush. Fletcher, DiGeronimo, Love, Kimber, and DeNicola ripped large holes in the drifting line of East Orange and climaxed their drive with Coleman’s crashing over with a winning score as the game ended, 14-9. Columbia felt the full power of the Montclair team at its peak as a 61-0 score snowed them under, the highest ever made in a Montclair game. The score rolled on in spite of the fact that Clary cleared the bench of all 57 players. The Mounties line with Acocella and Sar at the ends and Rennals and DelPresto backing it up did a great job as usual. The next game took us to West Orange where after throwing a real scare into the Mountie fans when they scored within the first two or three minutes, West Orange succumbed by a 34-6 score. Our hard-running backs led by McMahon, Coleman, Graf, and Burke had a good day as they ran around and through the weak West Orange line. For the second time in the two years that we have played them, Clifton came to Woodman field with an unblemished record. Clifton got off to a good start when they booted a field goal in the early minutes of the game. The score remained 3-0 - 86 -
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until late in the second period when McMahon heaved a reverse pass to Coleman who snared it on the eight-yard line and romped over to put Montclair into a lead it never relinquished. In the final quarter the Mounties iced the game when they scored twice. McMahon roared 68 yards to set up one touchdown and Graf took a pitch out from Fortunato and scampered 6 yards to the goal. Acocella, DeNicola, Kimber, Rennalls, and Fletcher spearheaded the line. Montclair won 19-3. The Mounties wound up the season by handing Bloomfield its third consecutive Turkey Day beating. The Bengals didn’t go down without fighting however, in fact, they went off the field at half time with a 7-6 lead. But the Mountie power was too much for them to handle and in the second half, the Mounties ran wild as Coleman, Acocella, and Fischer scored in that order. Mounties, 26-7.
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1949 (From the 1950 Yearbook provided by Beverly Van Wagner.) The 1949 eleven, with only two returning regulars, pulled the “rabbit out of the hat trick” by deftly turning in an undefeated season. This surprising feat must have been of great satisfaction to the two coaching magicians, Clary Anderson and Butch Fortunato, who molded this team that scored at least four touchdowns in every game, and had at least a thirteen-point victory margin in each contest. The team was small, alert and smart and showed speed and finesse in gaining consistently on line power plays, end runs or sensational forward passes engineered by the pin-point pitching of Joe Fortunato. Offensively the team lined up with a pair
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