The Montclair High football team again had a sensational season ...

1956 The Montclair High football team again had a sensational season, winning all its nine games and the State Championship. Montclair was rated first in the Saylor and Collition ratings and placed several members on various all-star teams. With a nucleus of only seven returning lettermen, Montclair finished the year with a total of 307 points, the second highest in Montclair history, and allowed only 28 points. The outstanding record becomes even more impressive when it is considered that Montclair had a relatively inexperienced squad, the main problem being an untested “green” line. The season opened with a 47-7 rout of Orange. Next Montclair crushed Irvington and Kearny 41-0, each. Montclair’s first real test came against a good Nutley team that was defeated by 33-0. Montclair continued to roll on beating East Orange 28-0, Columbia 40-7, and West Orange in the mud, 25-0. Then came one of the classic games of all time in New Jersey High School Football as Montclair met unbeaten Clfton, led by quarterback, Roger Fardin and fullback, George Telesh, with an outstanding line featuring Dave Robert Haines makes a sizable gain against Orange. Bosson and Leroy Collins. On a cold sunny day Montclair crushed Clifton 19-7 with scores by Richie and Robert Haines and a spectacular 56-yard pass play from Ray Festa to Tony Carnevale. The game, played for the mythical state championship, featured great line play with Mike Nicholl, Dick Butterfield, Tony Carnevale, and Pete Work, particularly outstanding for Montclair High School. In the traditional Thanksgiving Day game, Montclair defeated a once beaten Bloomfield team 33-7. This team was regarded as one of Montclair High School’s greatest. The line became particularly outstanding with Nicholl, Butterfield, and Carnevale gaining All-County honors. Also outstanding were Butch Adorno, John Lamb, Herbie Barrett, and Ed Butler. Robert and Richie Haines, who broke the school scoring record (122 points held by Aubrey Lewis) with 126 points, sparked the backfield. The generalship of Festa, the running of Gordon Shurtleff, and the blocking of Ron Zesch and the consistent play of Jack Butler at safety were noteworthy. The ’56 Mounties measured favorably with any of the fine Mountie teams of the past. The Blue and White has now gone 31 games without a defeat with 13 consecutive wins from Bloomfield during the coaching reign of Clary Anderson and Butch Fortunato.

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