Montclair's football team saw an incredible season come to an end on Saturday night at the New Meadowlands Stadium. And experience appeared to win out for the Group 4 North 1 state sectional final as the Mounties' offense could not get in gear in dropping a 19-0 decision to Randolph. Montclair finished with a 7-5 record.

The Rams just had too many weapons especially when it came to scoring on big plays while the Mounties had two chances in the red zone and came up empty.

The combination of coming up empty in the red zone and the Rams scoring with 10 seconds left in the first half combined to put the Mounties behind the eight ball through the second half. Randolph would take a 19-0 lead at halftime and Montclair was moving uphill the rest of the game.

"It was one of those things," said Montclair head coach John Fiore. "It is football. It only takes a couple of plays. They had two or three plays that hurt us."

Down by three scores Montclair had to pass late in the third quarter and the fourth quarter and the Mounties were not comfortable throwing at the New Meadowlands Stadium. Between Mounties quarterback Khalif Herbin and Nate Crutchfield along with a cameo by Julien Pinnix-Odrick, the three combined to complete only 4-for-14 for 19 yards passing and five interceptions.

Montclair had better success on the ground especially Herbin who would run for 27 times for 168 yards, but unfortunately no touchdowns. "Khalif played a hell of a game," said Fiore.

In addition, Randolph's kicking game made sure that Herbin would not kick the ball to Herbin whose punt and kickoff returns had been a big weapon for the Mounties throughout the season.

Combine that with a time-eating running game from Randolph, especially from James Gangemi, and Montclair could not get back into the red zone in the second half.

After the game, Fiore took blame for the team's performance on Saturday night at the New Meadowlands Stadium. "This one was on me," said Fiore to his team after the game. "I promise you one thing: we will be back here next year."

Defensively, Montclair would put some pressure on Randolph quarterback Chris Westenhiser, especially Stephaun Marshall, who had a pair of sacks, but the senior Rams signal caller would be able to complete the big passes, 6-for-12 and 164 yards in the air and two touchdowns.

The first time that Montclair got into the red zone was late in the first quarter and early in the second quarter. Behind the running of Herbin, the Mounties had the ball on the Randolph 10 and first and 10.

But Montclair's drive fell apart on the next four plays that culminated with some trickiness as they tried offensive lineman Pinnix-Odrick for a running back option. Pinnix-Odrick pass to Donte Bellamy would be intercepted and end the drive.

The Rams would go four plays as Westenhiser hit Mike Mastrangelo who would get by the Montclair defense for a touchdown.

Along with finishing off their opportunities, the Rams would make the most of its third down chances. On the second touchdown, Montclair had the Rams on a third down and 13 before Westenhiser hit Mastrangelo.

Two series later Montclair had their second opportunity in the red zone and again it was behind the feet of Herbin who got them in shooting distance to score.

But again the Mounties drive bogged down as the Randolph defense clamped down on Herbin as the Montclair quarterback's throw to running back Marshall traveled down the middle—but the pass just did not connect and the Mounties turned over the ball on downs.

Like the other red zone failure, Randolph would take the ball down field on the subsequent drive and would put another dagger in the heart of the Mounties as Westenhiser dove for the touchdown with 10 seconds left in the half.

Instead of Montclair being down 12-7, the Mounties were down 19-0 at halftime.

The game was especially tough for the Montclair seniors such as Aamad Bush, Otis Wright, Marqui Sally, Anthony Webb, Jodel Cadet, Vaughn Powell, Brian Borth, Sam Parker, Chase Starks, and Malcolm Gibbs.

But with a wealth of players back for 2011, Fiore knows that the Mounties will be back and kicking off again this same time next year in the New Meadowlands Stadium.