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MKA RB Kalvin Thomas (13) is congratulated by assistant coach Ethan Fusco after eclipsing the latter's single-game record for rushing yardage with 324 on 21 carries in Saturday's 33-9 victory vs. Morristown-Beard as Cougars improved to 3-0 on season, which helps bring a smile to face of head coach Anthony Rea on sideline while watching the fleet-footed senior who rushed for five touchdowns to increase his state-leading TD total to 14. Quad captain Jack Scuorzo (5) wraps up Mo-Beard's Nick Anderson (13), the Crimson's Sam Cherins (58) looks to deflect extra point attempt by Josh Katz (4) and MKA's efficient O-Line helps free up room for Thomas. (Photos by Gene Nann-genenann.smugmug.com)
MONTCLAIR- For anyone watching Montclair Kimberley Academy as the 2024 football season continues to unfold it’s becoming more and more obvious that the Cougars are not only playing at as high a level as they have in nearly a decade, but that they are also enjoying the process. There were plenty of smiling faces after MKA (3-0) rode a record-breaking performance from senior Kalvin Thomas in roaring past Morristown-Beard, 33-9, on a hot and humid Saturday afternoon at Van Brunt Field. The Cougars, who are off to their best start since beginning the 2016 season at 5-0, struck early and often against the Crimson (2-1) as Thomas, an athletic and elusive running back, finished with 21 carries for 324 yards and all five of his team’s touchdowns to increase his state-leading TD total to 14 in just three games, including 56 carries for 727 yards (13 yards per carry) and 12 rushing TDs. He eclipsed the former school single-season rushing mark of 261 yards on 31 carries set in 2014 by current MKA assistant coach Ethan Fusco. “Coach Fusco said that if I didn’t break his record today then I’m not playing for the rest of the season,” Thomas said with a wide smile. “I had to try and live up to his challenge, continue to trust my O-Line, read my blocks and run to open space. “We’re playing really good football right now and – most of all- we’re having a lot of fun doing it together.” Thomas broke free on the game’s first play from scrimmage with his first of two 70-yard TD runs in helping the Cougars build a commanding 20-0 first quarter lead. “Thirteen (Thomas) is definitely an exceptional player and we come out here just trying to make holes and allow him to have those big touchdown runs,” said senior left tackle Ben Morganstein, who joins Thomas and fellow seniors (lineman) Nate Conforti and (DB-WR) Jack Scurozo as quad captains for the surging Cougars. “We’re a family here, we work well together, and when things click, we have success, which is really showing so far this season.” Thomas, a superb track and field performer, who excelled in the long and triple jumper, sprinter and hurdler while leading MKA’s boys to their first-ever NJSIAA Non-Public B state championship last June, is very appreciative of the wall of excellent blockers in front of him on the gridiron. “I’d be nothing without our O-Line, which has really come into its own this season,” he said. “We had a big off-season in the weight room with 11 players benching 225 for reps, and we have nice additions like (Seton Hall Prep) transfer Charlie O’Hara, who has added strength and size to our line; and also having some talented reserves has been a blessing for sure.” MKA’s highly-efficient starting O-Line features Morganstein (6-0, 200) at left tackle, Conforti (5-10, 230) at left guard and juniors Jack Gallagher (6-2, 210) at center, O-Hara (5-11, 275) at right guard and Robbie Leben (6-1, 215) at right tackle. And, whether it’s on the line or backfield on both sides of the ball, the Cougars have nice depth this fall on their 44-man roster with more than half of those seeing multiple reps during the course of a game. “We had to wait a year or two for our young guys to grow, but they’re here now; and while some guys missed time in the past due to injuries, we’re just healthier and deeper now,” said 11th-year head coach Anthony Rea. “We’re able to keep our O-Line off ‘D’ when we want to, and we work our depth all around. “We’ve been on the other side in the past when you have 11 guys out there nearly all the time and the other team might have 25 different guys.” On what was certainly an extremely warm afternoon for mid-September, play was stopped multiple times when Mo-Beard players were either slow to get up after a play, or could be seen holding their calve muscles, which is a clear indication of cramping up due to the heat. Meanwhile, the Cougars were not among those leading to occasional stoppages of action, and Rea and his coaching staff were able to keep inserting different and fresh players into the game to give at least a brief blow to some helping to lead the way, including Thomas, who does double duty as one of the team’s linebackers. “We try to condition all the time to stay in shape and be ready for the challenge,” continued Rea. “Regardless of how warm it was, and other than committing too many penalties we need to clean up, our guys did a nice job out there today and 3-0 is a dream start for sure!” Thomas’ first 70-yard burst to pay dirt to get it all rolling on the Cougars’ first possession vs. Mo-Beard was followed by the MKA defense halting the Crimson for a 3-and-out on its first possession before MKA proceeded to mount a solid 9-play, 65-yard drive capped by runs of 21 and 9 yards by Thomas to reach the end zone for a 14-0 lead with 3:38 remaining in the first quarter. Another 3-and-out by Mo-Beard that included a combined tackle for a loss by MKA freshman end Allan Haynes and junior linebacker Benji Safirstein, MKA’s offense would strike again quickly after taking over at its own 45 yard line and with runs of 28 and 17 yards by Thomas to reach the end zone again it was 20-0 with 1:59 still showing in the opening stanza. Mo-Beard would then put together a 7-play, 70-yard advance aided by a pair of 15-yard Cougar penalties before freshman Callen Levasseur booted a 26-yard field goal to put the Crimson on the scoreboard at 20-3 with 9:44 left in the second quarter. Mo-Beard would pull to 20-9 with 1:33 remaining in the first half on a 10-play, 69-yard drive that culminated with a 33-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Ryan Novak (19-of-26 for 131 yards) to junior wide receiver Nick Anderson. However, just 13 seconds later on its subsequent possession, MKA responded in kind as Thomas broke free on first down on another 70-yard TD jaunt and the Cougars were able to take a 27-9 halftime lead into the locker room at the halftime break. MKA put the contest even further out of reach in the second half when it put together a 7-play, 86-yard drive capped by Thomas’ 53-yard TD run and a 33-9 lead with 2:01 left in the third quarter. The Cougars played strong defense throughout, and although Novak had his share of completed passes, the advances were fairly minimal and the Crimson ground game was held in check by being limited to total 81 yards. “We’re all just going 100% on every single play,” said Scuorzo, who excels at cornerback. “We’re all bigger, faster and stronger than last year after a huge off season in the weight room; we’re healthy which allows us to be more aggressive out there, and we fly around to the ball wherever it is.” “Our defense has been great, our D-Line plays side to side and we’ve been stopping the run,” added Morganstein, who sees action at nose tackle. “Our secondary locks down the pass and limits the yardage on a completion, and our entire ‘D’ with a number of guys contributing just continues to get the job done.” And, so far, MKA continues to win games, with Thomas racking up yardage and TDs, and the O-Line maturing into one of the better units in program history. “I can’t say enough good things about Kalvin, who was awesome once again today,” said Rea. “He’s been helping to set the tone and the entire team has been responding by doing their part in what has been a great start to the season.” Next up is the Dalton School (0-1) on Randall’s Island in New York where the competition could be a stern test for the Cougars, who already have road wins this season at Dunellen and Pingry. NOTES- MKA senior QB Carl Flocco (2-for-2 for 32 yards passing and 2 carries for 14 yards) was efficient at managing the offense which did not need to throw the ball…The Cougars’ placekicker Josh Katz has displayed a strong leg to boost special teams…In observing the MKA defense perform vs. Mo-Beard among those Cougars excelling were Scurozo, Conforti, Safirstein, Haynes, junior end Ajayi Langston and sophomore linebacker Evan Pratt…A former MKA standout back, Jared Cook, is on head coach Tahj Valentine’s staff with the Crimson…MKA is in a Metropolitan Independent Football League division this season along with fellow New Jersey schools Mo-Beard, Pingry and Newark Academy. MORRISTOWN-BEARD (2-1) 0 9 0 0 - 9 Follow Steve Tober on 'X' @Chattermeister
MKA's defense had a strong showing vs. Morristown-Beard, including junior lineman Langston Ajayi (71) who is seen putting halt to progress of Mo-Beard's Nick Anderson (13). The Cougars are led by their senior quad captains, from left, Nate Conforti (58) , Kalvin Thomas (13), Jack Scuorzo (5) and Ben Morganstein (66). There were superb efforts from Cougars defense in putting pressure on the Crimson's Ryan Novak (10), including with D-lineman Lincoln Hedberg (80) knocking away pass and Conforti and Evan Pratt (20) (bottom photo) making it difficult for QB. Copyright 2005 Sideline Chatter - comments - contact the webmaster
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