Montclair Prep Streak Hits 18 After 34-7 Win

Montclair Prep used a consistent ground game and a pair of kick returns for touchdowns to defeat Harvard-Westlake, 34-7, Friday night in a Southern Section Division IX first-round playoff game at Valley College.

Montclair Prep running back Demetris Green carried 13 times for 109 yards and a touchdown, and backfield mate Akil Anderson added 106 yards and a touchdown in 18 carries.

Montclair Prep (10-0) attempted only five passes, completing four for 64 yards.

The Mounties also received a 99-yard kickoff return from Keith Johnson for a touchdown in the second quarter and a 77-yard punt return for a score by Ken Peffer in the fourth quarter.

Montclair Prep, which captured the Southern Section Division X title in 1994, has won 18 consecutive games.

The Mounties, who led area Southern Section teams in yards allowed per game at 122, surrendered 200 to the Wolverines (4-7). Running back Abed Abusaleh gained 138 yards in 21 carries.

After a scoreless first quarter, Montclair Prep capped an 80-yard, 13-play drive on a one-yard run by Anderson.

Harvard tied the score when linebacker Odo Avizienis recovered Peffer’s fumble at the Montclair Prep 10 and returned it for a touchdown.

Seconds later, the Mounties broke the deadlock on Johnson’s kickoff return. Scott Stark’s extra point gave Montclair Prep a 14-7 lead.

Stark got his hands as well as his feet involved in the scoring with 1 minute 23 seconds to play in the half when he caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Robert Neumann.

The play capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive and gave the Mounties a 21-7 halftime lead.

Green scored on an 11-yard run early in the fourth quarter that finished an 11-play, 80-yard drive.

The Mounties’ final points came on Peffer’s punt return.