Save for two long touchdown bombs, MHS had little spark, receiving an assist from Mother Nature’s swirling winds and driving rains to keep the game close.

"We didn’t play with a great deal of intensity from the start, and, unfortunately for us, it carried through most of the game," Montclair coach Ed Lebida said. "Clifton was big and physical, and we missed some assignments at critical times where a gain of two yards could have been 25 yards. That goes back to a lack of intensity on our part."

After Montclair tied the game late in the third quarter, CHS took advantage of good field position on its final possession of the contest to register the go-ahead score with 2:38 remaining.

"When looking at teams at the end of last season, Hackensack and Clifton were two teams that didn’t have great years, but their kids gained a lot experience by playing as underclassmen," Lebida said. "We’d certainly like another shot at them in the playoffs."

The Mounties dropped from third place to sixth in the current North 1, Group 4 power-point standings, while Clifton vaulted itself into the No. 2 spot with its win. Four teams -- including MHS and CHS -- currently in one of the eight playoff spots have two games remaining before the cutoff. The remaining four will play their final game this weekend that allows them to accumulate power points.

It’s likely that teams currently in the playoff spots will move up, down or fall out of contention. Projecting where the teams will end up would be futile at this time. Montclair can help its cause, but not guarantee a spot, with a win at Teaneck Saturday night.

"We are focused on beating Teaneck and then seeing where we stand in the seedings," said Lebida. "We know that winning the next two games will give us the best opportunity to make the tournament. We’ll see what happens from there."

’STANGS SCORE FIRST

Clifton capped a 7-play, 58-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run from fullback Nick Giordano with 1:15 remaining in the first quarter. Following the PAT kick, the Mustangs led, 7-0.

In heavy rain, Montclair ran 10 plays on its ensuing drive but only gained 25 yards before turning the ball over on down to CHS at it 42-yard line. Seven of the plays were runs, and MHS junior quarterback Marquis Staton, who was making his first varsity start, was either sacked or tackled after tucking the ball on the other three plays.

"We are deepest at the wide receiver position, and that’s why we run the spread offense. But the elements didn’t allow for much passing on Saturday," Lebida said. "The game’s result can’t be blamed on that, though. We just didn’t have the intensity we needed."

The Mounties forced a punt on the Mustangs’ next possession, starting their drive at their own 29. Facing a third-and-11 from his own 39-yard line, Staton narrowly avoided a sack and heaved a ball down the left sideline. Senior Karee Jeffrey took an apparent interception away from a CHS defensive back at the 20 and coasted into the end zone to pull Montclair to within 7-6 with 4:39 remaining in the first half.

The extra-point sailed left, leaving the locals down by a point.

On the ensuing kickoff, MHS needed a player to hold the ball due to blustery winds. The kick traveled 13 yards before Kyle Gayle apparently recovered the onside kick for the Mounties. Officials, however, ruled the kick dead because it hit the holder, forcing a re-kick.

The new kick sailed out of bounds, and the Mustangs opted for Montclair to kick off once more from its own 20. CHS returned the kick to the MHS 46, and seven plays later, Giordano punched it in from a yard out for a 14-6 lead just before halftime.

On their final scoring possession, the Mounties lost seven yards on two running plays before Staton hit Jeffrey in stride for a 40-yard TD. Trailing 14-12, Staton escaped a rush and drilled a pass to classmate Drew Jenkins for a 2-point conversion with 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Bolstered again by good field position on its game-winning drive, Clifton went 42 yards in eight plays, with Giordano bulling his way into the end zone from two yards out.

Mountie Notebook: Prior to Saturday’s game, the renovated Furlong Field House, named in honor of Montclair High Class of 1941 graduate Robert Furlong, was dedicated in a ceremony led by Schools Superintendent Frank Alvarez.

Formerly known as the Woodman Fieldhouse, the 17,500-square-foot complex houses locker rooms, a trainer’s room, separate weight-training and cardiovascular floors and a multipurpose room that looks out onto Woodman Field.

"The gleam in the eyes of the kids who were at the ceremony spoke volumes about how excited they are for the facility," said Lebida, who attended the dedication before hustling off to his team’s pre-game warm-ups.

Start time for Montclair’s game in Teaneck Saturday night is 7 p.m. The Highwaymen are one of a few teams in New Jersey to play their games on Saturday night.

MHS senior offensive guard and defensive lineman Rylan Kelleher did not play a down during the second half against Clifton after having trouble breathing due to a bruise near his neckline. It’s likely, however, that he will play Saturday.

"Rylan was back practicing today and said he feels better," Lebida said Tuesday.

Junior running back and linebacker David Coleman (knee) and senior offensive lineman Cydd Newton (unspecified injury) dressed against Clifton after each player was out for nearly a month. The pair will be a bigger part of Saturday’s game plan, said Lebida.

Quarterback Luke Iovine, who suffered a minor concussion two weeks ago against Ridgewood, will not play against Teaneck.

"We will have the results back from Luke’s MRI tomorrow, and that will allow us to know if he can play against Hackensack [Nov. 8]," Lebida said on Tuesday.