“I stepped up in the pocket and no one was open as they put pressure on me, but I also knew that Zakir has the speed to get open so I just chucked it and I had confidence in his ability to get underneath it which he did to give us the lead.”
Huff, who finished with 4 catches for 127 yards, was one happy Mountie after the game while watching his young QB continue to progress well under the pressure of having to step in as a starter when two senior QBs in Jiles and Eli Miller absorbed injuries vs. Ridgewood in the opener, and in knowing that the team has different options to turn to in terms of multiple capable pass receivers.
“Andrew is coming along great and Jesiah came up with the game-winning catch today,” said the Mounties’ veteran wide receiver. “We have the talent here on this team and now after a big win to get to 2-1, we’re going to work on being 3-1 next week.”
Montclair is at Livingston next Friday night (Sept. 18), while Bloomfield hosts Clifton.
Veteran Bengals coach Mike Carter knows that his team has to make less mistakes than it did at Montclair as it moves forward looking to get back to the .500 mark vs. the struggling Mustangs on Friday night at Foley Field.
“It was a tough game between two similar teams,” he said. “Hats off to Montclair for the win and we have to keep moving and get back to work to try and improve in a number of areas.”
Bloomfield did receive a strong effort in its ground attack from junior running back Brandon Plummer who finished with 22 carries for 137 yards and a 19-yard TD run which had given his team a 13-7 lead with 8:12 left in the third quarter.
The Mounties blocked the extra point attempt at the time, which proved critical in the end.
“Our team never quits,” said standout two-way lineman and senior co-captain Avery Burden. “Even when we were tied up with a bad play allowing the blocked field goal just before halftime we didn’t let it affect us.
“We then came out of locker room in the third quarter determined to play good Mountie football and that’s what we did to get this win!”
Montclair’s first-year head coach Manj Singh was oozing with happiness about the win over a longtime rival.
“With Montclair-Bloomfield I don’t car what the records are because it’s such a great and longstanding rivalry I’m just happy to be a part of as a coach now,” he said. “Our kids came through with some big plays and responded well after the blocked field goal just before the half.
“We didn’t blame anyone for that, we were OK with everything else at that point and everyone just kept pushing forward.
“It’s all about restoring that feeling about Mountie football back in this community and to say that we’re still right here!”
NOTES- Singh said Jiles, who has been limited to defensive duty the last two games, should have a cast removed fairly soon and become another offensive weapon again…Jiles, Huff and fellow senior Cameron Whittinghton are among the key performers in a strong Montclair defensive secondary…Bloomfield junior QB Derek Kittner completed 9-of-16 passes for 74 yards…Bloomfield defeated Montclair, 46-21, in last year’s game, also at Woodman Field, on Sept. 13, 2025…Montclair’s D-lineman Burden, who had 7 tackles and 3 sacks along with 6 tackles for a loss in last weekend’s 18-6 win over Barringer, combined on a key third quarter sack vs. Bloomfield and has 5 ½ sacks on the season.
Super Football Conference-Freedom White Division Game:
BLOOMFIELD (1-2) 0 7 6 0 -13
MONTCLAIR (2-1) 0 7 0 7 -14
M- Zakir Huff 62 pass from Andrew Reynolds (Jaxon Parma kick)
B- Christian Cradle 55 return of blocked field goal (Joseph Hatton kick)
B- Brandon Plummer 19 run (kick blocked)
M- Jesiah Godfrey-Pelham 12 pass from Reynolds (Parma kick)
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***
Montclair vs. Bloomfield Football History
All-time series: Montclair leads, 77-27-1
Series notes:
* Montclair leads all-time in Thanksgiving week matchup, 56-24-1
* Montclair led original Thanksgiving series, 33-21-1 (29-7-1 during the Clary & Butch years; Bloomfield won 14 of the first 18 prior to their arrival)
* Montclair is 4-0 in playoff matchups between the teams, including 2012 North 1, Group 5 championship game
* Montclair’s longest win streak in series: 22 (1946-67), followed by 13-game win streak from 1992-2002 and a 12-game streak from 2004-14.
* Montclair’s biggest win in series history: 58-0 in 1946
* Bloomfield’s longest win streak in series: 8 (1930-37)
* Bloomfield’s biggest win in series history: 53-0 in 1933
* In 2026, Bloomfield looking for its first consecutive wins vs. Montclair since 2002-03
Game results:
Modern Era (2018-present)
Year Date Site Winner and score Notes
2025 Sept. 13 Woodman Field Bloomfield, 46-21
2024 Sept. 12 Foley Field Montclair, 48-14
2021 Sept. 25 Woodman Field Montclair, 38-0
2020 Oct. 2 Foley Field Montclair, 57-14
2019 Oct. 18 Foley Field Montclair, 48-0
2018 Oct. 13 Woodman Field Montclair, 51-14
Modern Thanksgiving Series Era (1992-2017)
Year Date Site Winner and score Notes
2017 Nov. 22 Foley Field Montclair, 49-13 Thanksgiving Eve
2016 Nov. 24 Woodman Field Montclair, 30-23 Thanksgiving
2016 Nov. 11 Foley Field Montclair, 40-14 N1G5 quarterfinal
2015 Nov. 25 Foley Field Bloomfield, 41-27 Thanksgiving Eve
2014 Nov. 28 Woodman Field Montclair, 35-7 Black Friday
2013 Nov. 28 Foley Field Montclair, 21-16 Thanksgiving
2012 Dec. 8 MetLife Stadium Montclair, 16-13 (2OT) N1G5 championship
2012 Nov. 22 Woodman Field Montclair, 14-7 Thanksgiving
2011 Nov. 23 Foley Field Montclair, 51-7 Thanksgiving Eve
2010 Nov. 25 Woodman Field Montclair, 47-21 Thanksgiving
Year Date Site Winner and score Notes
2009 Nov. 27 Woodman Field Montclair, 41-34 Black Friday
2008 Nov. 27 Woodman Field Montclair, 21-13 Thanksgiving
2007 Nov. 22 Foley Field Montclair, 10-7 Thanksgiving
2006 Nov. 23 Woodman Field Montclair, 28-0 Thanksgiving
2005 Nov. 24 Foley Field Montclair, 14-13 Thanksgiving
2004 Nov. 25 Van Brunt Field Montclair, 21-3 Thanksgiving
2003 Nov. 27 Foley Field Bloomfield, 12-8 Thanksgiving
2002 Nov. 28 Woodman Field Bloomfield, 13-12 Thanksgiving
2002 Nov. 15 Foley Field Montclair, 37-6 N2G4 quarterfinal
2001 Nov. 22 Foley Field Montclair, 28-6 Thanksgiving
2001 Nov. 10 Woodman Field Montclair, 35-14 N2G4 quarterfinal
2000 Nov. 23 Woodman Field Montclair, 21-20 Thanksgiving
1999 Nov. 25 Foley Field Montclair, 47-22 Thanksgiving
1998 Nov. 27 Woodman Field Montclair, 13-7 Black Friday
1997 Nov. 27 Foley Field Montclair, 40-0 Thanksgiving
1996 Nov. 28 Woodman Field Montclair, 21-10 Thanksgiving
1995 Nov. 23 Foley Field Montclair, 20-13 Thanksgiving
1994 Nov. 24 Woodman Field Montclair, 13-9 Thanksgiving
1993 Nov. 25 Foley Field Montclair, 21-7 Thanksgiving
1992 Nov. 26 Woodman Field Montclair, 13-0 Thanksgiving
NNJIL Era (1976-91)
Year Date Site Winner and score Notes
1991 Sept. 27 Foley Field Bloomfield, 12-0
1990 Sept. 23 Woodman Field Montclair, 22-9
1987 Oct. 17 Foley Field Montclair, 54-0
1986 Oct. 18 Woodman Field Montclair, 43-0
1985 Oct. 11 Foley Field Montclair, 20-6
1984 Oct. 7 Woodman Field Montclair, 30-0
1983 Nov. 12 Foley Field Montclair, 42-0
1982 Nov. 13 Foley Field Montclair, 33-0
Classic Thanksgiving Series Era (1922-76)
Year Date Site Winner and score Notes
1976 Nov. 25 Woodman Field Montclair, 7-6 Thanksgiving
1975 Nov. 29 Foley Field Montclair, 12-0 Sat. after T’giving
Year Date Site Winner and score Notes
1974 Nov. 28 Woodman Field Bloomfield, 34-7 Thanksgiving
1973 Nov. 22 Foley Field Bloomfield, 15-12 Thanksgiving
1972 Nov. 23 Woodman Field Montclair, 15-13 Thanksgiving
1971 Nov. 27 Foley Field Bloomfield, 21-12 Sat. after T’giving
1970 Nov. 26 Woodman Field Bloomfield, 13-8 Thanksgiving
1969 Nov. 27 Foley Field Bloomfield, 17-8 Thanksgiving
1968 Nov. 28 Woodman Field TIE, 7-7 Thanksgiving
1967 Nov. 25 Foley Field Montclair, 20-0 Thanksgiving
1966 Nov. 24 Woodman Field Montclair, 49-14 Thanksgiving
1965 Nov. 25 Foley Field Montclair, 14-13 Thanksgiving
1964 Nov. 26 Woodman Field Montclair, 41-7 Thanksgiving
1963 Nov. 28 Foley Field Montclair, 13-6 Thanksgiving
1962 Nov. 22 Woodman Field Montclair, 34-0 Thanksgiving
1961 Nov. 23 Foley Field Montclair, 27-12 Thanksgiving
1960 Nov. 24 Woodman Field Montclair, 33-6 Thanksgiving
1959 Nov. 26 Foley Field Montclair, 6-0 Thanksgiving
1958 Nov. 27 Woodman Field Montclair, 32-7 Thanksgiving
1957 Nov. 28 Foley Field Montclair, 21-3 Thanksgiving
1956 Nov. 22 Woodman Field Montclair, 33-7 Thanksgiving
1955 Nov. 24 Foley Field Montclair, 18-0 Thanksgiving
1954 Nov. 25 Woodman Field Montclair, 34-0 Thanksgiving
1953 Nov. 26 Foley Field Montclair, 20-7 Thanksgiving
1952 Nov. 27 Woodman Field Montclair, 44-7 Thanksgiving
1951 Nov. 22 Foley Field Montclair, 20-13 Thanksgiving
1950 Nov. 23 Woodman Field Montclair, 40-0 Thanksgiving
1949 Nov. 24 Foley Field Montclair, 45-13 Thanksgiving
1948 Nov. 25 Woodman Field Montclair, 26-7 Thanksgiving
1947 Nov. 27 Foley Field Montclair, 13-0 Thanksgiving
1946 Nov. 28 Woodman Field Montclair, 58-0 Thanksgiving
1945 Nov. 24 Foley Field Bloomfield, 13-0 Sat. after T’giving
1944 Nov. 23 Woodman Field Montclair, 20-6 Thanksgiving
1943 Nov. 25 Foley Field Montclair, 46-0 Thanksgiving
1942 Nov. 26 Woodman Field Bloomfield, 13-0 Thanksgiving
1941 Nov. 20 Foley Field Montclair, 38-7 Thanksgiving
1940 Nov. 21 Essex Field (Mtc) Montclair, 40-0 Thanksgiving
1939 Nov. 23 Foley Field Bloomfield, 26-0 Thanksgiving
1938 Nov. 24 Essex Field (Mtc) Montclair, 14-13 Thanksgiving
Year Date Site Winner and score Notes
1937 Nov. 25 Bengal Field (Blm) Bloomfield, 31-0 Thanksgiving
1936 Nov. 26 Essex Field (Mtc) Bloomfield, 21-0 Thanksgiving
1935 Nov. 28 Bengal Field (Blm) Bloomfield, 12-0 Thanksgiving
1934 Nov. 29 Essex Field (Mtc) Bloomfield, 13-0 Thanksgiving
1933 Nov. 30 Bloomfield Stadium Bloomfield, 53-0 Thanksgiving
1932 Nov. 24 Essex Field (Mtc) Bloomfield, 7-0 Thanksgiving
1931 Nov. 26 Bloomfield Stadium Bloomfield, 37-7 Thanksgiving
1930 Nov. 27 Essex Field (Mtc) Bloomfield, 25-0 Thanksgiving
1929 Nov. 28 Bloomfield Stadium Montclair, 7-0 Thanksgiving
1928 Nov. 29 Essex Field (Mtc) Bloomfield, 27-6 Thanksgiving
1927 Nov. 24 Bloomfield Stadium Montclair, 6-0 Thanksgiving
1926 Nov. 25 Essex Field (Mtc) Bloomfield, 27-0 Thanksgiving
1925 Nov. 26 Bloomfield Stadium Bloomfield, 45-0 Thanksgiving
1924 Nov. 27 Essex Field (Mtc) Montclair, 6-0 Thanksgiving
1923 Nov. 29 Bloomfield Stadium Bloomfield, 33-0 Thanksgiving
1922 Nov. 30 Essex Field (Mtc) Bloomfield, 14-0 Thanksgiving
Early Era (pre-1922)
Year Date Site Winner and score Notes
1907 Oct. 19 Watsessing Park Montclair, 26-4
1906 Nov. 7 Watsessing Park Montclair, 17-6
1905 Oct. 4 Mtc Athletic Club Montclair, 12-0
1904 Oct. 5 Mtc Athletic Club Bloomfield, 5-0
1903 Oct. 21 Mtc Athletic Club Montclair, 18-6
*Thanks for Kevin Meacham for compiling the Mounties-Bengals football history
