After falling to Hopewell Valley 42-0 at home last season, watching a 14-0 lead evaporate and giving up 20 straight points – six on a 45-yard pick-six – it could have been very easy for the Montgomery football team to watch its 2025 season opener slip through the players’ collective fingertips.

But that didn’t happen.

Montgomery got an 11-yard touchdown run by Caiden Miller and an extra point from Trey McFadden to take a one-point lead, 21-20, gave it back on a seven-yard touchdown catch by Jude Berman – who then threw a two-point conversion – and tied it up with a 78-yard kick return by Gesira Walcott to send it to overtime, tied 28-all.

In the overtime, the Cougars struck first. A 25-yard touchdown pass from QB Jack Kristjanson to Obinna Obuba – who’s also a champion hurdler on the track team – plus a McFadden PAT made it 35-28. The defense held on the Bulldogs’ turn, and head coach Sean Carty got his first win as Montgomery head coach in his debut game.

Kristjanson had a big night, too: 13-of-21 passing for 175 yards. McFadden also grabbed a game-high seven passes for 110 yards.

It was a huge win for the program, which went winless last year after taking heavy graduation losses. But to not only come back with a win, to top a team that blanked you and put up 40-plus just a year ago, spoke to the great strides the Cougars have made since. And it was on the road, to boot.

The Cougars (1-0) will play their home opener next Friday night at 7:00 when they entertain Summit (1-0), a 14-11 winner at Morristown Friday night.

Click below for postgame reaction from Montgomery Head Coach Sean Carty: