West Haven - On Montville's second play from scrimmage on Saturday afternoon, Tyler Girard-Floyd rumbled through the line of scrimmage and fumbled the ball, which skittered toward the end zone at Ken Strong Stadium.Montville receiver Jesse Sutherland picked it up and ran to the St. Joseph 2-yard line, where the Indians would have a first-and-goal.

Montville receiver Jesse Sutherland picked it up and ran to the St. Joseph 2-yard line, where the Indians would have a first-and-goal.It was the last fortuitous bounce the Indians would get on a cold and rainy day.

It was the last fortuitous bounce the Indians would get on a cold and rainy day.Two plays later, quarterback J.P. Morales fumbled the snap and St. Joseph's Tyler Matakevich recovered in the end zone, which was a sign of things to come for Montville.

Two plays later, quarterback J.P. Morales fumbled the snap and St. Joseph's Tyler Matakevich recovered in the end zone, which was a sign of things to come for Montville.No. 2 Montville couldn't overcome six turnovers on Saturday as the Indians fell to No. 4 St. Joseph of Trumbull, 14-3, in the Class SS final and failed to capture the school's elusive first state football championship.

No. 2 Montville couldn't overcome six turnovers on Saturday as the Indians fell to No. 4 St. Joseph of Trumbull, 14-3, in the Class SS final and failed to capture the school's elusive first state football championship."We didn't finish the way we wanted to finish," said Morales, who accounted for 129 yards (76 passing, 53 rushing). "It's unfortunate, but you can't change it. You just have to move forward. I wish Montville the best of luck next year. I'll be on the sideline rooting for them."

"We didn't finish the way we wanted to finish," said Morales, who accounted for 129 yards (76 passing, 53 rushing). "It's unfortunate, but you can't change it. You just have to move forward. I wish Montville the best of luck next year. I'll be on the sideline rooting for them."The turnovers finally caught up with the Indians (10-2) in the fourth quarter, when Matakevich scored a pair of 1-yard runs.

The turnovers finally caught up with the Indians (10-2) in the fourth quarter, when Matakevich scored a pair of 1-yard runs.Montville ran just seven offensive plays in the fourth period without picking up a first down, and turned the ball over twice.

Montville ran just seven offensive plays in the fourth period without picking up a first down, and turned the ball over twice."You have to be able to overcome those things," Montville coach Tanner Grove said. "Those things happen in football games sometimes."

"You have to be able to overcome those things," Montville coach Tanner Grove said. "Those things happen in football games sometimes."Girard-Floyd ran 10 times for 29 yards, while Skyler McNair ran for a 44-yard gain on his first carry, but finished with 48 yards and fumbled twice.

Girard-Floyd ran 10 times for 29 yards, while Skyler McNair ran for a 44-yard gain on his first carry, but finished with 48 yards and fumbled twice."They found out our blocking schemes and we couldn't do anything," McNair said of the Cadets (10-2). "You can't have turnovers. They were probably one of the best defenses we've played in that second half. When you're getting hit by three or four kids and trying to fight off tackles and hold on to the ball, its hard."

"They found out our blocking schemes and we couldn't do anything," McNair said of the Cadets (10-2). "You can't have turnovers. They were probably one of the best defenses we've played in that second half. When you're getting hit by three or four kids and trying to fight off tackles and hold on to the ball, its hard."Said Grove: "We wanted to stay true to our run game. We have two great running backs and we wanted to give them the ball as much as we could on championship Saturday."

Said Grove: "We wanted to stay true to our run game. We have two great running backs and we wanted to give them the ball as much as we could on championship Saturday."Despite the turnovers, the Indians led 3-0 at halftime when Ben Middel kicked a 47-yard field goal with a few yards to spare as time expired in the second quarter, which was set up by a Ricky Fort intercpetion.

Despite the turnovers, the Indians led 3-0 at halftime when Ben Middel kicked a 47-yard field goal with a few yards to spare as time expired in the second quarter, which was set up by a Ricky Fort intercpetion. They didn't allow St. Joseph's inside their 25-yard line in the first half and, after McNair lost a fumble on Montville's first possession of the second half, Girard-Floyd blocked a field goal attempt as the Indians held on to their lead.

They didn't allow St. Joseph's inside their 25-yard line in the first half and, after McNair lost a fumble on Montville's first possession of the second half, Girard-Floyd blocked a field goal attempt as the Indians held on to their lead."Our kids fought and clawed," Grove said. "This team averages 30-some odd points a game. We shut them out in the first half and held them to two (touchdowns) in the second. Nobody's kept them to 14 points all year. That's a testament to how hard our defense worked."

"Our kids fought and clawed," Grove said. "This team averages 30-some odd points a game. We shut them out in the first half and held them to two (touchdowns) in the second. Nobody's kept them to 14 points all year. That's a testament to how hard our defense worked."After a bad punt by Jesse Sutherland, the Cadets, who didn't throw a pass in the second half, put the ball in Matakevich's hands on eight straight plays, leading to his go-ahead 1-yard run on the second play of the fourth quarter.

After a bad punt by Jesse Sutherland, the Cadets, who didn't throw a pass in the second half, put the ball in Matakevich's hands on eight straight plays, leading to his go-ahead 1-yard run on the second play of the fourth quarter.McNair's second fumble was recovered by St. Joseph's inside the 10-yard line and led to the second touchdown by Matakevich, who finished with 111 yards on 31 carries.

McNair's second fumble was recovered by St. Joseph's inside the 10-yard line and led to the second touchdown by Matakevich, who finished with 111 yards on 31 carries.So the Indians, who qualified for the state playoffs for the second straight year and hosted the school's first-ever playoff game on Tuesday, still have to live with the reputation that they can't win a big game, despite improving every year since Grove came back to his alma mater four years ago.

So the Indians, who qualified for the state playoffs for the second straight year and hosted the school's first-ever playoff game on Tuesday, still have to live with the reputation that they can't win a big game, despite improving every year since Grove came back to his alma mater four years ago."We're not going to let one moment or one play or one game define our whole season." Grove said. "When you start to get to these levels of success, expectations become crazy. Each year we've gotten better. Each year we've gone further and each year we've taken another step towards this, towards this moment and that's what I'm proud of."

"We're not going to let one moment or one play or one game define our whole season." Grove said. "When you start to get to these levels of success, expectations become crazy. Each year we've gotten better. Each year we've gone further and each year we've taken another step towards this, towards this moment and that's what I'm proud of."