Montclair Resident Boosts MKA Gridders

Montclair resident Benji Safirstein is one of the valuable returning seniors this fall for the Montclair Kimberley Academy football team which looks to make a run at a Metropolitan Independent Football League division title while competing at a high level among the better small private schools in the New Jersey-New York-Connecticut-based conference.

"Benji is a standout at linebacker for us where he also excelled last year and he will be more involved on offense at running back as well," said veteran MKA coach Anthony Rea. "He provides solid play and is one of the experienced seniors who we count on against our challenging schedule."

MKA was off to a 1-3 start through the first half of its regular season with a 14-13 win vs. Pingry and a tough 20-14 overtime setback to Riverdale Country Day (N.Y.) School among its very competitive early-season MIFL contests.

Safirstein had recorded 17 tackles, including 8 solo stops to go along with an interception, a sack, a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery has he has maintained a very active and productive presence on the defensive side through the first four contests for MKA.

He recorded 49 tackles last fall for a Cougars team that finished a superb 8-1 and won its MIFL division title.