Ordille runs for four TDs in Mustangs’ 35-13 win over Millville
MILLVILLE — The Mustangs galloped into a second straight state Group IV semifinal appearance with one of their biggest wins in program history Nov. 10.
On the road at Wheaton Field, Mainland Regional High School ran over two-time defending state champion Millville High School 35-13 for the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV title.
Kickoff against Central Jersey Group IV champion Winslow Township High School is set for 6 p.m. Nov. 17 for a chance to advance to the state final the following weekend at Rutgers University.
Mainland, 12-0, avenged a heartbreaking 18-14 loss to Millville last year in the state semifinal and 62-0 two years ago, when many of the Mustangs seniors were starting as sophomores. Mainland players were not bashful to say those losses fueled their emotions during the upset victory.
“We remembered how we felt after the game last year, so this is what we wanted,” said running back Stephen Ordille, who rushed for 244 yards on 33 carries and four touchdowns in a defining performance. “We saw the NJ.com post with everyone picking Millville. It was cute until now. Now, everyone is quiet. We came out here and showed what we are about. Nobody expected this but this is what we do.”
And as big as that win was, the Mustangs said that celebration ended Saturday as they prepared for the state semifinal game against Winslow (10-2), a perennial playoff contender that reached the regional state finals two years ago.
Mainland head coach Chuck Smith said he will count on capitalizing on his team’s physical play to take them to the state final.
“That’s how we play,” he said. “We knew against Millville we were going to be a little bit overmatched up front but we knew we had to play at a different level and take it to them the best we could because our backs are pretty good.”
With Millville’s defense concentrating on stopping Mainland’s jet sweep between the tackles, Mainland opted for the wide runs by Ordille with blocking by slotbacks Cohen Cook and Rocco DeBiaso and pulling guard Dan DeFeo.
“It was a credit to my offensive line and my backs blocking and my tight end,” Ordille said. “We found that the outside game was working, so we stuck with that.”
Smith said even when Millville lined up in a defense to stop the run, his team fought for extra yardage with sheer determination.
“There were times where they had us outmanned and we just ran tough,” Smith said. “There were times they had a plus one [where we were running the play] but we ran tough. Stephen Ordille was a warrior-type runner out there.
“We didn’t come in here intimidated by the setting, that they were two-time champs. We came in here knowing that we were the better team and that’s how we approached the entire week.”
Smith said when the offense stumbled a few times, the defense was there to pick them up.
While Millville quarterback Jake Zamot was 15-24 for 221 yards, the most Mainland had given up this season, the Mustangs defense rushed many the Thunderbolts signal caller’s throws, forcing him into two interceptions at critical times.
“We came out with a chip on our shoulders from last year,” said Hunter Watson, who has emerged this year as Mainland’s main sack threat at linebacker. “We are coached to come out strong and play the game fast and physical.”
Mainland also bottled up Millville’s all-state wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks most of the night until later in the third quarter, when his 84-yard catch-and-run touchdown threatened to put the Thunderbolts back in the game with the score 21-13.
“We just had to stay positive,” Ordille said. “We knew he is a great player and would make plays. We still had the lead at that point and we controlled the clock and scored again.”
Similar to all of its wins throughout the season, Mainland dominated early by scoring touchdowns on its first two drives to jump out to a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
After forcing the Thunderbolts’ big-play offense to go 3-and-out on its first series, the Mustangs marched 62 yards on eight plays behind Ordille, who ripped off a 22-yard run and set up his 2-yard touchdown gallop with 4:45 left in the first quarter.
Mainland’s defense stopped Millville again on the next series and Ordille scored on a 50-yard run on the Mustangs’ next possession to go up two touchdowns just before the end of the opening quarter.
“We wanted to score points first and get them rattled early,” Ordille said. “We wanted to get them early, score and hold the lead. That’s what our plan was.”
Millville appeared to get some of its momentum back when Zamot found Ta’Ron Haile down the left sideline for a 12-yard touchdown catch on the first play of the second quarter, making the score 14-7.
It looked like the Thunderbolts were poised to tie the game on the next series.
The drove into Mainland’s end of the field, but a sack drove the Thunderbolts back across midfield and the series ended with a punt.
In one of the most pivotal drives of the night, Mainland went 72 yards on 12 plays, converting three third-down conversions, to score on a DeBiaso 4-yard run with 41 seconds left to take a 21-7 lead into halftime.
More importantly, Mainland chewed up nearly half the second-quarter clock with the drive, denying Millville a meaningful shot to tie the score.
The game’s second pivotal point came when Brooks broke free in the secondary for a highlight reel 84-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown on the last play of the third quarter, trimming the Mustangs’ lead to one score, 21-13.
Mainland responded with a 12-play, 65-yard drive behind the running of Ordille around left and right end to stretch the lead to 28-13. Ordille’s 7-yard touchdown run ended a drive that consumed more than half the fourth-quarter.
“It was big for us to drive the field, score points and use the clock,” Smith said. “We had to be a ball-control offense against them tonight. We were able to do that for the most part. I think we only punted three times.”
Jake Blum then intercepted Zamot on Millville’s next possession with 5:32 to play, essentially sealing the big win. DeBiaso finished the scoring with a 13-yard catch from quarterback John Franchini with 1:06 left to remove all doubt.
Ordille said the Mustangs want to continue their momentum against Winslow, another pass-happy team that scores points via the big play.
“We know Winslow is a great team and we’ll be ready,” Ordille said. “We showed if we can stick with Millville, we can stick with anyone.”
By CLYDE HUGHES/Special to the Sentinel
