RICHLAND — If Mainland Regional High School was looking to go into the annual rivalry game against Ocean City (4-1) on a high note this week, the Mustangs got just the opposite last Friday in a 21-3 loss to state-ranked St. Augustine Prep (4-1) on the road.
The loss drops Mainland, the defending Group IV state champion, to 3-2 on the season, albeit with both of those losses against state-ranked opponents — Millville and now the Prep.
“It was a great job by the Prep,” Mainland coach Chuck Smith said after the game. “They’re a big, physical team and they really took it to us on both sides of the football. I don’t think we showed up to play a football game tonight, but that’s on me as coach.”
Smith, however, expected more out of his team after a solid 31-0 victory over traditionally strong Cherokee High School. The Prep beat Cherokee 21-7 the week before, giving the Mustang faithful a lot of hope going into western Atlantic County.
“After last week’s performance and this game, it was like night and day,” Smith said. “We’re going to have to go back to the drawing board and I’m going to have to do a better job in getting these guys ready.”
The Mustangs’ hopes were dashed behind a relentless defensive pressure on Mainland’s passing game and the hard running of Julian Turney and Roman Coney. The Hermits forced the Mustangs into five turnovers — four interceptions and a fumble — and a single-game high in penalties (7 for 55 yards).
“We were just getting beat upfront most of the game,” Smith said. “When you’re getting beaten that often, the penalties are going to come.”
In fairness, Mainland was missing Rocco DiBiaso, one of the key components of its state championship run last year at running back and linebacker. DiBiaso was hurt early in the Cherokee game and missed his first full contest against the Prep with a leg injury.
Smith said while DiBiaso is “day-to-day” regarding when he will return, he made no excuses for his squad’s poor performance. It was the first time Mainland’s offense was held without a touchdown since a game against Millville in the 2021 season.
“Hats off to their defense,” Smith said. “They are physical and just took it to us in all phases, not just only in their run defense but pass defense as well. We’ll have to watch film and learn from this.”
The Hermits banged out 301 yards in total offense — 223 of that on the ground — while limiting the Mustangs to 141, making the margin of victory feel a lot larger than the reality.
Offensively, it was the first game this year Mainland quarterback John Franchini was held to fewer than 100 yards in a game (95). The four interceptions were more than he had over the past two years combined, but Franchini was under nonstop heat from the Hermits.
Often facing backside pressure, Franchini was forced to scramble extensively throughout the game.
On the other side of the ball, Mainland struggled to stop the run, with Turney becoming the fifth straight running back to gain more than 100 yards on the Mustangs.
Throughout the season, Mainland had been able to limit that damage by shutting down teams in the Red Zone and in three-and-long situations. The Mustangs struggled to do that early, allowing the Prep to take a 14-3 lead into halftime.
An interception by the Mustangs in the end zone as time expired for halftime prevented the Hermits from tacking on another score.
Mainland received the second-half kickoff with a chance to get back in the game. Franchini completed a key 17-yard, third-down completion to Jake Blum and another 19-yard strike to Liam Kennedy to move the ball to the 48, but an interception ended the promising drive.
The Hermits needed only four plays to capitalize, with Coney finishing off the drive with a 26-yard touchdown run with 6:25 left in the period. While the Mustang defense would not give up another score, the Prep’s defense remained impenetrable, with Mainland managing a three-and-out and two interceptions on the last three drives with the first team.
Turney finished the game with 136 yards on 17 carries. Chase Hoag topped Mainland ball carriers with 20 yards on eight carries.
There will be no time to rest for Mainland as the Mustangs return home against Ocean City with their 13-game home winning streak on the line. Mainland snapped a five-game losing streak to the Red Raiders last year with a 35-0 win.
Smith said his squad will have to figure out what they did wrong quickly from last Friday to have a chance in the Cross Bay Classic.
“We’re going to have to play a lot better than we did tonight if we’re going to have a chance,” Smith said. “They’re a pretty good football team.”
Ocean City, 4-1, is coming off a 28-14 victory over Hammonton last week. Mainland beat Hammonton 36-6 earlier this season.
The Red Raiders’ only loss came to Atlantic City the week before, 21-14. Mainland defeated Atlantic City 30-18 in a hard-fought game during the Battle at the Beach season-opener.
Ocean City is averaging 24.2 points per game while giving up just 11.2 points. Mainland is averaging 21.4 points per game, but scored more than 30 points in its three victories. The defense is surrendering 17 points per game.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Corral in Linwood.
– STORY by CLYDE HUGHES/For the Sentinel
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
