Raider and Mustang faithful love the annual rivalry games
LINWOOD — Ever since 1961, when Mainland Regional split off from Ocean City City High School, there has been a cross-bridge rivalry that draws fans whenever the Mustangs and Red Raiders teams meet.
And no rivalry game is bigger than football when the stadium gets packed and the colorful lighting on the Route 52 causeway between the island of Ocean City and Somers Point on the mainland is at stake.
“It’s the Battle of the Bridge,” Andrea Vicente said Friday evening before the latest football game at the Mustang Corral in Linwood. “They love to light up that bridge. That’s what it’s all about.”
She and her husband went to — gasp! — Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, but they have been attending Mustang games for years because their three children all attended Mainland Regional. Their children are 20, 24 and 27 years old, so they’ve seen their share. “People have been here way longer than us, but it’s a long time for us,” she said.
“I’ve seen a lot of Mainland-Ocean rivalry games over the years. It’s all for the kids, but it is fun,” said 1978 grad Jim Norman, referencing some of the exceptional talent that came out of Mainland including stars Dave Clement and John Stone from years ago. “I always support the team.”
One woman approached by a reporter wasn’t eager to answer a question about the rivalry because she thought it was a different type of quiz. “I don’t want to sing the alma mater because I don’t remember it,” she said, laughing. “I’m here because my daughter cheers.”
Another trio, approached and asked about the rivalry, saw two hurry off while pointing to the third, laughing.
“We went to Holy Spirit. She’s the only Mainland (grad),” they said. That woman, fearless in the face of a simple question, said she enjoys the social and competitive aspects.
“We end up knowing a lot of people from both communities,” Jamie Russo said, “so it ends up being fun competing against each other and being friends off the field after.”
Longtime Mainland Regional athletic director Michael Gatley retired after school ended last summer, but is still enjoying himself on the sidelines watching his Mustangs.
“They’re close enough that you have a lot of people, even the elderly people here, grandparents, they went to Ocean City and some of them came over to Mainland when it opened,” Gatley said. “There are a lot of people on both sides. Although the bridge separates them, there’s a lot of connection between the two towns.”
“Ultimately it’s about the kids,” he added. “We try to provide a great atmosphere for the kids, not just the players, but the kids in the stands and the families. It’s an event and we always try to wrap homecoming around it because it brings out extra. At each one of these games we say if you’re not ready to play, there’s something wrong.”
“The communities are so intertwined, it makes it so much more competitive that way,” Ocean City High School athletic director Mike Pellegrino said. “Families have known each other for generations. People bleed green. People bleed red. It’s a true statement of both communities.
“Any time they face off, it doesn’t matter what the sport is, everybody is hyped up, everybody’s amped. You know, it’s bragging rights,” Pellegrino said. “It literally is bragging rights between the two communities.”
Although the competitions can be fierce, there is camaraderie as well.
“We do some great things together and I always look forward to the things we always accomplish when the two communities come together, such as Coaches vs. Cancer (games), and other things we fund through the communities,” Pellegrino said. “It’s just fun to be a part of.”
No fans are more happily rabid than the student cheering sections — the Corral Crazies for Mainland and Raider Nation for Ocean City.
The rivalry games are “just fun. I’m a senior now, so I enjoy them,” Mainland student Neven Vangelov said. “They’ve been fun to attend for the past three years.”
He enjoys being part of the Corral Crazies, who were all decked out in white. “The student section gets loud. That’s a positive.”
“It’s just fun to be a part of,” fellow senior Luke Boyce said. He likes the white-out. “Everyone wears white. It’s easy.”
“I like the intensity about it,” added another senior, Gannon Mulloy. “I love that some of the kids (on both sides) grew up together. They know each other, so they’re playing against their best friend. I admire that. And it’s a lot of fun supporting that.”
“I like the energy,” Steven Wildman said. “It’s really awesome coming out here with my friends, enjoying the game and getting hyped, especially against rival O.C.
“It might get a little physical. Who knows? Go Mainland,” he added, drawing laughs from his friends.
The Crazies’ counterparts were all dressed in black.
“I just think it’s a great rivalry,” said Vander Reeves, who was with a group of OCHS friends. “We’ve been here since we were freshmen and we’re all seniors now, so we anticipate it every year.”
He said they enjoy being part of Raider Nation. That cheering section is there for football, basketball and spring sports, he said.
“I think it’s a fun atmosphere. We know everyone from Mainland and they know us, so it’s a fun rivalry,” Ocean City student Scarlett Fletcher said.
“I feel like the rivalry is a good atmosphere and our traditions are so good,” added fellow student Aliza Otton.
“I have a bunch of close friends I’ve known since I was such a little kid,” student athlete Katie Pierce said. “I love all the people here. No hate. Obviously I want Ocean City to win, but if Mainland wins I’ll be like, ‘OK, whatever.’ But I want O.C. to win; I love knowing everyone here. It’s such a great atmosphere.”
Another OCHS student, Allie Hudson, loves her friends on the other side of the stadium, but still wants her team to win.
“I have so many close friends here. I grew up with all the Mainland people. I love them so much, but O.C. on top,” Hudson said, drawing screams from her Raider Nation friends when she added, “We’re here to win!”
Adults were enjoying the atmosphere before the gain.
“It’s always fun to get the two teams in the same (area) battling to see who is the best,” said transplant Randy Fox, whose wife went to Mainland. Their daughter is a Linwood Panther cheerleader who was taking part with the Mustang varsity cheerleaders — an added reason to attend the game.
“This dates back how long? It’s a never-ending rivalry,” said Mark Pancoast, an Ocean City police officer who lives in Upper Township and serves as a member of Township Committee.
“You have two beautiful towns, two like towns that are just going at it. I think that’s what draws these people out here. It’s always fun to watch high school football. It’s a beautiful facility here. It’s great,” he said.
His father, Tom Pancoast of the Manahawkin area, offered his own reason to come to the games. “My grandson plays on the team and I come to watch him as many times as I can and I enjoy it.”
“I’ve been a Linwood resident for 51 years,” said Mary Joseph, then she pointed to her daughter, Abby Pancoast. “She went to Mainland and my grandson plays for Ocean City. Let me tell you, she played field hockey for Mainland and there was a big rivalry between Ocean City and Mainland, but now I have to root for Ocean City. I’m sorry,” she said, laughing.
That former Mustang field hockey player (whose team color was green, green, green) was fully decked out in red — red T-shirt, red hat, red bell, red hat and red O.C. earrings to boot. “This has been going on for years and I played field hockey here. When I went here we won the state championships in football,” the 1996 grad said. “This is a big-time game. Battle of the Bridge.”
“We beat them my sophomore year,” she added, feeling her Mustang pride despite all the Red Raider accoutrements. “There is (still that pride), but I have to cheer for my son.”
“I think rivalries are only special when both teams have success,” said Mainland athletic director Billy Kern, himself a former Mustang athlete. “Their program has been strong for a ton of years. Our program has been strong, so I think the best rivalries you find are the ones where there’s good kids, good people and good communities.
“And that’s what you get with the mainland area and all of Ocean City and Upper Township.”
For the record, Ocean City and Mainland battled through three quarters of scoreless football in an exceptional defensive struggle. The Mustangs went on to win 14-0.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff