Mustang running back credits O-line for helping him get 6 TDs in a single game
MAYS LANDING – Even for an illustrious career as a four-year starter that has led to Division I scholarship offers from major conferences, last Friday was a banner night by Ja’Briel Mace standards.
Bouncing back from a heartbreaking loss to rival Ocean City, Mace rushed for 207 yards and six touchdowns, five of those in the first half, as Mainland Regional cruised to a 49-0 road victory over Oakcrest High School.
The Mustangs, now 2-1 on the season, will try to build on that momentum when they play their first home game this Friday against Atlantic City High School.
Mainland is now 2-0 in the United Division of the West Jersey Football League and will play a much-improved Atlantic City team for what could be an early decision maker for the divisional crown. The Vikings are 2-0 and averaging more than 30 points per game with wins over Clearview (35-17) and Absegami (32-7).
The week before, Mainland blew a two-touchdown lead in falling to rival Ocean City 21-20. Last week, the Mustangs removed all doubt early with six first half-touchdowns and a 42-0 lead at halftime against Oakcrest.
All Mainland had to worry about in the second half was a running clock and getting younger players a chance to participate in the contest.
“We let one get away obviously but we came in with a chip on our shoulder with something to prove every week,” said Mace, who scored five touchdowns and rushed for 153 yards all in the first half.
When asked about his performance, one of the best in his career, he smiled and pointed to his offensive line.
“It’s kind of crazy, but everything goes to those guys right there,” Mace said of his teammates who block for him along the offensive line. “It’s about getting the win and that’s what we do.”
Mainland’s first touchdown was indicative of how his night went. After holding Oakcrest on a 3-and-out to start the game and a short punt, the Mustangs opened its first drive on its own 49.
Three plays later on the Falcons’ 36, Mace shook off tacklers near the line of scrimmage, found a hole and darted through bodies for a touchdown run on a play that didn’t look like much when it started.
“He’s a very strong runner with great vision,” Mainland coach Chuck Smith said. “He sees creases that I don’t even see from the sidelines or the guys see up top from the press box.
“He’s obviously a very good running back and has great breakaway speed but he’s a strong runner between the tackles. A lot of people think he’s just a speed guy.”
On the next drive, Mace reeled off runs of 22 and 11 yards that helped set up a four-yard touchdown run with 6:28 left in the first quarter. The drive and throughout the game, Mace showed off his strength and he consistently broke through arm tackles to gain extra yardage despite defenders all around him.
“That comes from hard work in the weight room,” Mace said. “I took a lot of pride in the offseason getting my body ready for my senior year. I gained a little more muscle. This was a big win for us but we have just as big of a game next week against Atlantic City.”
While Mace’s glitzy numbers made for good highlight footage, Mainland’s defense was equally as impressive in pitching their second shutout of the season. An interception by J.J. Sinclair with 10:50 left in the second quarter set up a 27-yard touchdown run by Mace two plays later, giving the Mustangs a 21-0 lead.
Mainland went up 28-0 when cornerback Jamie Tyson made a perfect read on an Oakcrest passing play for an interception in full stride for a 35-yard return for a touchdown. It was Tyson’s third interception of the season. He had a critical interception in the Ocean City game and another in the season opener.
“They like to throw the ball around and have some pretty good athletes,” Smith said. “We tried to get some pressure on the quarterback. We didn’t want him to have time to find those guys downfield because they can go up and get the ball.
“Overall, our defense just played a solid game across the board. They gave us good field position time and time again and we were able to capitalize on it.”
Two of Mainland’s defensive stars in the trenches, Nick Timek and Eric Ingram, said they were long past the Ocean City loss and ready to embrace the rest of the season.
“We have a saying on this team, ‘Flush it,’” Timek said. “We flushed last week. We don’t even talk about it anymore. We’re just moving on.”
And as for keeping the momentum going after such an impressive victory?
“That’s just what we do,” Timek said with a laugh. “We’re a whole new team right now. That’s just what we’re going to be doing for the rest of the season.”
Ingram said the Oakcrest game displayed the Mustangs’ ability to put adversity behind them and staying focused on the big picture of taking care of business when the time arises.
“This was all about getting back in it and focusing on the next week,” Ingram said. “We’re taking it one game at a time and treating every week like it’s your last week and working hard.”
Smith said the Oakcrest game offered a chance to see if his veteran squad learned a lesson from the week before about maintaining the same level of play throughout the whole 48 minutes of a game. Lesson learned.
“It stung last week losing to our archrivals, especially in the way we lost,” Smith said. “We came in the day after the game and just tried to re-focus on everything.
“We’ve gotten up on opponents in every game this season and we refocused on putting teams away. It looks like we learned from that and took a step in the right direction. We should be heading in a positive way.”
By CLYDE HUGHES/Special to the Sentinel