Mainland was on the move late, but fumble turned into St. Augustine score
LINWOOD — Driving downfield for a tying field goal or go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, the Mustangs committed a critical error that cost them the game.
It was one of a handful of mistakes that doomed the Mainland Regional High School football team to another loss Sept. 25 as the Mustangs hosted St. Augustine Prep in a West Jersey Football League contest.
The three-time defending NJSIAA South Jersey champion fell to 2-3 following the 17-7 loss. The Hermits have now won the matchup for at least the past six meetings dating to 2011.
“That’s why we’re 2-3 right now instead of 4-1. It’s the little things, you know. Whatever those little things are, we’ve got to clean them up and close the gap,” head coach Chuck Smith said.
The Mustangs began the season with a 25-8 loss to Atlantic City in the Mid-Atlantic Pigskin Classic in Delaware, then whooped Hammonton 42-7, fell to Millville 22-21 and beat Cherokee 42-21 on Sept. 19.
“We had a couple of games this year already that were very winnable for us at the end, but those mistakes are just shooting us in the foot,” Smith said. “And it’s just the most inopportune times.”
The Hermits used a short touchdown run by sophomore Johnny Chirico set up by a 63-yard gallop by Ty Mcleer, a fumble recovery for a touchdown and a field goal to top the Mustangs, who managed only one touchdown, a 7-yard run by quarterback John Franchini.
The teams traded punts throughout most of the first quarter, with St. Augustine gaining field position until the Hermits finally put together a promising drive with a short field.
Starting from Mainland’s 40-yard line, Chirico, filling in for star running back Roman Coney (9 touchdowns), ran right for 21 yards to give the Hermits a first down at the 19.
He moved the line of scrimmage to the 15 before an incomplete pass put the count at 4th and 6. Standing in the shadow of the Mustangs’ goalpost, St. Augustine senior quarterback Ryan Stoehr threw right into the hands of Lucas DiBiaso, who leapt in front of the receiver for the interception.
Mainland would continue to make great plays in key moments throughout the evening.
The Mustangs responded with their best drive thus far, starting from their own 27-yard line and picking up a first down on an 8-yard DiBiaso run. Senior Chase Hoag then moved the chains out to the 48 with a 13-yard toss from Franchini before DiBiaso moved the team across midfield.
But the drive stalled due to a dropped ball and an incomplete pass, forcing a punt. The snap flew over the head of punter Nate Kashey and the Hermits recovered at Mainland’s 35-yard line.
The Mustangs forced another turnover on the next play from scrimmage, picking up a fumble by Stoehr and regaining possession at the 33.
Mainland proceeded to march down to St. Augustine’s 13-yard line, thanks in part to a 23-yard pass to Hoag across midfield. A scramble by Franchini for a first down and another on a designed keep moved the chains a couple of more times, but the drive stalled and the Mustangs brought on the field goal unit. Kashey missed the 29-yarder to keep the score tied at zero with 2:27 remaining in the half.
The Hermits took over from their own 20 and Chirico picked up a quick 8 yards on the ground. He was stuffed on a second attempt to bring up third and short. That’s when McLeer got around the right side and scampered downfield to the 10-yard line, where Hoag made the touchdown-saving tackle.
The minor victory was short-lived, though, as two plays later Chirico was in for the score. The extra point was good, putting St. Augustine up 7-0 with 49 seconds remaining before the break.
The Prep received the ball in the second half and went on an 8 minute, 13 second drive, helped by a defensive holding penalty, that ended with a 34-yard field goal to take a two-score lead.
Starting from their 20, the Hermits moved forward 27 yards on a McLeer run. On 3rd and 9 from Mainland’s 44, the defense was called for holding, moving St. Augustine to the 34. Chirico picked up a couple of first downs running to move the ball to the 10-yard line and an encroachment call moved it to the 5, but that’s where the Mustang defense dodged another bullet.
Dropping back on a field muddied by a halftime downpour, Stoehr lost his footing and fell down, losing yardage out to the 17 on 3rd and goal. An incomplete pass set up the field goal and 10-0 lead with 3:47 left in the third quarter.
Mainland battled back after Hoag fielded the short kickoff out to the 43. Franchini picked up 14 on the ground and DiBiaso another 5. Hoag gained 3 on the ground and 4 through the air to give the Mustangs 1st and 10 from St. Augustine’s 32.
A couple of short runs and another dropped ball put the count at 4th and 2 from the 25, where DiBiaso picked up 8 rushing and a first down at the 17.
A pass to DiBiaso moved the chains to the 7, from where Franchini busted through with good blocking from his offensive line and into the end zone for the touchdown. Kashey’s kick made it 10-7 with 9:44 left to play.
Starting from their 25, St. Augustine moved the ball out past midfield but a stout run defense forced a punt.
Mainland was buried at its own 3-yard line but a couple of Franchini runs moved the ball to the 15. The quarterback suffered a rough hit and left the field for a play but quickly returned.
The Mustangs moved the ball on the ground out to the 29, where a pass to DiBiaso picked up another first down at the 37.
With the clock ticking down to 1:33 left, Mainland called a timeout with 1st and 10.
Franchini then overthrew Hoag and threw incomplete before hitting Hoag for 8 yards to make it 4th and 2, but a roughing the passer call tacked on 15 yards, moving Mainland to St. Augustine’s 30.
With the momentum and the home crowd on his side, Franchini mishandled the ball, which was picked up by Hermit Danny Francis and returned for a touchdown. The extra point made it 17-7 with 1:12 remaining.
“I’ve got to catch that. Yeah, I’ve got to catch it,” Franchini said after the game.
Down by two scores, the Mustangs wouldn’t quit.
Starting from the 34, Franchini passed to Hoag for a short gain, then picked up 27 yards himself to move the ball to St. Augustine’s 34. A 14-yard pass to Hoag set Mainland up with a 1st and 10 at the 20 with 44 seconds remaining.
On 1st and 10, Franchini threw an interception to end the contest.
He said he was proud of the team’s effort until the end.
“We came out of half 7-0, and we could’ve quit. I mean, they’re a big, physical team. We could’ve quit. We came out, we showed our fight,” the Linwood resident said. “I’m really proud of the guys that showed their resiliency and, I mean, I couldn’t ask more of them. They all believe in me and I believe in all of them.”
Smith said he was proud of the way the team battled.
“They were in it all the way to the very end,” he said. “It was a good football game, a good high school game.”
The Mustang head next to Carey Stadium in Ocean City for an afternoon game Friday, Oct. 3, against the rival Ocean City High School Red Raiders. Game time is 3 p.m.
– STORY by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
