LINWOOD – Going into this week’s matchup against another big-time opponent in St. Augustine Prep, Mainland Regional showed it had plenty of fight in an impressive 32-0 victory over traditionally strong Cherokee at home.
The victory improved Mainland’s record to 3-1 on the season and extended its home winning streak to 13 games at the Mustang Corral. More importantly, it was a strong bounce back game for the defending Group IV state champions after a 41-7 loss to state-ranked Millville a week earlier.
“It was a good response after what happened to us in Millville and I couldn’t be prouder of our kids,” said Mainland coach Chuck Smith, who saw his record go to 27-3 over the past three seasons. “This game was really all about the effort and you saw that tonight.”
The Mustangs faced one of the state’s top running backs in Cherokee’s Murad Campfield, who had rushed for 431 yards in his first three games. While Campfield was able to gain chunks in the middle of the field, Mainland time and again shut the door on the Chiefs when they got near the red zone.
Cherokee’s second drive told the story of what was to follow. Cherokee, behind Campfield, marched down to the Mustang 24 before the defense held. A holding penalty on the Chiefs and a sack by Mainland’s Chase Hoag from his linebacking position ruined the drive for Cherokee.
On Mainland’s series before, the Mustangs scored after a short punt set them up just across the 50. The Mustangs punched it in on a 28-yard touchdown run by Rocco DiBiaso, lifting the Mustangs to a 7-0 lead. DiBiaso, who also plays a key part in Mainland’s defense, was injured during one of his early runs and missed the entire second half of the contest.
“Our defense made some adjustments here and there but the kids just played at a higher level today,” Smith said. “They had a good running back and he was behind a huge offensive line, but our kids responded. Like I said, it was about the effort and they showed that.”
After the game, Smith said he could not comment about the injury. But the Mustangs never trailed again with Chase Hoag and DiBiaso’s younger brother, sophomore Lucas, taking on the bulk of the running load.
“Our theme all this week was bounce back,” said junior wideout Jake Blum, Mainland’s main pass catching threat who didn’t play in the Millville game because of injury. “We don’t think that Millville game defined us.
“We had a hard week at practice and a hard week at watching film but we were determined, came out there and executed and got the win. It sucked mentally finding out last Friday that I couldn’t play. You can’t replay it so you just go out there, stay healthy and play hard.”
What Mainland missed most of all in the Millville game – the passing combination between Blum and quarterback John Franchini – quickly returned with the two connecting on touchdown passes of 24 yards in the second quarter and 63 yards in the third quarter.
“Jake is an outstanding athlete and him and Johnny just have a special connection,” Smith said. “It opens up some other things for us around the field when teams have to focus so much on Jake. I thought the offensive line did a tremendous job.
“The protection was there all night and then as the game went on we were able to start running the ball and got to push then around a little bit. Just overall, it was great team effort.”
Franchini continued to grow in the passing game. Along with his connection to Blum, he also found Liam Kennedy and Lucas DiBiaso for solid gains during the contest. He said it was all about taking a step forward again.
“We wanted to just put that week behind us and everyone was ready at practice,” said Franchini, who continued his streak of 100-yard-plus passing games this season, giving a new dimension to the usually run-first Mainland offense.
“We knew our winning streak (of 16 games) was over and now we’re going to start a new one,” Franchini continued. “That’s our mindset.”
Holding a 14-0 lead at halftime, Mainland managed to put some distance between them and Chiefs. The defense held Cherokee after the Chiefs successfully pulled off an onside kick to start the third quarter, then Franchini connected on a 42-yard catch-and-run with Lucas DiBiaso, setting up Hoag’s short-yardage touchdown, making it a three-score game.
“[Lucas DiBiaso] is a young player and he’s getting better every week,” Smith said. “I think he’s going to a special ballplayer for us by the time his career is done.”
St. Augustine Prep (3-1) will present a similar challenge to Mainland with outstanding running back Julian Turney. Mainland has not defeated the Hermits in their last five meetings dating back to 2010.
The last time the two squads played was in 2020 contest when Prep defeated Mainland 49-7 in Richland. The Mustangs now return to Richland as defending Group IV state champions and a much more confident squad.
“Prep is going to be a good team, so we’re going to have to keep throwing the ball well and running the ball well and we’ll be ready,” Franchini said. “We will still need a good week in practice.”
St. Augustine Prep defeated Cherokee 21-7 the week before the Chiefs played Mainland. The Hermits are coming off of their first loss of the season, a 21-7 contest to state-ranked Winslow, another future Mainland opponent.
“I know that they are well-coached, they’re big and they have a great running back,” Smith said. “They play a very similar style to [Cherokee] so I know we’re going to have our hands full this game.”
– By CLYDE HUGHES/For the Sentinel