Senior running back races for 267 yards in battle of unbeaten teams
ATLANTIC CITY – Coming out of halftime with the game in doubt and Atlantic City with the momentum, Mainland Regional made its statement behind the running of Stephen Ordille and an aggressive defense for a 47-18 road victory last Friday in the battle of the unbeatens.
The 4-0 Mustangs face another measuring stick game this Friday when they travel to Hammonton (3-1) to face the 2022 South Jersey Group IV finalists. Last year, Mainland edged Hammonton 29-14, sealed with a late fourth-quarter touchdown on an interception return.
“This was definitely a statement game for us,” said Mainland linebacker and slot back Cohen Cook, who scored the game’s first touchdown on defense, setting the Mustangs’ tone. “We knew this was going to be a good win for us.”
Senior running back Ordille scored five touchdowns and raced for 267 yards on 25 carries Friday. He also had an interception playing in the defensive backfield. In fact, Ordille had 198 of those yards in the second half and Mainland broke free from an Atlantic City rally.
“It was a big game from the start,” Ordille said after the contest, looking like he could play another four quarters of football after going both ways for the Mustangs.
Ordille scored on runs of 16, 26, 23 and 64 yards in the second half as Mainland controlled the line of scrimmage on offense and defense to turn the tide against the Vikings.
“It’s a credit to my [offensive] line and the other backs blocking,” Ordille said. “It was everything. It was a team effort. I don’t want to take all of the credit. I want to shout out my offensive line – Zach Hodges, Jack Haines, Ethan Schock, James Barrett and Dan Defeo. I give all the credit to those guys. They opened up holes for me all day.
“My coaches trusted giving me the ball. I give all the credit to them. In the first half, we were trying to find our rhythm.”
Down 21-6 late in the second quarter, it appeared the Vikings got the break they needed to get back in the game when linebacker Raul Cabrera picked up a Mustang fumble in the backfield and returned the ball 25 yards for a touchdown with less than a minute to go.
Mainland came out of the halftime locker room with a renewed purpose as the Mustangs established its dominance along the line of scrimmage, allowing Ordille to run wild while forcing Atlantic City quarterback Joe Lyons to constantly scramble for extra time and space.
“We made some adjustments going in,” Ordille said. “We came out in the second half and we knew we had to turn it up a notch. The coaches made some great adjustments up front and we came out and dominated.”
Mainland coach Chuck Smith said the key to the second half was the Mustangs regaining momentum by scoring on the opening drive of the third quarter. He said that appeared to take some of the wind out of Atlantic City’s threatened comeback.
It was the “Ordille drive,” with the senior carrying the ball all four times as Mainland marched 63 yards. He opened the series with a 26-yard run and finished it with a 16-yard touchdown gallop.
“It was really on the offense,” Smith said. “We looked at some of the adjustments they made and we made our adjustments at halftime and it worked out. The key was getting that second-half kickoff, going down and putting points on the board.”
Atlantic City had its moments in the passing game behind Lyons. In one of the few times Lyons managed to find time, he connected with stud junior wide receiver Sah’nye Degraffenreidt for a 46-yard touchdown in the second quarter to cut an early Mainland lead in half.
It was the first time the Mustangs’ defense had been scored upon in 12 quarters after Mainland recorded two previous shutouts.
“We knew going into the game we were going to have to hold onto the ball offensively,” Smith said. “We knew we would have to get first downs and points while limiting their opportunities. It worked out for us for the most part.”
But those positive moments offensively for Atlantic City were few and far between as Mainland kept the Vikings from getting in any kind of consistent sync offensively.
“We were just playing together and playing team ball, in every aspect of the game,” Cook said.
Mainland, though, appeared unfazed by surrendering the second-quarter score by going 61 yards on four plays, ending with an Ordille 36-yard touchdown run, giving the Mustangs their third touchdown of the half.
“It was just what was there for us to take based on their defense,” Smith said. “We have a good backfield, and we can go inside or outside. The game that was presented to us from their alignments was pretty much between the tackles.”
Cook scored the game’s first touchdown when he stepped in front of Lyons’ pass in the flats and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. It was a play the Mustangs saw the Vikings run successfully time and again on film to exploit their speed advantage against most teams.
“We watched them play a lot [on film before Friday’s game],” said Cook, who beat the receiver to the ball and scored before even most Atlantic City players could react. “When I saw that formation, I knew it was coming. I just jumped the route. It gave us the energy and momentum and just kept us rolling.”
In Hammonton on Friday, Mainland will face one of the top running backs in South Jersey in junior Kenny Smith. Going into last week’s Eastern game, Smith had registered three straight 100-yard games and opened the season with a five-touchdown game of his own.
In those three games, Smith averaged 156 yards per game. No one running back has rushed close to 100 yards against Mainland’s defense this season so far.
Something’s got to give on Friday.
“We know Hammonton is a great team and we had a tough matchup against them last year,” Ordille said. “We’re looking to come out and have a great week of practice and be ready for that game so we can come out with another win.”
Smith said Mainland is now “in the teeth” of its schedule where teams start to think about positioning and possible home games for the NJSIAA Group IV playoffs a month away. The result of the Hammonton game will play a big role in where Mainland will fall in the seedings.
“It’s nice to be 4-0,” Smith said. “We’ve got a huge [game] next week. This is what you practice for – for these big games. These teams are good and they represent challenges and problems. We’re going to have our hands full next week. Coach Raso has a tremendous staff out there. It’s going to be a battle and a dogfight.”
Game time is 7 p.m. at Hammonton.
By CLYDE HUGHES/For the Sentinel