Mainland takes sectional crown with win over Middletown South
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP – The expectations have changed for the Mainland Regional football team this season, but that is to be expected after the Mustangs captured their first NJSIAA Group IV Central Jersey title since 2008 last Friday with a comeback 34-24 road victory over No. 1 seed Middletown South.
Mainland’s new plans turn to the Group IV state semifinals against defending South sectional champion Millville (9-2) at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Cherokee. The Mustangs, 10-1, have won three straight playoff games this season – another first in school history in a campaign that keeps piling on the superlatives.
“We’re just a tough team and we’ve been waiting for this for four years,” said Cohen Cook, whose two touchdowns, interception and fumble recovery helped spark the Mustangs. “We have to now just keep working hard and sticking together. If everyone keeps doing their jobs, I think we can get it done.”
Mainland’s victory on Friday night showcased just how the Mustangs have grown from the failures of seasons past to become a true-blood state championship contender.
Down 17-14 at halftime after giving up 10 points to the War Eagles in the final three minutes of the second quarter, the Mustangs roared out of the locker room with a touchdown and turnover to completely change the momentum of the game.
“[Cook] is arguably our best athlete in the building at Mainland,” coach Chuck Smith said. “I think you could put a golf ball down and he’ll put it on the green from here. He is a tremendous athlete in everything he does, and a great quality person. He was great on both sides of the ball tonight.”
Cook led the charge with a 40-yard jet sweep run, setting up Mainland on the Middletown South 35. Four plays later, Stephen Ordille scored on an 11-yard run to give Mainland a 20-17 edge after a missed extra point.
The War Eagles tried to respond, driving into the Mustangs’ territory on their first drive of the second half, but Mainland’s defense forced a bad pitch from quarterback Jake Czwakiel and Cook recovered.
Mainland freshman quarterback John Franchini and junior wideout Jamie Tyson made them pay three plays later on a 70-yard catch and run, boosting Mainland’s lead to 27-17.
“I felt that was redemption for me because I was having a rough game,” said Tyson, who played defensive back and as well as wide receiver. “We knew they were a tough team and we needed a spark to stay on top. I wanted to make a big play and got the ball and it felt great.”
Smith said he decided after Mainland’s 21-20 loss to Ocean City to open up the playbook to Franchini and allow him to throw the ball more frequently. That decision has paid off through the season. Franchini went 5 of 10 for 147 yards and two passing touchdowns.
“The Ocean City game just opened my eyes and realized we had to take the handcuffs off him,” Smith said. “We had this idea that we wanted to bring him along slowly. But that game really told us we just have to let him loose and throw it around. He was a big factor for us in the game tonight.”
The backbreaker, though, came early in the fourth quarter on another Middletown South drive near the Mainland Red Zone. Czwakiel fumbled while trying to scramble from the Mustangs pass rush.
Junior linebacker Hunter Watson picked up the loose ball in stride and raced 69 yards for a touchdown, putting the Mustangs up by three scores.
“I felt like I lost every feeling in my body,” Watson said about running down the field for the fourth-quarter score. “It was crazy. I just saw my boys, they made the play for me and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. They made it happen.”
Watson, whose older sister Kylee Watson won a state title when she led Mainland’s girls basketball team to a crown several years ago, said the football team is fired up knowing they are now closing in on earning another state title for the school.
“I mean it’s amazing to be Group IV Central champs because we put so much work in during the offseason for this moment,” Watson said. “We just have to get back to work Monday. It’s back to the lab and see what we can do to take that next step.”
Mainland now takes on a Millville team that beat them 62-0 last season. Those dynamics have changed, though. Millville advanced by beating Hammonton last week 18-16 with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Mainland beat Hammonton by two touchdowns during the regular season this year, 29-14.
Smith, though, said he did not want to talk about Millville immediately after Friday’s game, but said the Thunderbolts will have the Mustangs’ undivided attention the rest of the week.
Middletown South did not make it easy as the Mustangs struggled in the first half stopping the run game behind Czwakiel.
Up 7-0, the Mustangs tried to figure out Czwakiel as the War Eagles went on a 13-play, 67-yard drive, converting two third-downs and overcoming two holding penalties in the process. Czwakiel scrambled away from Mainland’s defense on one play and then connected to Colin Gallagher for a 22-yard gain.
Donovan Summey scored on a 2-yard run with 10:35 left in the second quarter to tie the score at 7-7.
The Mustangs had an early 7-0 lead after Ja’Briel Mace blocked the War Eagles’ first punt and recovered the ball, setting up Mainland on the Middletown South 13. Three plays later, Cook fought off tacklers on a jet sweep for a 10-yard TD run.
Franchini hit Cook on a 43-yard bomb down the left sideline on a third-down play to put the Mustangs back on top 14-7.
But the War Eagles quickly responded on their next drive, aided by a Gallagher 33-yard run after Czwakiel ripped off consecutive runs of 18 and 14 yards. Czwakiel completed the drive with a 1-yard touchdown with 2:41 left.
After Mainland failed to get a first down, Middletown South took over the ball again on its own 42. Cwakiel found Logan Colleran own the left sideline for a 42-yard catch and run to the 3 with less than 20 seconds before halftime. The Mustangs kept the War Eagles out of the end zone as time ran down so they settled for a field goal and 17-14 lead at the half.
It would be the last time the War Eagles led in the championship game.
By CLYDE HUGHES/Special to the Sentinel