Mainland trounces Ramapo 56-0 in Group IV title game
PISCATAWAY – Mainland Regional High School head coach Chuck Smith completed his task of turning his Mustangs into state champions with a resounding 56-0 victory over the Ramapo Raiders in the NJSIAA Group IV state championship game Sunday at Rutgers University.
In a contest in which every team hopes to play their best, Mainland seemed unstoppable on offense and defense while setting a string of superlatives that will be tough for future Mustang teams — and most other teams around the state — to match.
“It feels great to be on top now,” said the Mustangs’ leading running back Stephen Ordille, who rushed for more than 100 yards for the fourth straight playoff game. “We started working right after our loss (to Millville in last season’s playoffs) and January and now to come out here and have a historical season has been great.
“We trusted our coaches and trusted our teammates and we knew what we had. Every week we were confident in what we were doing and it all paid off. I know when I grow up that ball will always be in that trophy case forever. Mainland is a place I can call home and to go out like this is a great feeling.”
For example:
— Mainland became the first New Jersey high school team to win 14 games, thanks to the new true state championship format. The 14 wins are also a school record.
— The fifth shutout win set a school record.
— Behind the running of Ordille (13-186), Cohen Cook (11-136) and Rocco DeBiaso (9-94), Mainland racked up 427 yards rushing and 543 in total offense, ranking among the best ever in a New Jersey state high school game.
— Jamie Tyson intercepted his 12th pass, building on his school record for a single season while leading the state in that category.
— J.J. Sinclair led Mainland with 6.5 tackles, building on his career tackles record.
“We really didn’t expect that today,” said Smith, who notched his 50th win in his eighth season with the Mustangs. “Ramapo’s a great program and had a great season this year, but the kids really came out and made a statement. We knew we were a tough team to play against but Ramapo is a fine program. It just worked out for us today on both sides of the ball.”
In a state title matchup that showcased contrasting styles — Mainland’s power running attack against Ramapo’s high-powered passing attack — the Mustangs scored on nearly every one of its possessions, punting only once.
“Our offense played outstanding and our defense bent here and there but didn’t break,” Smith said. “It’s just a tribute to the kids and their work ethic. Two years ago, we had two wins and four wins. These are the guys who stuck with it. A lot of guys fell by the wayside but these guys saw what our vision was for the future.
“That bitter defeat (to Millville in Group 4 state semifinal) set the tone for this year. They said then they wanted to be state champions.”
Mainland, which never trailed in a game this season, imposed its will on Ramapo from the start, using its punishing running game to score on all of its first-half possessions for a 42-0 halftime lead.
Ramapo quarterback Landon Deprima, who entered the game with more than 3,000 passing yards on the season and completing nearly 70 percent of his passes, was hounded and harassed by Mainland’s defensive front and secondary all game long.
Deprima was sacked four times and completed just 12 of 29 passes for 50 yards, with his longest being 10 yards.
DeBiaso’s 29-yard touchdown catch from sophomore quarterback John Franchini on Mainland’s opening drive with 6 minutes left in the first quarter set the tone. After holding down Ramapo a second time on defense, Ordille finished off a drive sparked by a long Cook run for a 28-yard touchdown and a 14-0 advantage.
Cook added his own touchdown, a 7-yard run, at the 10:49 mark followed by Ordille’s second first-half score to cap a six-play drive and improve the Mustangs lead to 28-0.
Ramapo had its moments, driving to the Mainland 18 before a sack by Sinclair and Chase Hoag took the Raiders out of scoring position.
Franchini quickly drove Mainland downfield, connecting with Tyson for a 17-yard touchdown and a 35-0 lead with 1:40 left in the half.
Tyson then intercepted Deprima on his first throw of Ramapo’s next series and Cook scored on a 5-yard run just before halftime to give Mainland a commanding 42-0 lead.
With a second-half running clock working in Mainland’s favor, DeBiaso scored his second touchdown in the third quarter and Ordille scored his third TD on a 48-yard run to start the fourth.
“This is what we’ve wanted since we came here as freshmen,” said Sinclair, who led Mainland’s defensive effort with 6.5 tackles. “We knew the hard work was going to pay off but we had to trust our coaches and be dedicated to the process. This proves it.”
The game provided a little bragging rights to linebacker Hunter Watson, Mainland’s sack leader whose older sister Kylee Watson is playing at Notre Dame. She led Mainland to the NJSIAA girls basketball state title. Added to the celebration is Watson’s father, Tim Watson, a Mainland graduate who served as defensive coordinator.
“It’s been surreal sharing this with him because he’s been my coach ever since I’ve been playing football,” Hunter Watson said. “It’s been great having him by my side. I’m still kind of speechless. I think I’ve got the [family] bragging rights now. I’m doing this with guys I love and we’re all family.”
DeBiaso, who will likely take over the main running duties next year, said he is looking forward to trying to extend Mainland’s legacy.
“I don’t know what it’s going to be like losing all of our leaders from this year but we’re all going to have to step it up next year,” he said. “From day one, winning a state championship was one of our goals.”
Cook said he had been working with his older brother, who was also a standout Mainland athlete who helped lead the Mustangs to an undefeated regular season record in 2019, and felt humbled to do him one better.
“It’s just an awesome feeling,” said Cook, who had an outstanding game at linebacker as well as running back. “We knew this was going to be our last opportunity to play together, so we came out and gave it all we had on every play. When we do that, we’re hard to stop.
“No one has done this before in the history of Mainland. This game and this season have been really exciting. I’m glad to have been a part of it.”
Eight years ago, Smith took over a program that was breaking even at best and took its lumps with back-to-back 1-9 seasons to build a state championship program. Smith credited the players who bought into the program and the process he created and believed that it could be done.
Smith led the team to in 8-3 record in 2018 and 10-1 in 2019 before another poor showing of 2-4 in 2020 and 4-6 in 2021. The Mustangs rebounded with a 10-2 record and a semifinal appearance in 2022 for a record of 50-34.
In the past six seasons, which is a more objective view of what Smith has done with the Mainland program, the Mustangs were 48-16.
“It takes a lot of dedication, hard work and the kids believing in themselves,” he said about turning Mainland into a state champion. “The kids had to believe in themselves and the system. That’s a hard thing to do today when a lot of kids want it fast and easy. These kids really put their noses to the grindstone.
“It started in the weight room at 5:30 a.m. and we tried to keep them believing in what the future was after those two-win and four-win seasons. These kids have been winners their whole lives. They knew the possibility was there and they stuck with it. You saw that come to a full head today.”
Smith said above everything else, the team loved being together, and that led to them pushing each other and overcoming adversity in a positive way time and time again instead of pointing fingers.
“They love being around each other,” Smith said. “They’re all friends. There’s no animosity and no B.S. on our football team and in our program. Anyone who was that way aren’t here today.”
And they missed out on becoming state champions.
By CLYDE HUGHES/Special to the Sentinel
