By TIM KELLY
Unbeaten Mainland Regional used big plays and a stingy defense Friday night to hand Ocean City’s football team a 21-6 defeat in the biggest rivalry game of the year for both schools.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be a part of this game and for us to win it,” said freshman running back Ja’Briel Mace, whose 40-yard sprint around right end and up the sideline with 2:41 remaining in the second quarter capped an 80-yard, 7-play drive and accounted for the only touchdown of the first half.
Brady Panas’ extra point kick — his first of three on the night — provided what turned out to be the winning margin for the Mustangs, who raised their overall record to 8-0 and took over first place and clinched at least a tie for the West Jersey Football League Independence Division.
With the loss, Ocean City fell to 6-2 overall, 4-1 in the Independence. The Raiders are still in the state playoff picture and have a shot to tie Mainland for the Independence title.
That reality didn’t lessen the sting for O.C.
“We had our chances early in the game, but we didn’t take advantage of them,” Ocean City Coach Kevin Smith said. “They made all the big plays and they were more physical than we were. That was the difference in the game.”
Having deferred after winning the pre-game coin flip, Ocean City got the ball to start the second half, but the drive stalled, and the Raiders punted to the Mainland 29.
Just four plays later, Mainland quarterback Zack Graziotto went deep to Jake Cook for a 56-yard touchdown that made it 14-0 and changed the complexion of the game.
“To stop them on that first possession of the second half and then for us to come right back and score was a huge momentum changer for us,” Mainland Coach Chuck Smith said.
Ocean City had several opportunities to strike first in the game. A muffed Mainland punt gave the Raiders the ball at the Mustang 48, late in the scoreless first quarter, but the Raiders failed to generate a first down and capitalize on the break.
The Raider offense, which came into the contest averaging nearly 36 points a game, never found its rhythm.
A holding penalty negated what would have been a 20-yard run early in the second quarter, but the drive still advanced all the way to the Mainland 6-yard line.
“I thought our defense was outstanding,” Smith said. “Ocean City is difficult to game plan against. They have so many different ways they can beat you.”
After Mainland went up 14-0, O.C. answered, going 69 yards on 14 plays, as quarterback Joe Repetti connected with Jake Schneider to cover the final 16 yards to make it 14-6.
The spark from the touchdown didn’t last long. The point after attempt failed and Mace ran back the ensuing kickoff to the Ocean City 45-yard line.
From there, Graziotto passed 19-yards to Cook and found him again for his second TD of the night just six plays later, a 14-yard connection.
“Our mindset was the same as it is every game,” said Mace, who came into the game with over 1,000 yards rushing and added an unofficial total of 114 more Friday night on 26 carries. “Our mindset is to stay focused and for each of us to do what we have to do.”
“I love our defense,” Mace said of the unit spearheaded by pass rusher Sean Bradley, who collected four of the seven Mustang sacks. “They made the plays when we needed them.”
Smith said that while a win over Ocean City doesn’t count more than any other win in the standings, it does in the hearts and minds of the players and coaches on both teams.
“These kids all know each other from working together on the boardwalk, and playing against each other (in youth leagues),” he said. “This game, I believe, is one of the greatest rivalries in high school sports.”
