A historic stampede: Mainland football state champions

LINWOOD, N.J. — July of 2023 was summer in its prime. Beachgoers gathered under umbrellas where conversations bounced from artificial intelligence and spy balloons to the popular new ice cream shop on Tilton Road— Jersey Cow.

A lifeguard’s whistle occasionally interrupted the chatter, but of all the topics shared by the sea, few people were talking about football.

But the Mainland Mustangs were.

Just west, a different kind of whistle called a reunion of football players to order. Coach Chuck Smith was meeting with his team to set goals for the season ahead, and it quickly became clear there was only one: to finish what they started.

“When we meet as a team at the beginning of July, we set our goals, our visions, our expectations, and the team does that themselves,” Coach Smith explains. “And this time, they put down one clear goal—the state championship.”

The five months to follow would be talked about throughout New Jersey, with a list of integral players and memorable moments longer than the string of holiday lights now strung across the Mainland. The celebratory lights of firetrucks also made a line down Shore Road, and pictures of a glowing scoreboard were shared all over social media: Mainland 56; Ramapo 0.

The Mainland Regional High School football team stunned the state with a win over a North Jersey powerhouse, earning the New Jersey Group IV state championship for the first time in school history, becoming the first team to secure a 14-0 record in state history, and cementing what many would argue is the best football team in Mainland history.

Now reflecting on the run, Coach Smith beams with pride as he talks about his players, his coaching staff, and what he considers a “once in a career” kind of team. He also reminisces on stories that go beyond any scoreboard and garner just as much pride during the Mustang stampede of 2023.

The Run

The 2022 season for the Mustangs ended with a loss to Millville in the state sectionals, a disappointing finish against a team that went on to win the state championship, narrowly defeating Northern Highlands 18-14. Losing to the Bolts stung the Mustang team while also serving as motivation for the season to follow.

“The loss to Millville last year drove us this whole offseason, and we came into this year determined to get past that point,” Coach Smith shares. “We were excited to have the opportunity to face them again in our bracket, determined to have a different outcome.”

The outcome would be different, resulting in a 35-13 route over the previous season’s spoilers and earning the Mustangs a ticket to the state championship. It also wasn’t the only game where the scoreboard was so lopsided.

In addition to the state championship shutout over Ramapo, Mainland blanked five other teams along the way, including EHT (53-0), Bridgeton (56-0), Absegami (52-0), and Ocean City (35-0). The only close game was Mainland’s 14-7 win over Hammonton—a smaller lead Coach Smith attributes to conservative play calling.

There was nothing conservative about the play calling for the state final, though the mindset the team maintained all year never changed. Mainland and Ramapo entered the tournament undefeated, though neither had made it to a state final. With the blow of a whistle, Mainland quickly asserted control, scoring on each of the first five drives of the game while stopping Ramapo’s offense at every turn.

Mainland averaged 42 points a game for the season; they left the field leading 42-0 at halftime.

“We were ahead, but it’s important to carry on, business as usual, which we did. You feel good and know the clock will run in the second half. They might only get two possessions,” Coach Smith explains, adding, “So, at half time, we still went through our adjustments, substitution scenarios, and keeping the kids even-keeled. And then we went out there and had fun in the second half.”

Those substitutions allowed every varsity player a moment in a historic game. At the same time, seniors watched a storybook ending unfold for the final game of their high school football chapters.

The Riders

While the Mustangs trampled their opponents at every turn, no cowboys could be seen. This is a point of pride for a coach who believes their success on the field came from a spectrum of talent on both sides of the ball and true leadership among his captains. There may have been innumerable touchdowns this season, but you’d be hard-pressed to find any egos on the field.

“All 11 players on both sides of the ball are unbelievable,” two-year captain and the team’s leading rusher, Stephen Ordille, explains. “It’s great playing with them, and opens up freedom for me throughout the year. Having Cohen (Cook) and Rocco (DiBiaso) run the ball, being able to have Johnny (Franchini) throw to Jamie (Tyson)—it takes a lot of pressure off and opens up a lot of opportunities for all of us.”

Ordille’s perspective of his teammates also demonstrates the challenge for every opponent. There wasn’t any one weapon to double-team or blitz; there were five. To Ordille’s credit, he led the team in rushing, logging 1,841 yards and 30 touchdowns, the most-ever in Mainland history, surpassing last year’s record set by Ja’Briel Mace, who currently plays for Villanova.

Jamie Tyson joined Ordille in having a breakout season, a realized dream long in the making for Tyson, thanks to his determination and a family who helped him continue to bleed green.

“Jamie and Cohen have been friends since his family moved here from Jamaica when the boys went into fourth grade,” Amber Cook shared in the January 2023 issue of Mainland Living. “They played football and basketball together every year since, and when Jamie’s dad moved to Florida in his 8th-grade year, Jamie stayed with his grandmother to continue to Mainland with his teammates.”

When Tyson’s grandmother decided to move to Florida after his sophomore year, Jamie grappled with saying goodbye and his best shot at a meaningful high school football experience. The Cook family empathized with Tyson’s situation and opened their home to him, an offer that allowed him to experience a season for the storybooks and stats that earned him a spot on the Villanova football team.

“Defeating Millville and then winning the state championships were my favorite memories from the year,” Tyson reflects, “but so were the times just hanging out as a team—even Warrior Wednesdays, our hardest practices, because we have fun together. I’m going to miss these guys.”

As a threat on both sides of the ball, Tyson pulled in 11 touchdowns this season thanks to his quick speed and the strong arm of quarterback John Franchini. More impressive, however, was his defensive work, catching 12 interceptions—the most in New Jersey for the 2023 season—four of which he returned for a touchdown.

His teammate and roommate, Cohen Cook, was also a force to be reckoned with, someone Coach Smith refers to as the team’s Swiss Army knife because he can do just about anything, including running, catching, throwing, and even punting. During the championship game, NJ.com commentator Dan Long even wondered if Cook would drive the bus back to Mainland. Cohen’s season included 13 rushing and two receiving touchdowns. He also threw for a touchdown against Winslow and caught an interception for a touchdown in the championship game.

While the shoes of these three seniors will be hard to fill for next year’s team, Junior Rocco DiBiaso is ready to step up after his solid season, which included 637 yards rushing and nine touchdowns.

The final weapons in the Mustang arsenal came from offensive lineman Zach Hodges and two sophomores: starting quarterback John “Franchise” Franchini and kicker Nate Kashey.

Franchini started for the team as a freshman and has taken the reigns ever since, getting stronger with every game. His laser focus and accurate arm saw him throw for 1,240 yards, doubling last season’s totals. He also threw 76 completions, 20 touchdowns, and let up only two interceptions.

To his end, Kashey was as automatic as a kicker could be, banking 74 points after touchdowns. This stat was only one short of the South Jersey record and just another component to a dynamic offense that no team could find an answer to defend. This leaves us with the last arm of this well-tentacled team: linebacker JJ Sinclair and the Mainland defense.

“I played my first game ever as a freshman,” Sinclair recalls, “I got a pick in that game, which helped seal the win, and coach said to me, yeah, you’re starting next week, and I’ve had the chance to start ever since.” Sinclair led the Mustangs with 132 tackles on the season and has earned his place in the record books as Mainland’s all-time leading tackler.

When asked what he’ll miss, the hard-nosed player is thoughtful, pointing to the bond they’ve all made and rewards that are “bigger than football.” Joining Sinclair on defense were juniors Ethan Schock, and Dan DeFeo, and senior Hunter Watson, who dominated on defense with 12 sacks and five pass deflections.

“Hunter missed most of his sophomore year because of shoulder surgery in the off-season, putting him half the season behind everybody else. But what you saw at the end of that sophomore season was what he could become. And he became another young man who put a lot of work in the off-season and grew as a player,” Coach Smith adds, “I just can’t say enough about him—about all of them.”

The Reflection

When asked about the historic Mainland stampede, retiring athletic director Mike Gatley didn’t hesitate to identify the key component, something that echoes the sentiment of Coach Chuck Smith and Stephen Ordille.

“When you have a program that is predicated on character, discipline, culture, a team-first philosophy, and that is the expectation of the staff as well as the players, success is often the result. The level of success the Mustangs experienced this year, is a direct by-product of playing as a team, not as individuals, and is unprecedented in the storied history of Mainland Football.”

As for what to expect this summer, Coach Smith is clear in his goal: maintaining the status quo and holding on with gratitude to the great ride that was 2023.

“I can’t tell you how emotional that last week of practice was. Each game could have been our last together as a team, but when you get to the end, and you know—win or lose—it’s the last, it’s hard not to get emotional, which is why I am so grateful it ended the way it did.”

Congratulations to the entire team, coaching staff, Mainland cheer, Mainland Marching Band, boosters, volunteers, and anyone who rooted along the way—oh, what a ride it was.

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