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LINWOOD, N.J. — When we last left Ja鈥橞riel Mace, the standout running back for the Mustangs was flying through the air, catching a ball with the greatest ease. His interview included his family鈥檚 sports history, his commitment to classwork and training, and his hope for a future in football.

Flashforward fifteen months and Mace has committed to play for Villanova University. His coaches still applaud his work ethic and character, and younger players still look at him with a certain awe.

If asked about this recent football season, Ja鈥橞riel Mace will also be the first to say it wasn鈥檛 one person鈥檚 success鈥攊t was everyone鈥檚.

And he鈥檇 be right.

Before the season started, the Mainland football team knew this was their year. They not only had a diversity of talent in a range of positions, but they also had a team synergy that can鈥檛 easily be measured.

鈥淎fter spending a few seasons retooling, we knew if we were going to make a run for it, 2022 would be our best chance,鈥� reflects Mainland Head Football Coach Chuck Smith. 鈥淭his team has the focus, the effort, and most importantly, the teamwork. They鈥檙e all bonded, which says a lot when talking about 81 athletes.鈥�

The team also determined they didn鈥檛 just want to take the division; they wanted a championship and what followed was one historic ride, the likes of which Mainland hasn鈥檛 seen in 14 years.

Returning to the corral

As the season started, a determined group of players returned to the corral. Ja鈥橞riel Mace was joined on offense by quick-footed juniors Cohen Cook and Stephen Ordille and tight-end Nate Wagner, whose energy rippled passed the benches and up through the stands.

Also returning was team captain and three-year starter Paul Lombardo, a defensive end whose recorded seven sacks in one season tied him for fifth place in the Mainland history books.

鈥淧aul was a captain and team leader both on and off the field,鈥� Coach Smith expounds. 鈥淵ou鈥檇 see it in the weight room and practice, always leading by example in everything he does.鈥� Joining Lombardo on defense were such standouts as lineman Eric Ingram, linebackers JJ Sinclair and Hunter Watson, and defensive back Jamie Tyson. Only Nick Timek would not return to the position he knew, being asked to move to offense to take on the position of center.

鈥淣ick is the type of player that鈥檚 all heart, and when asked to move to center, he was lights out all season,鈥� Coach Smith reflects. Timek joined senior Jack Venneman, sophomore Dan DeFeo, and a line that enabled the production of an explosive offense.

While the return of these established players proved pivotal, it would also be the breakout performances of two freshmen that would take this narrative from sports story to something more.

New kids on the block

Before the season ever started, the team got its first surprise: a new starting quarterback, who also happened to be a freshman: John 鈥淔ranchise鈥� Franchini.

鈥淚 had watched him play quarterback for two seasons with the Linwood Panthers,鈥� Coach Smith shares, 鈥渁nd I鈥檒l never forget when John called me to say he鈥檇 decided on Mainland. I knew he was being recruited by the Prep, Holy Spirit, and others, and I couldn鈥檛 have been happier to hear he鈥檇 chosen us.鈥�

Coach Smith recalls the day John Franchini joined his first huddle, surrounded by juniors and seniors. 鈥淚n my 34 years of coaching, I鈥檇 never seen anything like it鈥攖hey all just welcomed him in with let鈥檚 do this Franchise. And that was it.鈥�

John Franchini went on to lead the Mustangs in the quarterback position, with promising play that bodes well for the future of Mainland football鈥攁nd he wasn鈥檛 the only freshman to make a huge impression.

鈥淚 think Nick Kashey was still only 13 years old when he made his first PAT (point after touchdown),鈥� Smith laughs. 鈥淗e broke the single-season record for most PATs and is already in fifth place for most ever. If he sticks with it, he鈥檒l be one of the most successful kickers we鈥檝e ever had.鈥�

The stampede

The Mustangs started their season ready to dominate, defeating EHT 37-0 in the season opener, confirming this season would be theirs鈥攖hough they wouldn鈥檛 be perfect.

鈥淭he loss to Ocean City was a good learning experience,鈥� Coach Smith admits, recognizing the 21-20 loss stung but also gave the team a chance to refocus. They reclaimed their power in the division with more wins and such lopsided scores as 49-0 (Oakcrest), 41-0 (Bridgeton), and 54-13 (Absegami), continuing into the postseason, defeating Moorestown 63-10 in the quarterfinal round of the Central Jersey Group 4 tournament.

Advancing to the semifinals, the Mustangs defeated a tough Long Branch team (34-20) to head to the Central Jersey finals to face the favored Middletown South. Once again, the Mustangs came out on top (34-24), earning a ticket to the state championship semi-final, only to finally lose to Millville in a close 18-14 defeat.

Historic hoofprints

Though they finished one game short, the Mustangs did what they set out to do: win a championship and add 2022 to the historic list of great Mainland football seasons.

鈥淚鈥檝e always said this team was special, something most apparent after that last game.鈥� Coach Smith shares. 鈥淚t was a tough loss and a long bus ride home, and they all just stuck around, staying in the locker room, not wanting any of it to end.鈥�

Though the season is over, the Mustang鈥檚 successes haven鈥檛 ended. Mainland players dominated the West Jersey Football League and The Press of Atlantic City all-star teams, and Nate Wagner was recognized as the Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey.

As for Ja鈥橞riel Mace鈥攈e finished his high school run as the #2 all-time rusher, while also setting a record for most rushing TDs in a game (6 against Oakcrest); setting the single-season record with 24 rushing TDs (originally set by George Landis in 1966); and setting the overall school record with 56 rushing TDsin his high school career.

Please join us in congratulating the entire team: the 2022 West Jersey United Division and Central Jersey Group IV Champions.

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