Final score: Mainland 28, Pleasantville 13 Score at halftime: 28-13 (game was called at halftime due to lightning) Records: Mainland Regional 1-0; Pleasantville 0-1 Sloppy start: The season didn’t start out well for the Mustangs, as Mainland turned the ball over on its first play from scrimmage via an interception. However, Pleasantville turned the ball over early as well as both teams struggled with turnovers and penalties. Third-down momentum swings: Pleasantville converted a long third down on a pass play down the right sideline when Mainland had the Greyhounds pinned deep in their own end. Pleasantville also converted another long third down on a different drive. For the Greyhounds, that has to add some confidence, but for the Mustangs it’s certainly an issue that has to get corrected quickly. 
The Pleasantville Greyhounds have a dual-threat quarterback in senior Michael Foster. (Glory Days Magazine photos/Dave O’Sullivan Running game: Mainland likely will lean on its ground attack this season, and senior Qwin Vitale looks like he could be in for a huge season. He was bottled up early, but turned the tide of the game when he burst up the middle for a 70-plus yard touchdown, one of two he had on the night. That run followed a Kenny Randall fumble recovery and gave the Mustangs a 14-13 lead. Record breaker: Sophomore kicker Michael Juliano nailed a 44-yard field goal just before the half, unofficially a Mainland Regional High School record. There was some wind at his back, but he struck it straight and true and it may have been good from 50 yards. An impressive kick for a high school sophomore. Hope for Greyhounds: Pleasantville hasn’t won a game since 2009, but that streak could come to an end this season. Pleasantville has some very good athletes in quarterback Michael Foster, receiver Ronnell Moore and running backs Thomas Becker and Phil Polanco. However, they are light on numbers, which puts a lot of pressure on the offensive and defensive lines. Both lines fared well early against Mainland, but it was clear as the second quarter wore on that the Mustangs were beginning to take command in the trenches. 
Javon James, left, had one of the best hits of the night on Thursday when he crunched Pleasantville’s return man on a kickoff. Here comes the … BOOM!: This was the kind of hit a special teams player talks about all season. After a Mainland score, it looked as though Pleasantville was setting up a pretty big return. However, junior DB Javon James burst through the line and lit up the return man, drawing big cheers at the Mustang Corral. Adding to 28: So a team scores 28 points, you figure four TDs, right? Mainland took the scenic route to 28 points, scoring three touchdowns, a field goal, and a pair of safeties. Up next: Mainland at Millville, Sept. 20, 7 p.m.; Pleasantville vs. Vineland, Sept. 20, 7 p.m. Dave O’Sullivan, Glory Days Magazine publisher sully@acglorydays.com; @GDsullysays
Quick hits: Mainland Regional vs. Pleasantville
