PHOTOS, VIDEO: At less than their best, Warriors still manage to grind out third straight victory

Posted: October 4th 2025

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

WILDWOOD – In many seasons throughout its recent history, the Wildwood High School football team would have little chance of enjoying a victory if it didn’t play at or near its best.

But this year’s version of the Warriors proved Saturday that they can overcome some sloppiness and still come out on top.

Wildwood stopped Mastery Charter twice inside the Warrior 25-yard line in the final six minutes to hold on for a 21-18 victory at Maxwell Field on a seasonably warm early-autumn afternoon. The victory was the third in a row for Wildwood (3-3), giving the program its first three-game win streak in at least nearly three decades.

“The glass half-empty look is that this was an ugly win and we definitely need to be better,” Wildwood coach Ken Loomis said. “But this is also three (wins) in a row, and that’s something our group hasn’t done before. Playing like this and getting a win is something we couldn’t have done before, so credit to the kids for grinding it out and buying in and turning the tide. I’m proud of them for that.”

Wildwood never trailed in the contest but certainly had to endure some anxious moments. Mastery Charter threatened to take the lead on the final offensive play of the third quarter after scoring on an eight-yard touchdown pass to pull within a point at 13-12, but the visitors dropped a pass in the end zone on the subsequent two-point conversion try.

Wildwood appeared to put the game away on its next possession when Trevor Troiano’s 57-yard catch and run for a touchdown and two-point conversion reception gave the Warriors a 21-12 lead with 10:16 to play.

“We saw the way their defense was lined up and we thought the seam would be wide open,” Loomis said. “Their linebackers bit a little bit and Jordan (Dozier) threw a heck of a ball and then Trevor did the rest.”

But Mastery Charter (0-5) scored on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 7:32 to play, before recovering an onside kick. The Warriors, however, stopped their opponent on downs at the Wildwood 24-yard line.

Wildwood gave the ball right back to Mastery Charter on a fumble three plays later, though, and had to defend deep in its own territory once again. The Warriors finally secured the victory when a pass on fourth-and-eight play from the 9-yard line fell incomplete in the end zone with 41 seconds to go.

“The defense played their butts off,” Loomi said. “They did great. They carried us through. Our offense was slow all day. We had trouble moving it at times, interceptions, fumbles. We tried giving this game to Mastery but our defense definitely bailed us out big time.”

Trevor Troiano finished with five catches for 118 yards. Gianni Troiano added three catches for 33 yards. Matt Maher caught a three-yard scoring pass on the opening drive of the game.

Dozier was 11 for 18 for 163 yards passing, with two touchdowns and an interception.

Jayvion Hennessy rushed 21 times for 82 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter.

Alex Ruiz recorded an interpcetion in the second quarter for Wildwood.

Wildwood will host KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy (3-1) next Saturday for its Homecoming game. The Warriors will need to be much better in that contest than they were against Mastery Charter in order to have a chance to compete.

“We knew going in that this could have been a trap game with Homecoming next week,” Loomis said. “Now the kids know they can’t just roll out of bed and play and expect to play well. Football is a Monday through Friday thing to get ready to play each week. We’re looking forward to getting back to work and trying to perform better next week.”