When the Pinelands Regional football team fell a yard short of a game-tying touchdown, committed an illegal shift penalty and ultimately watched a division title disappear while Toms River East celebrated a 6-0 decision last October, the anguish of a missed opportunity apparently stuck with the Wildcats throughout the offseason.

“Last year, we came up short in the big game, and this time we’re making sure we execute and we’re not making those mistakes,” said senior quarterback Jamie Jenkins…