- April 24, 2024
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C.J. Wilson ran for over 100 yards against Matanzas, including a 61-yard score on 4th-and-1.
Denzel Houston accounted for four of Mainland's six touchdowns against the Pirates.
The Bucs held Philip Moultrie to a season-low 60 yards. He had previously run for 1,000 yards in five games.
Roman Mack congratulates Ronnie Stokes, after Stokes sacks Mackenzy Wagner for a loss. Photos by Jeff Dawsey
Excuse the Mainland Buccaneers if they don’t make much of the teams they play against on any given Friday. Having already won a state championship – and gotten close other times, the Bucs play big games on a regular basis.
This past Friday, the media and the opposing team amplified what many thought was going to be one of the best games of the season. Two undefeated teams. Same district. Both high-scoring while only allowing few points. One team seeking revenge. Mainland vs. Matanzas seemed like a dream game for area football fans. It was a blowout.
The Bucs have won 31 of their 34 games in the last three seasons, and they played many state- and nationally-ranked opponents to get some of those wins. They expect to win most to win most of their games. No matter where their opponent comes into the game ranked, according to head coach Scott Wilson, the opponent won’t change Mainland’s weekly preparation.
“We’ve been on the other side as well (of dominant teams), coaching other sports,” Wilson said. “When you play a team that’s ranked and has a great record, you want to play your best and sometimes find something within yourself that you didn’t know was there. We realize that teams will always give their absolute best against us. We just prepare our boys for 48 minutes, not a few exciting plays.”
Despite their area dominance over the years, social media often allows opposing teams the opportunity to boast of their confidence against the Bucs. Even teams who haven’t beat Mainland in years often expect to shock the local juggernaut.
“If folks are willing to provide fodder,” Wilson laughs, “we use it.”
ICYMI
For a second consecutive season, the Mainland Buccaneers (7-0, 3-0) showed the Matanzas Pirates who runs the 6A District-13, shutting them out 41-0 on Friday, Oct. 14, at Matanzas. Last year, Mainland beat Matanzas 43-0.
Quarterback Denzel Houston scored on a 52-yard punt return and a five-yard run, and he threw two touchdown passes to Brian Jenkins (12 yards) and Tank Dell (60 yards). C.J. Wilson scored from 61 yards on a run, and, on the very last play of the game Cyrus Fagan intercepted a pass and raced 104 yards for the final touchdown.
