After tough Spruce Creek 7-on-7 tournament, the grind continues for Mainland football

Facing the possibility of elimination, the Buccaneers were down 21-14 in the final minute against Sanford Seminole in the Spruce Creek Hawks’ 7-on-7 tournament on the morning of Friday, June 28.

Buccaneers quarterback Taron Keith started the offensive possession on the Seminoles’ 40-yard line, quickly and efficiently marching the ball down the field as the seconds ticked off the clock.

Inside the Seminoles’ 10, Keith delivered a strike to receiver Ra’Mello Dotson in the end zone.

Still needing the extra point to tie the game, Keith delivered yet another strike to a wide open Sam McKenzie to tie the game with 10 seconds left in regulation.

But on the last play of the game, Sanford’s quarterback launched the ball 40 yards into the left corner of the end zone. The receiver, blanketed by Keith, leapt into the air, caught the ball and brought both feet in bounds before collapsing to the dirt.

Touchdown. Game over.

After going 3-1 in pool play, Mainland was eliminated in the first round of the tournament.

“That was an A-plus play,” Mainland offensive coordinator Arin Hankerd said of the last-second touchdown by Seminole. “Overall, we’ve got to tighten up in all phases. It’s all on us. We beat ourselves. When we’re clicking, we’re as good as any team out there. But we also can play down to anybody. So we just have to play each game one at a time and play focused.”