- July 26, 2024
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Mainland ran onto the Daytona Stadium field to face Bartram Trail on Friday, Sept. 9, blue and gold flags waving against a gray sky. It had been two weeks since the Buccaneers won 42-29 in their season opener against DeLand.
On this night, the Bears’ defense held the Bucs to a lone field goal by Jacob Gettman in the fourth quarter and hand Mainland a 17-3 loss.
“They slowed us down,” Mainland’s passing game coordinator Terrence Anthony said. “They were not going to let us get the deep ball on this game. They played a high coverage game to take away our explosiveness. All in all, we played a good game. We just didn’t execute in the red zone.”
Lightening strikes have prevented the Bucs from practicing outside. They were only able to get on the field twice since their last game, forcing Anthony to run his offense in the gym.
“As an offense, you have to get some continuity,” he said. “If you’re in the gym, you’re not going to look the same. You’re going to look pedestrian unless you do everything right. If you don’t, a good football team will take advantage of it.”
Bartram Trail coach Darrell Sutherland did just that by putting pressure on Mainland’s dynamic wide receiver lineup of Ajai Harrell, Jonathan Williams, Jeremiah Davis and Clarence McCloud, with the focus being on James Randle. Bears cornerback Sharif Denson, a University of Florida commit, was tasked with shutting Randle down.
“We made some great adjustments in the coaching staff on defense and got better in the second half — gave up three points. There’s a lot of positives to take from it. We just got to finish drives when we get the opportunity.”
TRAVIS ROLAND, Mainland head football coach
“They (Bartram Trail) did a good job,” Mainland coach Travis Roland said. “Had a good scheme tonight. Honestly, they executed better than we did. That’s really what it boils down to is execution.”
The Bucs also lost their best offensive lineman, Malcolm Curry, to a knee injury during the DeLand game. Roland said Curry will likely be out for six weeks.
“That’s a mental blow for them,” Roland said of the linemen. “They are the most tight-knit group of the team, so it makes things worse.”
Quarterback Demarcus Creecy pushed the Bucs into the red zone four times. Mainland was not able to finish.
“We made some great adjustments in the coaching staff on defense and got better in the second half — gave up three points,” Roland said. “There’s a lot of positives to take from it. We just got to finish drives when we get the opportunity.”
The Buccaneers have another week to implement changes and get better. They will play two games next week starting with the rescheduled match against Flagler Palm Coast at home on Monday, Sept. 19, followed by a trip to Lake Minneola on Friday, Sept. 23.
“Now is the true test of character,” Anthony said. “Now we have to see what kind of players we are, what kind of coaches we are and what kind of program we are. Right now we have to remember who we are. We are Mainland and we have to respond like Mainland.”
