- August 21, 2021
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Mainland's E'zaiah Shine runs for a touchdown during the kickoff classic against Matanzas at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas quarterback Jackson Lundahl passes the ball amidst chaos during the kickoff classic against the Mainland Buccaneers. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland football coaches and players share a moment after the Kickoff Classic win against Matanzas High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland head football coach Travis Roland (right) gets a recap from coach Jeremy Victor at the kickoff classic against Matanzas High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland safety Eli Gilyard watches the game from the sidelines during the kickoff classic against Matanzas. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland players Demond Noelien (left) and Rodney Hill (right) take down a Matanzas player during the kickoff classic at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland assistant coach Dennis King motivates his players on the sidelines during the kickoff classic against Matanzas High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas quarterback Jackson Lundahl hands off to Micah McGuire during the kickoff classic against the Mainland Buccaneers. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas quarterback Jackson Lundahl (19) and running back Micah McGuire (left) watch as referees call a false start against Mainland during the classic kickoff at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas team captains, Cole Hash (4), Jordan Mills (2) and Ahmad Louis-Charles, walk out to meet Mainland's captains for the coin toss before the kickoff classic commences. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Dennis Murray Jr. and L.J. McCray celebrate after the defense forced Matanzas to lose yardage on the play during the kickoff classic. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland captains--L.J. McCray, Christian Hudson, Myron Shafer and Jerard Bell. (not shown--Emmanuel Y'Israel and Ramon McCollough Jr.) Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland fans gather for a photo op during the kickoff classic at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland fans cheer during the kickoff classic at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneers Marquis McCants (left), Dennis Murray Jr. (center) and Emmanuel Y'Israel (right) run through their touchdown ritual after Murray scored against Matanzas at the kickoff classic. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland wide receiver Ryan Allen goes up for the pass at the kickoff classic against Matanzas High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland wide receivers Ryan Allen (88) and Emmanuel Y'Israel try to catch Dennis Murray Jr.'s pass in the end zone during the kickoff classic against Matanzas High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland Air Force JROTC solutes as the color guard presents the colors before the kickoff classic against Matanzas High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland Air Force JROTC color guard, Adrian Fortier, Makayla Garner, Thanh Vo, Kenny Girlardo and Cadet Journey Smith (saluting), presents the colors before the kickoff classic against Matanzas high School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland Air Force JROTC color guard, Kenny Girlardo, Thanh Vo, Makayla Garner and Adrian Fortier, presents the colors before the kickoff classic against Matanzas high School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Heads. The coin toss goes to the Mainland Buccaneers at the kickoff classic against the Matanzas Pirates. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland students Destiny Williams and Diaria Franklin coach on the sidelines at the kickoff classic against Matanzas. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland High School Band of Pirates performs during halftime during the kickoff classic at the Daytona stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland High School marching band, drum majors, Lady Buc dance and drill team and majorettes walked the drum line for the crowd during halftime at the kickoff classic. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanza's Jordan Mills can't stop Mainland's Marquis McCants from scoring the first touchdown of the game at the kickoff classic. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas players Jordan Mills (2) and Daniel DeFalco cannot stop Mainland defensive back Jhavin "Bubba" Westbrook from snagging a pick six during the kickoff classic. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland quarterback Dennis "D.J." Murray makes a run for it during the kickoff classic against Matanzas. Photo by Michele Meyers
After weeks of hitting each other in camps and preseason practices, Mainland unleashed a barrage of energy against Matanzas in the kickoff classic at Daytona Stadium on Friday, Aug. 18. The Bucs tested “Operation Get Back” with a 42-0 win against the Pirates.
“We are excited about the future,” Mainland head coach Travis Roland said. “I’m just glad the kids came out here with a lot of energy. That’s the part I want to see. And we’re physical. We look big, but I want to make sure we play big.”
The Bucs’ defense held Matanzas to minimal yardage in the first few minutes of the game, forcing a fourth down kick. E’zaiah Shine returned near the 30-yard line, where quarterback Dennis Murray Jr. took over with a handoff to Rodney Hill, who bulldozed his way up the middle. A long pass to wide receiver Marquis McCants sealed the first touchdown of the game with 9:13 remaining in the first quarter.
“I saw leadership in my quarterbacks,” Roland said. “They made the right decisions and didn’t put us in any bad situations. That’s the biggest piece of the quarterback — taking care of the football.”
In my opinion, you want to get a really tough opponent or somebody that’s going to challenge and see where your program is at. It’s always a good test to play teams like that especially for your kickoff classic. It gets you ready for the regular season."
— Matt Forrest, Matanzas head football coach
Matanzas hosted Mainland last year for the kickoff classic which started the teams’ two-year contract. Pirates head coach Matt Forrest said they would like to continue to play against the Buccaneers.
“In my opinion, you want to get a really tough opponent or somebody that’s going to challenge and see where your program is at,” he said. “It’s always a good test to play teams like that, especially for your kickoff classic. It gets you ready for the regular season.”
Quarterback Jackson Lundahl started for the Pirates. He played in seven games last season after starter Dakwon Evans broke his collarbone. Forrest said he wants to work with Lundahl to get him more comfortable and increase his confidence level while Evans recovers from a wrist injury. Forrest said he’s taking no chances with his starting quarterback.
“I feel like our offensive line has come a long way since last season,” Forrest said. “I think they gave us some time to throw the football. I have to do some things within our offense to make him (Lundahl) feel a little bit more comfortable. I use the NASCAR reference — try to get him in clean air. If we get him in dirty air, back in the pack, he doesn’t perform as well. I’m going to try to get him some clean air — do some things from a protection standpoint to make him feel like he’s in the front.”
Murray and Jhavin “Bubba” Westbrook — Mainland running backs coach Arthur Westbrook’s son — both had pick sixes for the Bucs. Defensive back Zavier Mincey said those were his favorite plays of the game.
“It was good to see my teammates make plays,” he said. “Really, I just want to encourage them. For some of them, it’s their first time out here, and they have jitters. I want to help them build their confidence by running drills and stuff. Ya’ll boys just keep grinding, your time is going to come.”
Mincey has close to 40 college offers. He has not made a decision yet but has a top-four list: the University of Florida, Florida State, Miami and Alabama.
Mainland safety Eli Gilyard transferred from Flagler Palm Coast High School and is thankful to be welcomed by his new teammates. He has been playing football since he was 4 and comes from a family of athletes, including an uncle who plays professional football.
“Really, we just played as a team and played as a brotherhood,” he said. “We did not take them (Matanzas) lightly. (This season), everybody needs to buy into the system to try to go back to states.”
Roland said he is excited for the new season to start.
“We’re excited and hope that Daytona Beach continues to come out and support us,” he said. “Operation Get Back to Fort Lauderdale (for the state championship game) starts (this) week.”
Mainland kicks off the season at DeLand on Friday, Aug. 25, as Matanzas takes a two-hour trip to South Lake High School in Groveland.
