- April 26, 2024
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Clarence McCloud (3) runs the ball on a jet sweep as Madden Santiago (77), Corey Hill (12) and Jaelin Long (53) block. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Mainland cheerleaders perform the basket toss. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Jacob Gettman punts the ball. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Corey Hill (12) runs the football. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Dray Wood (22) tackles West Orange's Devonte Anderson (12). Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
The Bucs huddle up at halftime as the sun sets. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Jontrell Edwards (25) falls on a loose ball. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Coach Travis Roland. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Linemen Jaelin Long (53), Christian Hudson (55) and Johnny Santiago (68) protect quarterback Sebastian Johnson after the ball is snapped. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Mainland cheerleaders warm up the crowd before the game. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Linebacker Brody Fresch (48) runs onto the field. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Defensive lineman Christian Hudson. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Mainland offensive lineman Johnny Santiago (68) blocks. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Emmanuel Yisrael prepares to catch a punt. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Wide receiver Marquis McCants (13) looks for the ball. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Coach Travis Roland's son, Paxton, holds the ball on the tee. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Emmanuel Yisrael (8) hauls in a punt. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Emmanuel Yisrael (8) lines up at receiver. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Jacob Gettman catches the snap for a punt. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Jacob Gettman punts. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Elijah Gilyard (20) catches a punt. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Rodney Hill made an auspicious debut for the Mainland High football team on Thursday, May 25, in a spring football game at Municipal Stadium.
The Flagler Palm Coast transfer was responsible for 10 of the Buccaneers’ 13 varsity points as Mainland defeated West Orange 19-10.
Mainland won the three varsity quarters 13-10 as Hill tackled West Orange quarterback Trever Jackson for a safety in the first quarter, scored on a 6-yard run with 6:21 left in the third quarter and followed that with a 2-point conversion run.
Hill, a rising senior, joins a Mainland defense peppered with Division I prospects that showed how dominant it can be in the spring performance.
“I always played against all these boys in Pop Warner growing up, so it was just like us coming together as one whole unit,” Hill said. “I knew I had a job to do, and we all had a job to do. We all executed.”
The Warriors’ only touchdown was set up by a Bucs’ fumble on a high snap at their own 10-yard line. Jackson hit receiver Jordyn Bridgewater with a 10-yard touchdown pass to give West Orange a short-lived 10-5 lead early in the third quarter.
I just executed at practices the whole spring, and it was really great knowing all the plays, where I was supposed to be.”
— RODNEY HILL
A strip sack by Mainland’s Myron Shafer set up the Bucs’ longest drive of the night, as they marched 68 yards with Hill bulldozing into the end zone for a score and again on the 2-point conversion run.
Mainland scored another touchdown in the fourth quarter with reserves and JV players on the field as Ryan Allen caught a 7-yard pass from Sebastian Johnson. Allen, who will be a junior in August, caught three passes in the quarter.
Hill, who had previously played for Mainland coach Travis Roland when Hill was a freshman at FPC, said Roland was a stickler about learning the playbook back then.
“I really could not forget it,” he said. “I just executed at practices the whole spring, and it was really great knowing all the plays, where I was supposed to be.”
Hill said his job at linebacker is made easier playing behind Mainland’s imposing defensive line of Christian Hudson, Ramon McCullough and top-100 college prospect LJ McCray.
“It feels great. They can hold their gaps,” Hill said. “I don’t have to worry about the offensive linemen coming to me. It’s really easy playing behind them.”
