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The Mainland-Lake Minneola game got rough at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer Marquis McCants scores the first touchdown of the game against the Lake Minneola Hawks. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer cheerleaders Kyra Berry and Tianna Hamilton. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jai'herr Bennett (8), Jaiden Billings (10) and Donte'on McCoy (0) salute to the flag on youth football and cheer night at Daytona Stadium before the Mainland Buccaneers play Lake Minneola. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland captains Emmanuel Yisrael (8), Jerard Bell (52), Christian Hudson (55) and Ramon McCollough, Jr. (66) walk out to meet the Lake Minneola captains beofre game time. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland captains Emmanuel Yisrael (8), Jerard Bell (52), Christian Hudson (55) and Ramon McCollough, Jr. (66) win the coin toss and choose to kick during the game against Lake Minneola. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland and Lake Minneola captains watch the coin toss before th start of the game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Youth football players run out with the Mainland Buccaneers before the game against Lake Minneola at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Youth football players run out with the Mainland Buccaneers before the game against Lake Minneola at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's special team players get psyched for the kickoff against the Lake Minneola Hawks at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland and Lake Minneola face-off after the snap at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer Marquis McCants celebrates the first touchdown of the game against the Lake Minneola Hawks with Emmanuel Yisrael (8). Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland quarterback D.J. Murray (14) is all smiles after he throw a touchdown pass to Marquis McCants (13) against the Lake Minneola Hawks. Photo by Michele Meyers
Hawk Braylon Knauth returns the ball during the game against Mainland at the Daytona Stadium. He received for 161-yards, scored two touchdowns and one conversion. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland quarterback D.J. Murray scrambles for the pass as Lake Minneola's Sylvester Dority tracks him down. Photo by Michele Meyers
Lake Minneola quarterback Jackson Hughes hands off to Dane Thompkins as Rodney Hill (5) prepares to make the tackle. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland quarterback D.J. Murray rushes for more yardage as Lake Minneola's Jonah Cali (11) and Jason Wiggins (6) go for the tackle. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Khamani Robinson runs for a 72-yard touchdown against Lake Minneola. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland coach Travis Roland smiles after witnessing Khamani Robinson's 72-yard touchdown run against the Lake Minneola Hawks at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers.
Buccaneer Khamani Robinson gets the big lift after his 72-yard touchdown run against Lake Minneola. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Khamani Robinson dives for the yardage against Lake Minneola. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Elijah Gilyard (17) pressures Lake Minneola's D'nari Adams during the game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's offensive leaders - Emmanuel Yisrael (8), D.J. Murray (14), Clarence McCloud (3), Jaelin Long (53), Khamani Robinson (9) and Jeremiah Davis (10). Photo by MIchele Meyers
Lake Minneola's D'nari Adams gets frustrated after he misses a pass during the game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer Ramon McCollough Jr. sacks Lake Minneola quarterback Jackson Hughes. Mainland's Rodney Hill rocovers the fumble. Photo by Michele Meyers
Easy catch for Buccaneer Clarence McCloud on the 10-yard line in the game against Lake Minneola. Photo by Michele Meyers
It was youth night at the Mainland-Lake Minneola game where K.J. performs with the Mainland band and drum majors. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer E'Zaiah Shine with the cary during the game against Lake Minneola at the Datyona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Tackle by Buccaneer Phillip Moore on Hawk Jonah Cali at the Datyona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland fans cheer during the game against Lake Minneola at the Datyona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland kicker Jacob Gettman clinched the game with a field goal in the fourth quarter. Punter Gavin Greathouse followed with a touchback that put Lake Minneola on the 20-yard-line. And the Buccaneers finished with a 31-28 win to remain undefeated at 5-0.
“We took it to them early, like we were supposed to,” Mainland head coach Travis Roland said. “Mistakes got them back in it. Football sucks when the momentum gets rolling and you’re on the other end of it. It’s not a fun deal. Our kids are resilient and did a great job and came out on top. That’s always better than the other result.”
With a 40-yard touchdown catch by wide receiver Marquis McCants and a touchdown run by Khamani Robinson, Mainland dominated the first quarter. Touchdowns by Clarence McCloud and Rodney Hill brought the score to 28-6 by mid-second quarter.
“I mean, I was supposed to be running like a climb down the field, then I (saw quarterback) D.J. Murray rolling out,” McCants said. “He (saw) me and we made eye contact. He made a good throw — got to catch it. The opening touchdown, you know that always feels good. You got to set the tone.”
I got to give it all to the big boys because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t score. It (the touchdown) felt good because I felt like we were down and we needed it, so I had to pull through for the team. Definitely boost the ego. — Khamani Robinson, Mainland running back
The Hawks made it difficult for the Bucs with two touchdowns with two-point conversions in the second and third quarters. The score was tied until Gettman kicked a field goal with 8:26 left in the game.
McCants attributes energy and focus to Mainland’s ability to overcome in the end.
“This team right here never gave up,” Mainland assistant coach and athletic director Terry Anthony said. “They are going to fight to the end. But we are champions. We are going to have to win games like that.”
After recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus over the summer, running back Robinson proved he was back and healthy with a 72-yard touchdown run early in the game. He finished with 23 carries and rushed for 157 yards. As the season progresses, Robinson said he is going to work harder, pick his knees up and put up more touchdowns.
“I got to give it all to the big boys because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t score,” he said. “It (the touchdown) felt good because I felt like we were down and we needed it, so I had to pull through for the team. Definitely boost the ego.”
Roland said his receivers and quarterback Murray got into rhythm. Murray was the MaxPreps player of the game with 149 yards passing and two touchdowns.
Mainland will play Pine Ridge on Friday, Sept. 29, then has a bye week followed by a game against Deltona on Oct. 12. Pine Ridge fell to 3-1 with a 21-20 loss to Lake Howell on Sept. 22.
“Could be for a district championship with Pine Ridge, which you don’t say every day,” Roland said. “Coach Eric Poyner has done a great job. Those kids are going to come battle. We are excited.”
