- July 26, 2024
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Booker's Karaijus Hayes defends as a 2-point conversion pass is over Mainland receiver Phillip Moore's (2) head. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mainland offensive linemen Amarion Lane (53) and James Shaw Corbett (56) look to the sideline between plays. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mainland coach Jerrime "Squatty" Bell looks toward the sideline during a timeout. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mainland quarterback Sebastian Johnson scrambles out of the pocket. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mainland running back Jontrell Edwards tries to get around the corner against Sarasota Booker. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Jontrell Edwards greets Spruce Creek's Chad Cannon (99) in the handshake line after the game. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mainland's Eddie Lake Jr. warms up before the Bucs' first half of play against Sarasota Booker. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mainland's Houston Cadette warms up before Mainland's first contest. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Beating the defending state champ is a big deal. Even if the game doesn’t count.
Spruce Creek scored with 1:05 left in its half against Mainland to defeat the Buccaneers 6-0 in a spring football jamboree on May 22 at the Hawks’ stadium.
The Hawks celebrated Anthony Hayden’s 1-yard touchdown run and then celebrated again when Kam Chamble intercepted a Sebastian Johnson pass with eight seconds left to secure the victory.
Sarasota Booker also participated in the jamboree. Creek defeated Booker 20-0 in the first half of action. Mainland followed with a 12-0 win over Booker, with the Bucs and Hawks meeting in the final two quarters.
Mainland won the Class 3A state championship last season. That might have helped ramp up Creek’s celebration, but any time the Hawks and Bucs meet, pride is on the line, even in an exhibition game.
“Creek, Mainland, Seabreeze. These kids all grew up together, played together, so they're all friends,” said Mainland’s new head coach, Jerrime “Squatty” Bell.
While the Bucs’ defense was solid, penalties hurt them on both offense and defense.
“We couldn't get out of our own way with selfish penalties,” Bell said. “The kids were giving into the moment. Too much hype, too much talk with their friends (on Spruce Creek), because they're all friends. There was too much talking on both sides, but ours cost us more because they came at timely downs where we could have been getting off the field.”
Mainland defensive tackle Christian Hudson batted down a pass by Spruce Creek’s P.J. Miller on third-and-one at the Mainland 37 with 1:53 left. But the Hawks converted on fourth down, and Tony Kinsler caught a 35-yard pass from Miller on the next play to set up Hayden’s short scoring run.
“We probably had more penalty yards than they had offense,” Bell said. “But I’m proud of my defense, the way they stood up. Our defense is going to play lights out at all times.”
Bell said Hudson, linebackers Dennis “Tank” King and Tamaj Woodard and defensive back Phillip Moore all had great games.
“There are a lot of things we have to fix,” Bell said. “I like what I saw as far as flying around. The execution was there. It's the post-snap penalties. It's the deadball penalties that we got to fix.”
Running back Edward Williams, a transfer from Appling County, Georgia, scored both touchdowns for the Bucs against Booker.
Bell said Johnson, a rising junior, managed the offense well.
“He had a couple of shaky throws (including an early interception against Booker), but I thought he was the field general,” Bell said. “He got us in the right settings, in the right pass protections. We just failed him with penalties.”
Bell said the loss should help Mainland focus through summer workouts.
“This game will make us work harder in the weight room and outside of school,” King said. “We just have to come together more as a team. We’re going to get it back right, though. Mainland is still Mainland.”
