- December 4, 2025
The No. 1 question for the Mainland Bucs entering their season-opener Friday, Aug. 29, on the road against Cocoa High was would they be able to compete with the three-time defending 2A state champion — a team that thrashed them 51-0 last season.
A key question at halftime, when the Bucs led 19-0, was would they be able to handle a second-half surge from the Tigers.
With Mainland’s 19-14 victory, the Bucs not only silenced doubters, but they made a statement, albeit an early season one: Last season was an aberration.
Mainland reached the playoffs for the 31st consecutive season last year, but they finished with a 5-6 record. It was the first time they had finished under .500 in 14 seasons.
(Our players) were determined to show the state that this is a different team. We’re not same team as last year — 51-0 is not the Mainland way, and (we) came out and proved it.
— JERRIME BELL, Mainland football coach
“It feels good,” Mainland coach Jerrime Bell said a day after the win. “They’re a tough opponent. They fought for four quarters as our guys did, and we came out on top. (Our players) were determined to show the state that this is a different team. We’re not same team as last year — 51-0 is not the Mainland way, and (we) came out and proved it.”
The Bucs are just two years removed from a state championship. While it may be too early to know if they are back to that level, in Cocoa they beat a team that has not only won three state titles in a row but has won seven state championships since 2008 and has advanced to the state semifinals 18 years in a row.
The Bucs jumped out to a big first-half lead on the Tigers behind senior quarterback Sebastian Johnson's three long touchdown passes to Chris Butler, Christian Cooper and Kadin Flores. An interception by Denzel Shropshire set up the second touchdown.
Bell said Mainland penalties helped give the Tigers short fields in the second half and they were able to capitalize with two touchdowns. But Bubba Westbrook had a key interception late in the game to help preserve Mainland’s lead.
“It was a complete game on both sides of the football,” Bell said of the Bucs’ performance. “(This is) a good group. We’re extremely talented at the wide receiver position as well as all around the field.”
While the Bucs were a week behind with a bye in Week 1, Bell said that turned out to be an advantage.
“We were able to get healthy,” he said. “We still have a starting receiver and an offensive lineman out, but it worked out. We’re as healthy as we probably could have been.”
The Bucs (1-0) will host Flagler Palm Coast (1-1) on Friday, Sept. 5, in their home opener at Daytona Stadium.
“They beat us last year (7-2 at FPC), so that’s another chance to get a bad taste out our mouth,” Bell said. “(FPC coach) Patrick Turner will have a really good football team, so it will be a good game.”
