Trap evasion: After falling behind, Mainland rushes past Flagler Palm Coast

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard first, but after an FPC turnover the Bucs took control, rushing for over 200 yards in a 28-7 victory.

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Mainland coach Jerrime Bell knew Flagler Palm Coast would be ready to play against the Bucs in their home opener on Friday, Sept. 5.

The contest at Daytona Stadium had all the makings of a trap game, Bell said. The Bucs were coming off a victory against three-time defending state champ Cocoa on Aug. 29 and will host undefeated Spruce Creek in a rivalry game on Sept. 12.

Mainland (2-0) fell behind early but adjusted to FPC's scheme and went on to defeat the Bulldogs 28-7.  

“Absolutely, it was a trap game,” Bell said. “We knew (our players) were up so high at the end of last week, and now everybody is praising them and then you have Spruce Creek (next week). FPC, after coming off a loss, was going to be a trap game, but my job as a head coach is to fight against that.”


On the game’s first possession, FPC (1-2) drove 72 yards for a touchdown with quarterback Caden Burchfield connecting with Logan Jacobelli on a 34-yard scoring pass.

Then, as Mainland followed with a long drive of its own on four straight running plays by Josh Dudley, FPC’s Josiah Hathaway intercepted a Sebastian Johnson pass at the Bulldogs’ 2-yard line and the momentum seemed to be in the Bulldos' favor.

But on FPC’s ensuing drive, Mainland’s Amarion Long forced a fumble by running back Ehimen Ajede and the Bucs’ Kiarin Sullivan recovered at the Bulldogs’ 33-yard line. Mainland capitalized on the turnover with Dudley scoring from the 1, and the Bucs never looked back.

Johnson passed for 172 yards and a touchdown and ran for a 1-yard score. Mainland also piled up 232 yards rushing.

“Coming into the game, we were very confident,” Dudley said. “And I guess you could say we put our guard down a little bit.”

Dudley rushed for 88 yards and FPC transfer Braylyn Simmons ran for 75 yards with a 2-yard touchdown run. RayQuan Mitchell added 54 yards on four carries.


We have a great stable of backs with Josh Dudley, Braylyn Simmons, RayQuan (Mitchell) and Demarion Phillips. Even if we don't have Braylyn, we're fine, but Braylyn makes us more dynamic.
— JERRIME BELL, Mainland football coach

“We have a great stable of backs with Josh Dudley, Braylyn Simmons, RayQuan and Demarion Phillips,” Bell said. “We have four guys that we truly believe in. Even if we don't have Braylyn, we're fine, but Braylyn makes us more dynamic because we can get him out of the backfield and do more things.”

Bucs receiver Christian Cooper caught seven passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Burchfield made his second consecutive start at quarterback with La’Darius Simmons nursing an ankle injury. But Burchfield left with a knee injury in the third quarter.

“We were down to quarterback three,” FPC coach Patrick Turner said. “When it gets to that, it gets really, really tough. And we were playing with a tight end (Case Dennis) who was playing tight end for one week. He did a phenomenal job. He played to the final whistle, and so did our entire offensive line.”

The Bulldogs rushed for 164 yards with Ajede running for 76 yards. Burchfield ran for 62 yards and passed for 60 yards. Jason Ebding completed one pass for 25 yards. Simmons ran four times for 2 yards.

“His ankle was still bothering him. He still has no burst. We subbed him out (on the Bulldogs’ last possession). I didn't want him to hurt it even more,” Turner said.

Turner was pleased with his team’s effort a week after falling to Lake Howell.

“The kids played extremely hard. That's the best effort that I had seen so far,” he said. “The defense flew around to the ball. The offense got after it all night long, and we stuck with the game plan of just running straight ahead and get what we can get, because (the Bucs) are extremely athletic. They’re super fast on the edges. We were able to put some drives together. We just kind of stalled out a couple times.”

Bell and Turner battled in 2022 and 2023 when Bell coached at Atlantic and Turner was Palatka’s coach. Turner’s team prevailed in both of those contests.

“He's a great coach, and he's going to have his team prepared, so it’s always fun to go against people you have a good relationship with,” Bell said. “We knew they were going to fight. They weren't going to lay down because they're playing Mainland High School.”

 

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