'This kid is special:' Simmons sharp, Mainland overcomes halftime deficit to top Matanzas

The Bucs' Braylyn Simmons seems like a natural as an every-down running back.

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Braylyn “Juice” Simmons seems to enjoy playing against Matanzas High School. Simmons accumulated 196 offensive yards and a touchdown in Mainland’s 34-17 victory over the Pirates on Thursday, Sept. 25, at Daytona Stadium.

But another dazzling game by the Buccaneers’ junior running back would have been for naught if not for his team’s comeback from a 17-14 halftime deficit.

“We came out thinking, ‘Oh, it's Matanzas, we're going to run all over them. But they came out throwing a punch,” said Bucs receiver Kadin Flores, who caught six passes for 94 yards and a touchdown to help put Mainland in the driver’s seat for the District 4-5A championship.

Simmons rushed for 114 yards on 20 carries and caught four passes for 82 yards. It was his third 100-yard rushing game this season.

“The kid is special,” Mainland coach Jerrime Bell said. “Braylyn Simons is special. We know when we get the ball in his hands, he's going to make plays. He's been making plays week after week. Even when things aren't there, he still makes plays. He's one of those backs, just with his vision and his patience, he's going to find a hole.”

Last year, when Simmons played at Flagler Palm Coast, he amassed 276 all-purpose yards and four total touchdowns against the Pirates. He was a starting wide receiver, return man and backup running back last year. This season, he’s become an every-down back.

His best attributes are probably his versatility and his willingness to play where ever his teams needs him.


At first I definitely wasn’t prepared for all the hits, all the defensive linemen and linebackers screaming down.
— BRAYLYN SIMMONS, Mainland running back

“(In the spring), our offensive staff talked, ‘How can we get him the football?’” Bell said. “We have so many receivers. Will he just be another guy in the receiving room, or will he be the man at running back who gets more attention than he possibly will at receiver? So our main thing was to make sure he gets the most touches as possible.”

But getting more attention also meant getting more hits.

“At first I definitely wasn’t prepared for all the hits, all the defensive linemen and linebackers screaming down,” he said. “But now that we’re in the half-way point of the season, I feel like I’m more prepared. With each game, each practice I feel way more comfortable.”

In the past two games, he’s carried the ball 20 or more times.

“I’m in love with catching the ball and running routes,” he said. “But I got to do what is needed for my team to win.”


DE FACTO TITLE GAME

Mainland improved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the three-team district. With a win over 1-5 Belleview on Oct. 24, the Bucs will clinch their 32nd consecutive playoff appearance.

“No disrespect to Belleview,” Bell said, “but we know the best two teams in the district played tonight, so I kept reiterating that to the kids, ‘Hey, this may be a de facto district championship, how are you going to respond?’ That was my message in the halftime. Are you going to lay down and let someone steal your district?”

Matanzas (3-3, 0-1) jumped out of the gate quickly. Thomas Larywon caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from Cole Walker midway through the first quarter to go up 7-0. After Simmons tied the score at the end of the quarter with a 5-yard touchdown run, Larywon scored again on a 7-yard catch from Walker to put the Pirates back on top, 14-7. That touchdown was set up by Cooper May’s interception and 32-yard return to the Mainland 47-yard line.


That was my message in the halftime. Are you going to lay down and let someone steal your district?
— JERRIME BELL, Mainland football coach

But the turning point may have come after Pirates defensive back Jez McCoy intercepted another Mainland pass and returned it 72 yards to the Mainland 1-yard line. A bad snap and a penalty pushed Matanzas back to the 19 and the Pirates settled for a 37-yard Alex Procek field goal. With 9 seconds left in the second quarter, Flores caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Sebastian Johnson to narrow the Pirates’ lead to 17-14. 

In the second half, the Bucs shut the Pirates down while adding two touchdowns and two David Aponte field goals. Johnson finished with 284 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions. 

“We had no real adjustments, it was just wake up-call, gut-check time where you actually got some respect for your opponent and realize, ‘I have to play as hard as they're playing,’” Bell said.

Bell said the Bucs did made some lineup changes to inject more energy. One of the players who received extended playing time in the second half was defensive back Ivan Gaines, who intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter.

Matanzas coach Matt Forrest said after falling to Seabreeze the week before, the Pirates had a good week of practice. 

“This was a big game, and it had a big game feel all week,” Forrest said. “That's one of the top programs in the state, and they showed it in the second half. I know the game got a little out of hand in the last two minutes, but it was a 10-point game all the way into the fourth quarter, so I’m proud of our guys and the way they fought. I think we just didn't make enough plays offensively to keep our defense fresh in that second half. We got to do better at executing. It felt like we were an inch off. The ball was an inch off, or a route was an inch off. It’s just something we’ve got to get used to. Matanzas is going to be playing in a lot of big games from now on.”

 

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