Mainland overcomes 13-point deficit against Atlantic in Five Star Conference flag football tournament

The Buccaneers rallied to a 31-19 win after falling to Atlantic 20-0 the previous week. Mainland will meet New Smyrna Beach for third place in the tournament.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 11:00 a.m. April 1, 2026
  • Ormond Beach Observer
  • Sports
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Down two touchdowns and an extra point in the first quarter, the Mainland girls flag football team rallied to win 31-19 against Atlantic in the first round of the Five Star Conference tournament on Monday, March 30.

“I’m so proud,” Mainland head coach Ethan Simpson said. “They went down 13-0 in the first quarter in the first two drives. A lot of teams would not have responded, but they just kept fighting. That’s what I just love about this team: the heart. They’re a good group of girls. They love each other. They’re playing for each other, and they just battled and battled

Mainland (6-5) fell to undefeated Deltona 26-19 in the semifinals on Tuesday, March 31. The Buccaneers will travel to New Smyrna Beach for the third-place game at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 2. 

Following the Bucs’ 20-0 loss to Atlantic the previous week, Simpson and his staff made a few adjustments before heading into the March 30 game. He moved their star defensive rusher, Natalie “Uno” Williams, to offense, where her speed was used at running back. He also told quarterback Natalie Williams that it was not necessary to throw the ball every play and, as an athlete, to trust her feet.

Natalie Williams scored the Bucs’ first touchdown on a run, passed for 179 yards, had 11 yards running and intercepted two passes. She finished with two running and two passing touchdowns.

Ubi Patel coached offense and defense with the Mainland flag football team for four years before becoming the defensive coordinator for Daytona State College’s flag football team last year. He is currently the Bucs’ defensive coach and said the adjustments made the difference.

“We went to a zone defense, and ... after that, we got three interceptions, a bunch of sacks, and shut them out,” he said.

Mainland alumna Alexa Wilson, who was also a quarterback for the Bucs, coaches the offense. She recently graduated from Thomas University, where she had a successful career as a quarterback for the Night Hawks. She said it is emotional coaching the team.

“I wish that I could be playing still,” she said. “It’s weird to be in these close game situations with this team and not be able to do anything but trust that they’re going to take the call. But Nat (quarterback Natalie Williams) did, and she did a great job. I love to pour myself into her and try to just make her a better quarterback every day. She’s amazing.”

Natalie “Uno” Williams finished the game with one touchdown as a running back, tight end Terri Williams had one touchdown, and tight end/linebacker Zariah Blue solidified the win with a fourth-quarter touchdown reception. Blue recently committed to the Daytona State College flag football team.

Rusher Shamya Scott leads the Bucs with 14 sacks this season.

 

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