- April 25, 2026
Mainland's Zariah Blue returns an interception as Natalie Williams follows. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Oviedo's Julietta Decesare pulls Terri Williams flags as Williams stretches for more yardage. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mainland flag football coach Ethan Simpson, with the district runner-up trophy at his feet, talks to the team after its 6-0 loss to Oviedo in the District 4-3A championship game. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Avery Masters had 12 catches for 100 yards for the Lions. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mainland quarterback Natalie Williams surveys the field. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Oviedo players "block" with their hands behind their back as quarterback Reese Sanderson looks to run or throw. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mainland's Terri Williams tries to complete a catch as an Oviedo player defends. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Oviedo quarterback Reese Sanderson scrambles out of the pocket. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Oviedo's Alyson Scharf stretches for more yards. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Oviedo's Kaitlyn Falk tries to gain more yards after intercepting a pass. Photo by Brent Woronoff
With less than 18 seconds left in the game, the Mainland High School flag football team still had a chance to pull off an upset in the District 4-3A championship game.
Down 6-0, the Bucs had a fourth down inside the 40-yard line and needed a touchdown and extra point to take the lead. But Natalie Williams’ heave ended with the Lions’ third interception of the night.
Oviedo quarterback Reese Sanderson took a knee to secure the Lions’ second consecutive district title with the 6-0 victory on Thursday, April 23, at district host Matanzas High School.
“They played their tails off and gave us a chance to win,” Mainland coach Ethan Simpson said of his players. “I’m just proud of them.”
Oviedo, which improved to 11-1, was held to six points for just the third time this season. The score was tied at 0-0 through the first half with Mainland stopping the Lions on fourth down at the Mainland 8-yard line with 18 seconds left before halftime.
Mainland's Zariah Blue intercepted a pass early in the second quarter, but the Bucs’ ensuing drive ended with an interception by Oviedo's Julietta Decesare.
Oviedo broke the scoreless deadlock on Alyson Scharf’s short touchdown run with 5:13 left in the third quarter. Sanderson’s 1-point conversion pass fell incomplete.
After forcing a punt with less than two minutes left in the game, the Bucs drove from their own 10-yard line to just inside the 40 (midfield in flag football) with Vivienne Becker catching a long pass from Williams. But Scharf's fourth-down interception clinched the district title for the Lions.
“Whenever you play a high-level team like that, you can’t make mistakes,” Simpson said. “But the effort was there. We played to the last whistle. I can’t ask any more as a coach.”
The Bucs’ season ended with a 9-8 record. They defeated East River 20-0 in the district quarterfinal and Lake Howell 14-12 in the semifinal to advance to the championship game.
While the final game of the season is always tough, Simpson said this one was harder than most.
“This is one of the top groups I’ve ever coached,” he said. “The kids are so good. They’re all coachable. They love the game and they love each other. I’m going to miss them.”
