Heartbreaking loss: Mainland loses 27-21 to Seminole in final 35 seconds

Mainland coach to team: 'No matter what, win, lose, or draw, we stay together and we fight together. Tonight, we started together and fought together for four quarters.'

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 10:58 a.m. September 24, 2026
  • Ormond Beach Observer
  • Sports
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With 35 seconds left, Sanford Seminole running back Jamar Buckner rushed 7 yards for the  game-winning touchdown, resulting in a 27-21 loss for Mainland on Sept. 18.

The Seminoles improved to 5-0, while Mainland dropped to 1-2.

Mainland head coach Jerrime  Bell addressed his players following the game: “It’s a privilege to put on these gold domes — there’s a certain brotherhood and a commitment to them. No matter what, win, lose, or draw, we stay together and we fight together. Tonight, we started together and fought together for four quarters.”


Mainland’s opening drive ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback PJ Miller to receiver Nolan Caliendo and a 2-point conversion by Caliendo, giving the Buccaneers an 8-0 lead going into the second quarter.

Caliendo has a 4.1 GPA and is possibly the hardest worker on the team; if not number one, then definitely number two, Bell said.

“We try to get Nolan the ball as much as we can, because we know when the ball is his, he’s going to make something happen,” Bell said. “He almost ran a kick back to win the game for us after it looked like he was balled up. That’s just the type of kid and competitor he is. I can’t say enough about that kid. He’s a great player.”

Three quarters of personal fouls, a lightning delay and debatable calls followed. Seminole capitalized on a personal foul early in the second quarter with an 11-yard quarterback keeper by Daniel Proenza.

 A 68-yard touchdown run by Mainland running back Braylyn Simmons was called back due to another personal foul penalty a few minutes later. Seminole running back Da’Khi Carr ran for a 10-yard touchdown, giving the Seminoles a 13-8 advantage before halftime.

Bell said he was not mad that most of the calls were on bang-bang, physical plays.

“I told them in the locker room to get back to playing our physical brand of football, and however they call it, they call it,” he said. “We played our physical brand of football, and I told them to keep going. That’s just the Mainland brand. Sometimes refs let you go with it, sometimes they don’t. Tonight was not our night on the scoreboard, but as long as we play that way the rest of the year, we’ll be just fine. We’ll make another long playoff run.”

Following a brief lightning delay, the Bucs started the second half with a flurry on offense. Miller rushed for a 17-yard touchdown on a fourth down, then tossed a 33-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jaden “Melo” Parks in the fourth quarter.

“Anybody that has followed football the last three years in the Daytona Beach area knows who PJ Miller is,” Bell said of the transfer from Spruce Creek. “That kid is special. With a chance to win the game on the line, he pretty much drove it down [field]. That’s PJ; he’s going to give us a chance to win every day.”

With 6:04 remaining in the fourth quarter, Proenza scrambled for a 4-yard touchdown run, pulling the Seminoles to within two points at 21-19. Caliendo returned the kickoff to midfield. Miller found Caliendo in the end zone, where he battled a defender for the ball. The pass was ruled incomplete. The Seminoles followed with the winning touchdown drive.

Miller was visibly upset following the loss. Bell said he wears his heart on his sleeve, on and off the field.

“That’s why he’s so easy to love,” Bell said. “You always know what you’re going to get. Great kid, great personality and a fierce competitor who never wants to lose. We don’t see that on the field anymore.”

Bell said he liked the offensive and defensive plans going into the second half. On defense, safety Jeremiah Felton finished with 9 total tackles, 1 for a loss. Defensive end Malcolm McCarthur had 7 total tackles with 1 for a loss. And linebacker Tamaj Woodard had 7 tackles and shared a sack with defensive end Colby Snow.

Mainland hits the road to face Orange City University (1-3) in a District 2-6A game on Friday, Sept. 25.

 

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