Deland at Daytona Beach Mainland (Bucs 42-29)

[Dan in Daytona]

This is a very interesting early season match-up for this Buccaneer homer. Legendary and three time Florida state champion Rick Darlington is back (from Alabama) and will lead the Bulldogs of Deland High against Mainland High Friday night at Daytona Stadium. Coach Darlington, an offensive play caller extraordinaire and master of the single wing has been a state scoring champion in both Florida and Alabama. But Mainland on the other hand is countering that with a defensive minded specialist, hometown hero, and best linebacker to ever put on the Mainland blue and gold, Head Coach Travis Roland. Conventional wisdom would say young coach Roland and his Bucs might have trouble adjusting and slowing down a rarely seen old school offense from the days of leather helmets, long-sleeved wool cheerleader sweaters, and megaphones. Curiosity got the best of me, and after a look and see Wednesday afternoon I came away feeling very good. This young Mainland team is loaded. Offense will lead the team early on. Receivers may be the best ever. They're big, fast, and have an attitude. The senior QB is a Spruce Creek transfer more than capable of lighting it up (scoring). O-line is young with potential and will be fine. Defensively they have big hard hitting corners. Don't remember bigger ones. Couldn't see much of the d-line or linebackers, they were on the other end of the field. Did see some big kids though. I'll only mention one. That would be 6'6" 250lb Junior LJ McCray. This is what Coach Roland told the locale newspaper earlier in the month :  

"We told him last year, ‘LJ, you’re either going to turn into a five-star (recruit) or you’re going to transfer. One of the two.’ We would look crazy if we had a kid 6-foot-6, 250 pounds and he’s not out there killing everybody," Roland said. "So he brings super versatility to us. He can go play wideout. He can play slot and h-back. He can play a true tight end position. He can also play defensive end and nose guard."

(EDIT) Game recap further down thread *

[DarterBlue2]

This should be a very good early game. Go Bucs!

[DisabledAccount]

This game will also be broadcasted on VSN Daytona

[muckboy561]

They play today?

[DarterBlue2]

16 minutes ago, muckboy561 said:

They play today?

Friday. Columbia vs Bocholtz today. 

[Dan in Daytona]

Wow !  Bucs 42 Deland 29.  Good game. Deland is now smash mouth football and has the bodies to carry out the mission. A couple mistakes held their scoring down, but Mainland too could have easily put 50-60 on them without much trouble if at mid season form. Deland will win District 9, Suburban 4 and battle Osceola, Treasure Coast, and Vero for the Region 3 title. Mainland too, if they stay healthy, will win their district and make trouble for anyone else in their way. Mainland's passing game is the most explosive they have had in decades, scary good. Don't want to go nuts after a big opening season start and win. Big Deland appeared to beat on a smaller Mainland defense from my bleacher view, but my Bucs have heart and resiliency and beat on them in return. Deland's single wing will be Apopka nasty in a few weeks. Look out Spruce Creek. Coach D ain't play'in... All is well tonight in Daytona.