- April 18, 2024
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Mainland (3-0) opens up District 9-6A play Sept. 20, when the Bucs travel to play Pine Ridge.
BY ANDREW O'BRIEN | SPORTS EDITOR
Before Friday’s game against Lake Wales, Mainland running back Trey Rodriguez kept his offensive linemen in the locker room a bit longer following a team meeting.
His message: We have to tighten up and move the ball.
“Let’s just do it,” he told his big men up front.
And after four quarters of football and 176 rushing yards by Rodriguez, the blockers helped lead Mainland to a 42-10 drubbing of Lake Wales.
“They stepped up to the challenge,” Rodriguez said after the game.
It was Rodriguez’s first game back since transferring from Seabreeze over the summer.
And on the field, it was the Trey Rodriguez Show.
Rodriguez, a senior, accounted for 209 all-purpose yards (176 rushing and 33 receiving) and four touchdowns — three of those rushing.
“That kid is special,” Mainland coach Scott Wilson said after the game, adding that having Rodriguez back like gave the offensive line more confidence. “He’s a downhill runner, he can make you miss, and he can beat you with his speed. He’s just an amazing player, and he’s worked so hard. He hasn’t missed a day in his time off and he deserves every bit of what he gets.”
Rodriguez said after the game that he wasn’t nervous at all. And his play certainly backed that up.
“It was a great feeling, and I’m just happy to be back on the field,” he said. “We just need to keep working hard and work for that state ring.”
Mainland (3-0) took a 7-0 lead with 9:06 to go in the first quarter on a 2-yard TD run by Rodriguez.
Lake Wales (1-2) then scored 10 answered points on a 20-yard field goal and a 10-yard touchdown pass from Railond Garrett to Davi’on Riley.
But it was all Bucs — and Rodriguez — from there.
Rodriguez added runs of 13 yards and 28 yards before scoring his second TD of the game on a 7-yard carry.
Mainland took a 21-10 lead after quarterback Anthony Williams hit Rodriguez on a 33-yard screen pass.
The Bucs defense padded the lead with a 45-yard interception returned for a touchdown by Arthur Westbrook.
Rodriguez took his first touch of the second half 32 yards for his fourth touchdown of the night. Senior Travis Lowe closed out the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run with 3:02 left in the game.
Mainland travels to Pine Ridge Friday to open up District 9-6A play.
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