- May 3, 2024
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The Lady Bucs won their first title since 2014. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Hawkins contributed to both of Mainland' s touchdown passes, and she helped on defense with an interception and flag pulls for losses Photo by Jeff Dawsey
D' Zhariya Hawkins picked off the Pirates' quarterback near the end zone. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Tahara Williams launches a ball downfield that was caught by Hawkins in the end zone for the game-winning score. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
The Lady Buccaneers had lost two straight district champions in the previous two seasons. First-year Mainland player D’Zhariya Hawkins had lost her district title game with Jones High School last year. But, together, they avenged those losses.
Mainland (11-1) defeated the Matanzas Pirates (10-2) 13-6 to win the District 1-9A Championship Thursday, May 4, at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
“It feels great to have a group of girls who believe,” said head coach Scott Wilson. “We wanted these girls who have worked so hard to experience starting something and finishing, for once. I just love seeing them smile and be so happy.”
"We wanted these girls who have worked so hard to experience starting something and finishing, for once."
SCOTT WILSON
Leading up to Mainland’s first date with the Pirates, the Bucs hadn’t been tested. They blew out each of their opponents. But it took every second of the game for Mainland to beat Matanzas. Round two was similar.
The Bucs fell behind 6-0 after Matanzas’ opening drive. After failing to score throughout the first half, Hawkins — on a double-pass play — found Jasmine Hadley wide open down the middle of the field, and she was stopped
at the one-yard line. Tahara Williams found Gabby Rudd for the touchdown just before the break.
Both teams struggled to score in the second half, but, on Mainland’s final drive with less than two minutes to play in the game, Hawkins received the ball on a lateral and took it down field into Matanzas territory. She was pushed down, so extra yardage was added to her big gain. On the next play, Williams threw the ball into the end zone, and Hawkins jumped over several Pirates for the go-ahead score. Hadley accounted for the extra point.
“I just told myself, ‘Z, you gotta score,’” Hawkins said, ‘because we gotta win.’ I’m glad I could make something happen.”
The Lady Bucs have become a battle-tested team, and they hope their experience will carry them to their first ever state championship.
Mainland’s road to the state final begins against Harmony High School on Friday, May 12, at Harmony.
To see more photos, click here: http://www.ormondbeachobserver.com/photo-gallery/photo-gallery-mainland-tops-matanzas-for-district-title?time=1494007041
