- April 28, 2024
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Buccaneer Khamani Robinson breaks free of the pack and rushes for a 32-yard touchdown as Zamaryon McCray-Farmer chases after him. Photo by Michele Meyers
E'Zaiah Shine (left), Mainland coach Tristan Wallace and Zavier Mincey celebrate after the Buccaneers beat Vanguard 34-12 in the State semifinal game at the Datyona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland Cheer coach Jenece Giddens (center) and children Ajai Harrell (left), Laila Janae and Zavier Mincey (right). Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland Air Force JROTC color guard prepares to present the flags before the Bucs take on the Vanguard Knights at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland alum and retired NBA player Vince Carter cheered for the Bucs from the sideline during the second half of the game against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland team captains: Emmanuel Y'Israel (8), Jerard Bell (52), Christian Hudson (55) and Ramon McCollough Jr. (66). Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland Buccaneers storm the Daytona Stadium field before facing the Vanguard Knights in the FHSAA semifinal game. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland and Vanguard team captains meet on the 50-yard line for the coin toss before the FHSAA semifinal game. Photo by Michele Meyers
Vanguard's Dallen Ponder (21) and Mainland's E'Zaiah Shine (4) battle throughout the FHSAA semifinal game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
The fight is intense between Mainland and Vanguard during the FHSAA semifinal game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Vanguard is pushed out-of-bounds by Mainland in the FHSAA semifinal game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland wide receiver Tyree Weatherspoon looks for the pass as Vanguard's Johntavous Davenport interrupts his progress. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland Cheer coach Jenece Giddens celebrates toward the end of the Mainland versus Vanguard state semifinal game. Photo by Michele Meyers
Tyree Weatherspoon (left), Phillip Moore (2), Christopher Rivera (33) celebrate after Khamani Robinson (right) scores a touchdown just before halftime during the FHSAA semifinal against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Khamani Robinson (9). Photo by Michele Meyers
Vanguard quarterback Frederick Gaskin runs in a touchdown during the FHSAA semifinal game against Mainland. Photo by Michele Meyers
Elijah Gilyard (17) and E'Zaiah Shine (4) smile after the team is welcomed by the crowd following halftime at the FHSAA semifinal game against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Demond Noelien tackles Vanguard's Dallen Ponder (21) during the FHSAA semifinal game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer Rodney Hill makes a dive for Vanguard quarterback Fred Gaskin as he scrambles out of the pocket during the FHSAA semifinal game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Johntavous Davenport (9) and Mainland's Clarence McCloud go for the ball in the end zone during the FHSAA semifinal game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's David Hall (31) tackles Dallen Ponder (21) with an assit by Jhavin "Bubba" Westbrook (19) in the FHSAA semifinal game against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Aysia Thompson performs with the Mainland cheerleaders at the FHSAA semifinal game between Mainland and Vanguard at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Deonce Roland carries her son Paxton Roland during the FHSAA semifinal game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer Phillip Moore goes up to block a pass by Vanguard quarterback Fred Gaskin in the FHSAA semifinal game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Vanguard quarterback Fred Gaskin just gets the pass off as Mainland's Dennis King 3rd attempts the sack. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland wide receiver Tyree Weatherspoon walks back to the line of scrimmage after his pass completion was scratched due to a penalty called on the Bucs. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland head coach Travis Roland expresses his concerns with an official on the sidelines at the FHSAA semifinal game against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Buccaneers celebrate after Mainland quarterback Dennis Murray Jr. rushed for a 55-yard touchdown in the FHSAA Class 3S semifinal game against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland quarterback Dennis Murray Jr. is all smiles as he slaps hands with coach A.J. Mallory after rushing for a 55-yard touchdown. Photo by Michele Meyers
Myron Shafer (left), Elyjah Gilyard (17), photographer Alyssa Kemper and other Mainland players put a '#1 finger' in the air toward the end of the FHSAA Class 3S semifinal game against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Vanguard running back Jermaine White grabs the pass as Mainland's corner back E'Zaiah Shine goes in for the tackle. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer corner back Zavier Mincey intercepts the pass intended for Vanguard's Jermaine White (20) sealing Mainland's win in the FHSAA Class 3S semifinal at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
After Mainland wins 34-12 aginst Vanguard in the FHSAA Class 3S semifinal game, coach Travis Roland's son Paxton gets a ride on quarterback Dennis Murray Jr.'s shoulder. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland head coach Travis Roland poses with his family after winning the FHSAA Class 3S semifinal against Vanguard. It is all about family at Mainland High School. 'Buc Pride Never Dies.' Photo by Michele Meyers
Coach Travis Roland's son Paxton waves the Mainland flag on the sidelines before the win against Vanguard. Mainland is going to the state championship game in Tallahassee to face the St. Augustine Yellow Jackets. Photo by Michele Meyers
Paxton Roland is always there to support his team--the Mainland Buccaneers. Photo by Michele Meyers
Paxton Roland (18) leads the Buccaneers for their halftime warm-up before finishing the FHSAA Class 3S semifinal game against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland band and Lady Buc Dance and Drill team performed during halftime at the FHSAA Class 3S semifinal game against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Paxton Roland laughs as he waves the Buccaneers' flag on the sidelines during the game against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland coaches get excited after a play during the FHSAA Class 3S semifinal game against Vanguard at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland head coach Travis Roland gives his players a run down of the game plan before wrapping it up against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Touchdown for Mainland quarterback D.J. Murray after he slips through Vanguard defenders Johntavous Davenport and Zamaryron McCray-Farmer (4). Photo by Michele Meyers
Number one. Mainland assistant coach and athletic director Terrence Anthony beams after his Buccaneers win the FHSAA Class 3S semifinal game against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
After being doused with the celebratory ice water, Mainland head coach Travis Roland considers his answer while being interviewed by WNDB following the FHSAA Class 3S semifinal win against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Plays got rough during the FHSAA Class 3S semifinal game between Mainland and Vanguard at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Head drum major Dasanti Johnson Townsend performs with the Mainland band during halftime of the FHSAA Class 3S semifinal game against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland fans cheered at the FHSAA Class 3S semifainla game against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Former Buccaneer, Ajai Harrell, sprays water on Mainland players as they realize late in the fourth quarter that they will probably win the game against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland fans fill the stands at the Daytona Stadium for the FHSAA Class 3S semifinal against Vanguard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Former Buccaneer, Ajai Harrell (left), his brother Zavier Mincey (right) and their uncle, Joe Giddens, Mainland boys head basketball coach. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland is Tallahassee bound following its 34-12 win over Vanguard in the Class 3S semifinal on Friday, Dec. 1.
The Buccaneers are returning to the state championship game after last year’s crushing 32-30 loss to Lake Wales in the Class 3S final.
Mainland, the second seed in Class 3S, will meet No. 1 seed St. Augustine at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee.
The Bucs began their drive to the playoffs on their first official practice day when head coach Travis Roland played seven minutes of footage from last year’s championship game. Their 13-1 record this season reflects the coaches’ and players’ response to last year's loss and their commitment to return to the state final.
“I’m just proud of these kids,” Roland said. “In 2021, we came (here) and these kids believed in me and the staff that we brought and put together. It’s worked.
Roland noted the Bucs have improved from 5-5 in 2021 to 11-4 last year and 13-1 this season.
“It’s been a journey and we’re grateful for it,” Roland said.
The Bucs have won four playoff games after losing to Lake Mary 33-0 in their final regular-season game. It was their only loss. Vanguard finished its season at 11-3 after the loss to the Bucs at Daytona Stadium.
“We have a great football team — they (Vanguard Knights) have a great football team,” Roland said. “We had to limit their explosive plays. We’ve worked our tails off to get our defense to the level they are.”
We’ll go out there and secure the job and get it done this time. We have to finish. Last year, we played a great football game, but we gave up some big plays. Next week, as long as we limit those explosives, we are going to be quite all right.” — TRAVIS ROLAND, Mainland football coach
Mainland rushed for 308 yards against the Knights with Khamani Robinson rushing for over 120 yards and Corey Hill contributing close to 100 yards.
Kicker Jacob Gettman put Mainland on the scoreboard with a 31-yard field goal after a 10-play drive in the first quarter and a 23-yard field goal 30 seconds before the half. Robinson broke free in the second quarter for a 32-yard touchdown run.
Quarterback D.J. Murray rushed for a 55-yard touchdown at the end of the third quarter and sprinted 14 yards into the corner of the end zone at the end of the fourth.
“D.J. Murray is the ultimate leader,” Roland said. “He and (offensive lineman) Jerard Bell and the offensive line carried us tonight. They did a phenomenal job.”
Mainland held Vanguard's dual-threat quarterback, Fred Gaskin, to two touchdowns. The Bucs' defensive line tried to keep him in the pocket. Florida commit L.J. McCray, Dennis King III and Myron Shafer sacked Gaskin in the second quarter and McCray got him again in the third quarter. Florida defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong was there to watch the action.
Mainland defensive backs coach Tristan Wallace said the goals were to stop the quarterback from scrambling and make sure his players stayed attached and over the top of the Vanguard receivers.
“For the first half, we struggled a little bit with keeping them contained, but eventually we started figuring it out,” he said. “It’s good having two really good corners out wide to make them not to go inside. Zay Mincey is the leader of that secondary. He had some penalties early on, but he got it figured out.”
Cornerbacks Mincey and E’Zaiah Shine were instrumental in stopping Vanguard’s passing game. Shine had a 47-yard pick-six that jumpstarted the second half for Mainland. Mincey intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter that sealed the Bucs' win.
St. Augustine defeated Dunbar 35-14 in the other semifinal to improve to 13-0.
“I know that St. Augustine is really good on offense,” Wallace said. “I know they are really good at throwing the ball, so we have to stop their passing game.”
Roland said he is humbled by the experience. He appreciates the support the Daytona Beach community has shown his team and for believing in “family” — “forget about me, I love you.”
“We’ll go out there and secure the job and get it done this time,” Roland said. “We have to finish. Last year, we played a great football game, but we gave up some big plays. Next week, as long as we limit those explosives, we are going to be quite all right.”
