Bucs fall to DeLand in season opener

Ormond Beach Observer
Sports

Mainland lost its much anticipated season opener to DeLand on the night of Friday, Aug. 24, at DeLand High School. The Bulldogs defeated the Buccaneers 30-20, ending the Buccaneers’ 35-game win streak against Volusia and Flagler teams. The last time Mainland lost to a local team was Oct. 25, 2012, when New Smyrna Beach took down the Buccaneers 24-21.

“We weren’t as prepared as a staff and as a group of boys as we should have been," Buccaneers coach Scott Wilson said. "We had too many distractions throughout the week. We weren’t humble enough, but we were humbled by the end of the game... . Their coaching staff did a great job. I have to learn from it, and the boys have to learn from it.”

Mainland struggled to move the ball on offense in the first two quarters and went into halftime down 14-0 to the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs went up 21-0 with 5:02 left in the third quarter. But the Buccaneers’ Brandon Whaley returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards to the DeLand 5, setting up a touchdown run by D'Andre McMillian, who rushed for a team-high 142 yards and three touchdowns on the night.

"Just him running behind that offensive line is a huge asset for sure," Wilson said of McMillian. "He earns every bit of that. He doesn’t stop working. You can definitely rely on him as a workhorse.”

On a positive note, Wilson said he was pleased that his team was able to make Friday night's game a close contest despite the rough start.

“We beat them in the second half," he said. "Coming back from a deficit like that says a lot about this team.”