- November 5, 2024
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One week after failing to pull off even the most basic plays against New Smyrna Beach, the Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs (3-1, 1-0 District 1-8A) came back with a vengeance Friday night en route to a 20-3 win over Mandarin in a District 1-8A showdown.
“We made big plays on offense, but we still have a lot of things we need to get better at,” coach Caesar Campana said Monday.
Quarterback Colton Boyd went 6-for-11 passing for 129 yards, one touchdown and one interception Friday night, but Campana hopes that he continues to improve.
“I think we need to get better at throwing the ball, and we will,” he said.
For the second time in four games, the Bulldogs eclipsed 200 rushing yards, amassing a team total of 216 yards.
Running back Jimmie Robinson was responsible for most of that, as he carried the ball 27 times for 182 yards and one TD. Robinson helped put the game away when he scampered 88 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
While the team continues to work on its passing game, Campana said Monday that the defense and special teams have been “incredible.”
“They are just hitting on all cylinders,” he said.
Defensively, Kyre Smith led the team with 12 total tackles and one tackle for a loss. Sammy Cooper and Kyle Oliver both had seven tackles a piece.
The win has the Bulldogs exactly where they were last year: three wins and one loss. But Campana hopes that, come the end of the season, the outcome is a 180-degree turn.
After defeating Mandarin last year, the bulldogs went on to lose in Week 5 to Ponte Vedra and then didn’t win a single game the rest of the season, closing out the schedule with six consecutive losses after a 3-1 start.
“The wheels came off and a lot of things between injuries and suspensions,” Campana said. “We just really struggled from here on out. (But) we’re hoping to turn that around and show that we’re a different program altogether.”
FPC hosts Ponte Vedra 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, in a nondistrict contest. Then, the Bulldogs will hit the road to play at Spruce Creek on Oct. 4 in the second of five district games.
