- November 27, 2024
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BY GAVIN EWBANK | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
With every catch she made, Mainland wide receiver Zyreina Mincey was wiping away the memories of an early-season loss at the hands of Seabreeze.
The senior wideout made several big second-half plays, piling a heap of yards onto a stat line that included a touchdown and interception within a minute’s span during the Bucs’ 27-7 win over the Sandcrabs in the district flag football semifinals on Monday night at Warner Christian School.
The win not only puts Mainland into the district championship game against Spruce Creek on Wednesday, but it also propelled the Lady Bucs to their goal of defeating Seabreeze, a two-time defending district champion and squad that had already beaten Mainland, 6-0, earlier in the season.
“That was a bad game for us, and it was a tight game.” Mainland coach Scott Wilson said. “But I think we came out tonight and played the way we were supposed to, and it showed.”
The Lady Bucs jumped out to a 7-0 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter.
On fourth-and-long, Jasmine Hadley caught a short pass from quarterback Arden Sweeney near the right sideline, then flipped it back to Ariel Doane, who worked around a couple of defenders for a 35-yard score.
Mainland used the simple hook-and-ladder play, as Wilson called it, a few more times in the game; it’s a play call the Lady Bucs like to dial up often, he added.
The seven-point lead held up through halftime, but the Lady Bucs — and Mincey — came out with a lot more firepower in third quarter.
On Mainland’s first possession of the half, Mincey reeled in a short pass, then used her speed and agility to work the open field in a manner reminiscent of former Cal Bear standout DeSean Jackson, running in a 18-yard touchdown to put Mainland up 14-0 after the one-point conversion pass.
With 1:15 left in the third quarter, Mincey helped set up another Mainland touchdown — this time by taking a reception to the five-yard line before her flag was yanked. Sydney Ruddy ran in the next play around left end to make it a three-score game.
“My coaches reminded me how important this game was,” Mincey said of the Bucs’ halftime huddle. “With this being my senior year, I want to win.”
Wilson utilized more of his players during the second half, which included moving Mincey around on offense. That not only helped to get her more touches, but also helped Mainland to spread its production around.
Seabreeze narrowed the gap with a 43-yard touchdown reception by Alijea Russell to end the third quarter, but Mainland added another touchdown late in the fourth to seal the victory.
“We felt like (the 6-0 loss) shouldn’t have happened.” Mincey said. “But to be a good sport, I love Seabreeze, I have friends on their team, but it did feel real good to win, because we’re one step closer to being district champs.”
Russell leaves it all on the field
Alijea Russell has played — and loved — football ever since she could walk. That probably explains why, when the final whistle blew ending Monday’s semifinal, she found herself utterly unable to do so.
Russell — a four-year starter for Seabreeze — caved into a catcher’s stance from her spot at cornerback near the pylon, and later fell to both knees by the Sandcrabs’ bench, sobbing incessantly as teammates rallied around her.
“This team is my everything,” said Russell, who scored Seabreeze’s only touchdown on a crossing pattern in the third quarter. “I play (basket)ball, but football has always been the number-one sport for me.”
This season wasn’t the romp the Sandcrabs (5-5) enjoyed from 2012-13, when they beat Deland for consecutive district championships. But Russell and the seniors never quit.
Their resilience wasn’t lost upon the girls who’ll return next year.
“This season means a lot to me, because I’m going to miss all of my seniors, and a lot of my closest friends are leaving,” quarterback McKenzie Bowlus said. “It’s tough.”
The situation was made tougher by the rivalry factor involved.
“To lose to Mainland is just horrible, and I’m very emotional anyway,” Russell said.
Passionate might be a more fitting word. After a first-quarter jump ball fell incomplete, Russell jawed at the girl defending her.
“I’m not afraid to throw a shoulder,” she said.
On every subsequent reception, it seemed like she had earned just a little more elbow room with which to operate.
-Joey LoMonaco
