- November 23, 2024
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Mainland football's 2019 season came to a close the night of Friday, Nov. 15, after the Buccaneers were defeated by Escambia 27-7 in Pensacola for the second round of the Class 6A FHSAA State Playoffs.
The game began with promise, as the Buccaneers stopped the Gators on fourth-and-goal on the Buccaneers' own 20-yard line.
And after a scoreless first quarter, Escambia led 3-0 after a 41-yard field goal at the beginning of the second period. The Buccaneers' offense struggled to move the ball, and with 35 seconds left in the first half, the Gators scored their first touchdown of the night to take a 10-0 lead.
Escambia added a 31-yard field to make the score 13-0 with 3:28 to play in the third quarter. The Buccaneers threw an interception on the responding drive.
However, Mainland's Charles Reid picked off Escambia's quarterback to start the fourth period. Buccaneers quarterback Taron Keith connected on a 25-yard touchdown pass to receiver Ra'Mello Dotson on the next play.
Escambia responded with a one-play drive for a touchdown to take a 20-7 lead and scored one more time late in the fourth quarter following another interception thrown by the Buccaneers.
Mainland concluded the season with a 6-5 record.