DeLand, Mainland compete for regional football titles, spots in FHSAA Final 4
For the first time in more than a decade, Volusia County will have two football teams taking the field the night after Thanksgiving.
Mainland continues its quest for championship redemption with an intriguing home matchup against Sebring, while DeLand travels down south for a single-wing showdown against top-seeded Treasure Coast.
The winners will advance to the Final Four next Friday. DeLand would likely hit the road again, perhaps as far a trip as Venice in the southwest corner of the state. Mainland, meanwhile, has home field advantage all the way to the Class 3S title game as the No. 2 overall seed. Potential fourth-round opponents include defending champion Lake Wales, Vanguard, Naples or Dunbar.
But first, there's the matter of handling business Friday for both the Bulldogs and the Buccaneers. Here are previews of both games, along with predictions from News-Journal reporters Chris Boyle (107-17) and Chris Vinel (97-27) and sports editor Ryan Pritt (91-33).
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Region 3-4S championship
DeLand (10-2) at Treasure Coast (9-2)
Two years ago, when Treasure Coast faced Apopka in a state semifinal, Titans coach Irvin Jones likened the matchup to "that Spider-Man meme where they’re all pointing at each other." That will be the case again Friday when longtime Apopka coach Rick Darlington, who inspired Treasure Coast's single-wing transformation, brings DeLand to its first regional final since 2009.
DeLand pulled away from University for a 31-13 semifinal victory, improving to 7-0 all-time against their West Volusia rivals. The Bulldogs held University to minus-23 rushing yards, and Javon Ross returned an interception for a touchdown for the second straight week. TJ Moore paced DeLand's rushing attack with 192 yards on 24 carries, and Ladamion Bletcher scored a pair of short-yardage touchdowns.
Treasure Coast also completed a season sweep of its chief rival last week, upending Vero Beach 21-12 for its first win in three postseason meetings. George Roberts put the game away with a 37-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, his second score of the night. The Titans ride a five-game winning streak into the regional final, and their two losses this season came at the hands of FHSAA championship favorites Cocoa (Class 2S) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Class 3M).
Picks — Boyle: DeLand 19-16, Vinel: DeLand 22-20, Pritt: DeLand 24-18.
Region 3-3S championship
Sebring (9-2) at Mainland (11-1)
Two of the stingiest defensive units in Class 3S will square off head-to-head for a shot to play December football. Mainland allows just 12 points per game, while Sebring limits opponents to 8 ppg.
Sebring pulled off a mild upset last week by eliminating second-seeded Eau Gallie. Travis Kerney threw for 72 yards, rushed for 46 and accounted for a pair of touchdowns, and Walsone Beaubrian broke free for a 49-yard TD sprint. South Florida commit Josiah Taylor led the Blue Streaks with 17 tackles and an interception, one of eight pass breakups on the night. Sebring will attempt to match its deepest run in an FHSAA playoff ever; the Blue Streaks reached the Class 5A Final Four in 2021.
Mainland struggled to finish drives for the better part of three quarters against an athletic Rockledge defense, but Dennis Murray Jr. tossed a pair of clutch touchdowns for the Buccaneers and Rodney Hill rushed for both the go-ahead two-point conversion and an insurance touchdown on the following drive. Five-star Florida defensive line commit LJ McCray dominated the trenches, and the Bucs generated pressure from just about everywhere against Raiders quarterback Traven Green.
Picks — Boyle: Mainland 20-7, Vinel: Mainland 24-13, Pritt: Mainland 21-3.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: High school football: Previews, predictions for Mainland, DeLand games
