You want to talk about adversity? Just ask Daytona Beach Mainland senior Quinn Bell a question or two.
File photo by Kevin White
Quinn Bell, Mainland
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Bell started twice at quarterback during Mainland’s 11-1 season last year. For some schools, that would serve as a clear indication that Bell would inherit the Bucs’ starting quarterback job with the spring graduation of three-year starter Greg Ross.
Instead, Bell began the season with a different role. Mainland coach John Maronto awarded the starting quarterback job to junior Austin Parker, who moved to Daytona Beach from Fort Wayne, Ind., and Bell was told he’d play wide receiver and cornerback.
With a long list of offensive weapons that includes receivers O.J. Ross and Chevin Davis, Bell fell a bit off the radar in the team’s first two games. He rushed for 67 yards in the team’s season-opening 34-3 loss to state power Miami Central and had just 22 receiving yards on two catches in the team’s blowout win against Treasure Coast in Week 2.
Now, though, Bell’s blip is back on the screen. Bell relieved Parker in the second half of the Bucs’ Week 3 matchup with Kissimmee Osceola, and his contributions, which included a pair of touchdown passes to Ross, helped Mainland overcome a 21-0 halftime deficit for a 32-21 win. That was enough to earn Bell the start at quarterback in Week 4, but the results were mediocre. Bell threw a pair of touchdown passes, but he also threw an interception and tallied only 35 passing yards on 4-of-10 passing in a 21-20 loss to the Seminoles.
Maronto, though, stayed with Bell, and he has responded in a big way.
Bell has scored 11 touchdowns in Mainland’s last three games. He threw three touchdown passes and ran for a fourth in a 35-7 win against New Smyrna Beach. Then he scored twice the following week in a 43-0 win against Spruce Creek. The performance that had heads shaking, though, came last Friday at Deltona Pine Ridge. Bell threw four first-half touchdown passes, ran for a fifth score and returned a third-quarter interception 85 yards for a sixth touchdown in a 61-14 victory. He was so prolific in finding the end zone that Maronto couldn’t even keep track of it all.
"He had how many touchdowns? Five?" Maronto asked after the game. When told Bell scored six times, Maronto had only praise for his new signal-caller. "That’s quite a game. He’s been a good quarterback for us these past few games, and he’s always been a great athlete."
Bell attributed his success in the passing game to the blocking of his offensive line and the skill of his receivers.
"I’m getting better with each game. I have a lot of confidence right now," said Bell, who only threw for 112 yards on 5-for-7 passing.
Bell’s success takes some of the pressure off Mainland’s running game, led by junior Marlin Lane, who has 803 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns through seven games. Lane rushed for only 72 yards against Pine Ridge.
Mainland (5-2) needs that balanced offense as it moves toward a key matchup and the postseason. The Bucs play at Deltona on Friday. Mainland seals a playoff berth with a win. Then Mainland hooks up with DeLand on Nov. 6 in a game that many Central Florida football fans anxiously await. That game is expected to decide the District 6A-2 title. Maronto, though, was quick to remind his team after last Friday’s win at Pine Ridge that their focus needs to be on Deltona rather than on DeLand.
Mainland’s regular season ends with a big rivalry game against Daytona Beach Seabreeze, another team riding a wave of success, in Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium, which the teams share. Then it’s on to the playoffs for the Bucs, who are looking to erase the memory of last season’s 21-20 playoff loss to Orange Park.
Week 8 roundup
• DeLand defeated Deltona 39-0 in an annual rivalry game to improve to 8-0. The Bulldogs scored their fifth shutout of the season, and junior running back Deante "Pop" Saunders scored three rushing touchdowns.
• Seminole defeated Lake Brantley 14-7 on an interception by Eric Farkas. Seminole senior Toby Durham rushed for 171 yards. Now both teams have two losses. Seminole, though, has the upper hand in the battle for the 6A-3 title.
• Dr. Phillips shut out Oak Ridge 24-0 to seal the 6A-6 district title. The Panthers improved to 7-0 with the win. Dr. Phillips is just one of three remaining Central Florida teams without a loss. Quarteback Nick Patti scored on a pair of touchdown runs.
• Apopka slammed East Ridge 56-14 to improve to 7-0. Tom Smith rushed for 133 yards for Apopka. He also caught 37- and 41-yard touchdown passes form quarterback Keon Clark.
• Oviedo quarterback Blake Bortles passed for 378 yards and five touchdowns in the Lions’ 55-14 win against Hagerty. Bortles also scored on a touchdown run. That put Bortles over the 1,500-yard plateau after seven games.
Week 9 preview
• DeLand at Lake Brantley tops the list of 10 rare Thursday games. For the playoff race, the game means next to nothing. The Patriots, though, have a habit of thumping DeLand, and this might be the year the Bulldogs repay them.
• Kissimmee Osceola plays at Winter Park on Friday. Both teams are expected to make the playoffs. Winter Park, with just one loss, has played well for most of the season, but Osceola might trip up the Wildcats in this one.
• Olympia hosts Apopka on Friday night. The Titans have played well this season, and they are likely to make the playoffs. This game likely decides which of the two wins the district title. The loser is almost certainly the runner-up.
Recruiting news
• Seabreeze senior receiver Dominique Roberts committed to Western Kentucky.
• Saunders committed to Florida.
• Mainland defensive back Cortez Davis committed to Clemson.