Football Recap: Josh Dudley Leads a Balanced Attack to Beat Matanzas

Buccaneers

Team Score (Highest)

09/25/25 vs Matanzas	34
09/05/25 vs Flagler Palm Coast	28
08/29/25 @ Cocoa	19
09/12/25 vs Spruce Creek	16
09/19/25 @ Coffee	14

Winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Mainland). They enjoyed a cozy 34-17 win over the Matanzas Pirates on Thursday. The Buccaneers haven't had any issues with the Pirates recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive victory against them.

Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Mainland to victory, but perhaps none more so than Josh Dudley, who rushed for 36 yards and one TD, and also picked up 35 receiving yards and one score. Sebastian Johnson was another key passer, throwing for 279 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Mainland didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Matanzas to a completion percentage of just 41.9%. That dominant aerial defense primarily came from two players: Ivan Gaines and Kiarin Sullivan, who each logged one passes deflected. Mainland hasn't an opponent to post a completion percentage of 0.45 or higher every time they've taken the field this season.

Mainland's defense didn't let Cole Walker, get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for three sacks. Tamaj Woodard refused to say out of the backfield, picking up 1.5 sacks all by himself. Mainland got some further help from Woodard: he picked up 1.5 sacks and made eight total tackles.

Despite the loss, Matanzas still got an impressive performance from Thomas Larywon, who picked up 72 receiving yards and a pair of scores.

Mainland's win bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Matanzas, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 3-3.

Mainland wasted no time getting back out on the field and has already played their next contest, a 28-20 loss against DeLand on the 3rd. As for Matanzas, they also didn't take long to hit the field again: they've already played their next game, a 17-13 victory against Mount Dora on the 3rd.