DeLand is 2-7 against Mainland since August of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Bulldogs will be playing at home against the Buccaneers at 7:00 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Mainland will take on a team with plenty of momentum: DeLand extended their winning streak to five last Friday. The Bulldogs blew past Deltona, posting a 39-0 victory. The contest marked the Bulldogs' most dominant win of the season so far.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead DeLand to victory, but perhaps none more so than Marceles Carey, who rushed for 96 yards and one score on only ten carries, and also caught one touchdown. Taihj Moore was another key rusher, rushing for 120 yards on only 13 carries.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: DeLand was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 292 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 175 rushing yards every time they've taken the field this season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Mainland). They strolled past Matanzas with points to spare on Thursday, taking the game 34-17. The victory continues a trend for the Buccaneers in their matchups with the Pirates: they've now won seven in a row.
Mainland's win came from a few key players DeLand will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Josh Dudley, who rushed for 36 yards and one TD, and also picked up 35 receiving yards and one score. Another passer making a difference was Sebastian Johnson, who threw for 279 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Mainland's defense made their presence known, laying out Cole Walker three times. Tamaj Woodard refused to say out of the backfield, picking up 1.5 sacks all by himself.
Mainland's win bumped their record up to 4-1. As for DeLand, their victory bumped their record up to 5-0.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. DeLand has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 341.4 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Mainland struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 154.6 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
DeLand lost to Mainland at home by a decisive 42-27 margin when the teams last played back in October of 2024. Will the Bulldogs have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
