Big First Quarter Helps FPC Edge Mainland

PALM COAST — FPC used a big first quarter and held on to defeat Mainland 17-13 at Sal Campanella Memorial Stadium.

The Bulldogs got on the board at the 9:49 mark in the first quarter when Army West Point commit Dakoda Wagner scored on a 1-yard plunge that gave them a 7-0 lead.

FPC quarterback Preston Roberts wrapped up a nine-play 77-yard drive when he threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Trent Williams which made the score 14-0 with 1:39 left in the opening quarter.

After Mainland fumbled the ensuing kickoff, the Bulldogs had the ball first and goal at the Mainland 2-yard line. After three unsuccessful attempts at scoring a touchdown, FPC settled for a 22-yard field goal by Chase Magee which gave them a 17-0 lead with 28 seconds left in the first quarter. 

Mainland got their first points of the fame when quarterback E’Zaiah Shine connected with James Randle for an 18-yard score to make it 17-7 with 6:28 left before halftime.

The Buccaneers cut the deficit to 17-13 when Marshall commit Isaiah Gordon scored on an 11-yard run with 26 seconds remaining in the third quarter. That score would be the game’s final points as both defenses would not budge in the fourth quarter.

FPC’s defense harassed Shine all night long, sacking him 9 times and intercepting two of his passes.

The Bulldogs’ offense got 76 yards rushing from Wagner and quarterback Dennis Murray Jr added 90 yards rushing on 13 attempts. It was Murray Jr’s first start at quarterback on the varsity level.

The game had a 21-minte delay when the stadium lights suddenly went out with 3:15 left in the fourth quarter. When the lights came back on, Mainland had the ball in a 3rd-and-9 situation. FPC stopped the Buccaneers on downs and held on for the win.

Next week FPC (1-0) will host Port Orange Atlantic and Mainland (0-1) will host Spruce Creek (2-0).