FHSAA Football Class 3S State Championship Preview: Mainland vs. St. Augustine

Mainland (13-1) vs St. Augustine (13-0); Insight on the 3S championship game and staff picks

Having to watch the Lake Wales Highlanders celebrate winning the Class 3S state championship was a tough sight to see for the Mainland Buccaneers last year at DRV PNK Stadium down in Fort Lauderdale. 

Unfinished business has been the fighting cry for the Buccaneers all season long and now they've gotten back to the title game. 

FHSAA announces kickoff times for 2023 Florida high school football state championship games

Standing in Mainland's way, however, is a very worthy opponent in the St. Augustine Yellow Jackets. St. Augustine features one of the top passing attacks in the state and have been tough to stop for any opposing defense. 

Let's make no bones about it, this Buccaneers' defense might be like no other the Yellow Jackets have faced this season. 

Mainland's defense has been one of the toughest when it comes to points, notching six shutouts. The Buccaneers recent victory in the state semifinals, a 34-12 win over Vanguard, was just another example of how stifling the unit can be for talented clubs. 

Mainland vs. St. Augustine: Live score, updates Florida 3S football state championship

Six players for the Buccaneers have recorded 29 or more tackles for loss, with three recording 10-plus sacks through 14 games. 

The star of the Mainland defense is University of Florida commitment LJ McCray on the defensive line. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound lineman has been an absolute nightmare for opposing offensive linemen, as McCray has notched 77 tackles, 37 for loss and 13 sacks. 

Joining McCray on the front seven is linebacker Rodney Hill (Tulane commitment), defensive lineman Christian Hudson (27 tackles for loss, nine sacks) and 6-foot-3, 260-pound lineman Ramon McCollough Jr., who has offers from Appalachian State, Charlotte and Coastal Carolina. 

TALLY here we come!!! #thebucway〽️ pic.twitter.com/vMNMyoZO5E

— Rodney Hill Jr (@RodneyHill2024) December 3, 2023

Heading up the secondary for the Buccaneers is 4-star safety Xavier Mincey, who has racked up 34 tackles and three interceptions. The amount of Power 5 level talent on Mainland's defense is scary, especially in the front seven, which will make it difficult for St. Augustine to get anything going on the ground.

Roland's offense looks a bit different from a year ago, now under the controls of dual-threat signal caller Dennis Murray Jr. The senior quarterback has done a nice job keeping the Buccaneers' offense on schedule, throwing for 1,359 yards and 16 touchdowns. Murray Jr. has also rushed for 787 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. 

On the other side at quarterback is Wake Forest commitment Locklan Hewlett, arguably one of the top junior passers in the state. Hewlett missed some time during the regular season, but still put up some strong numbers, throwing for 2,570 yards and 22 touchdowns to just a mere four interceptions. 

There's a few reasons around Hewlett's success under center and that's been the play of the receivers around him. Leading the unit is junior wide receiver Carl Jenkins Jr., who has hauled in 56 passes for 1,094 yards and 14 touchdowns. Throw in Trenton Jones (956 yards, six touchdowns) and Myles Simmons (861 yards, 12 touchdowns), and you're looking at one of the better wide receiving corps of any in these state championships.  

An underrated component to St. Augustine's offense has been the play of running back Devonte Lyons, as the tailback has helped make this offense dynamic and balanced. Lyons has carried the rock 219 times for 1,476 yards and scored 27 touchdowns. 

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Defensively, St. Augustine has been sneaky good at times, but will face one of its tougher tests against Mainland's offense. Something the Yellow Jackets have been is an opportunistic unit that has gotten after opposing quarterbacks, forcing turnovers. 

The Yellow Jackets have totaled 22 sacks and intercepted 17 passes as a team and have a few standouts from this season. Leading the way on defense is senior linebacker Drake Lusk, who has made 98 tackles and 15 have gone for a loss. Alongside of Lusk is lienbackers Julian Quintero (94 tackles) and Matteo Bernardi (83 tackles, nine for loss). 

Vote: Who wins in each of the 2023 FHSAA football state championships?

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SBLive Sports Florida staff picks

Andy Villamarzo: St. Augustine, 32-24

Gary Adornato: St. Augustine, 21-20 

Joe Frisaro: St. Augustine, 17-10

Adam Fisher: Mainland, 27-20 

Bill Kemp: Mainland, 29-27 

Reed Green: St. Augustine, 31-29 

Alejandro Tamayo: St. Augustine, 34-20

Jeff Gardenour: St. Augustine, 28-24 

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FHSAA 2023 CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 4M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 4S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 3M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1R STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl