MANDARIN-Knowing the ramifications of this weeks huge rivalry game with Sandalwood, Mandarin head coach Quinn Gray put a gag order on his team all week and told them to do their talking on the field.
They listened well.
Mandarin remained silent all week on social media and got the last laugh in a come from behind 34-31 win at the Corral.
Sandalwood spent all week on twitter talking smack to its district rival and even released a rap song dissing Mandarin four days before the game.
District Championship Tomorrow🏆, Aint No More Talking‼️🙊 It Aint Nothin, We Gone Show Yall What All This "Hype" Is About #SmashMandarin 💥💯🔋💍 pic.twitter.com/7u8fHccYsg
— Quran Hafiz ❗ (@__Quran4) October 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/Glory_jitt/status/786020703355240448
https://twitter.com/Glory_jitt/status/786010850452701184
https://twitter.com/__Quran4/status/786003688758181888
https://twitter.com/Glory_jitt/status/785985483729960960
If only Sandalwood could have backed up all their talk for the full 48 minutes.
Early on it looked like they would as the Saints jumped out to a quick 24-0 lead in the second quarter. Unfortunately, just like last year they couldn’t hold on to it.
Logan Wright, 306 yards on 42 carries, rushed for two first half touchdowns runs (2, 74) and Sincere David’s 28-yard pick-six put the Saints ahead 24-0 late in the second quarter.
Mandarin answered on their ensuing possession as Mekhi Jackson bulldozed his way in from 3-yards cutting the lead to 24-7 with about 4 minutes left till half.
Sandalwood carried the 17-point lead into the half and had to be feeling confident it would finally end the Mustangs two game winning streak over them.
Just like last year though, in which Mandarin rallied for 31 points in the third quarter to run away with it 51-29, the Mustangs wouldn’t go away.
Following a 37-yard run by Wright, near midfield quarterback Kyle Smith fumbled the exchange to Wright and Mandarin picked it up and returned it back all the way to the 5 before it was fumbled again and fell on by another Mustangs player Keon Jackson in the end zone.
Just like that Mandarin had closed the gap to 24-13 barley two minutes into the second half.
Sandalwood responded on its ensuing drive as Smith hit Edwan Carter on a 37-yard strike putting the Saints up 31-13 with 7:50 left in the third quarter. Those would be the last points, Sandalwood would score though.
From that point on the Mustangs defense would finally buckle down and contain Wright and keep him and the Saints out of the end zone.
Antonio Spooney picked off Smith pass on the Saints ensuing possession and returned it 13 yards cutting the lead to 31-19 with 5:30 left in the third.
A quick three and out on the next Saints possession, gave the Mustangs the ball back again and they struck again.
Spencer Mullnow snuck in from 1-yard and just like that the Mustangs had cut the lead to 31-26 with less than three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
On the fourth play of the fourth quarter, Mandarin struck again as Mullnow hit Aaron Adams in the right corner for a 5-yard score giving Mandarin its first and only lead of the game at 34-31 two minutes into the fourth quarter.
4th Qtr, 10:43
Mandarin 34, Sandalwood 31
First lead of game down 24-0 in first half. #DejaVu— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 15, 2016
From there the Mustangs defense took over holding the Saints to back-to-back three and outs on their next two drives setting up the game clincher.
From its own 3-yard line, the Saints got the ball back with under four minutes remaining and was forced to pass.
Smith connected with Carter again on a third and 6 play as Carter made an incredible left handed catch keeping the drive going.
Faced with third and 16, Smith found Logan Wright wide open across the middle who dove just enough for the first down with under two minutes remaining.
However, with fourth and 5, Smith was hit immediately by a host of Mustangs on a option keeper and Mandarin took over on downs.
Mandarin took a couple knees and the game was over.
“We knew what they were going to do, give it to Logan 40-50 times a game we just couldn’t stop him in the first half,” Gray said.
Like last year, Mandarin rallied from behind and took it to Sandalwood in the third quarter.
“At the half, I just told them to settle down, we were all jacked up and hyped up and we just were not focusing on the schemes and all the little things,” Gray said.
Among the things Gray had to deal with all week was the smack talk on twitter between the two but Gray took care of that immediately.
“I put a gag and ban on all social media all week to my players,” Gray said. “Devin (Waters) is a good kid who just decided to do a little talking all week and I told my kids do your talking on the field and they did.”
Gray admitted he was aware of the rap song put out by Sandalwood earlier in the week that dissed his program and players.
“Devin tweeted it out to Spooney and Mullnow and it got around,” Gray said. “By doing that they showed us a little respect by rapping about us. ”
Gray referred to his team as a sleeping animal and the how the song fueled his team.
“Our kids are like sleeping bears. U poke a bear you’re going to get mauled,” Gray said.
Mandarin (5-0, 2-0) takes over District 1-8A and will look to wrap up a playoff spot next Friday at Spruce Creek (4-3, 2-1); while the Saints (5-1, 2-1) will look to regroup in two weeks hosting Deland Oct. 27 in their final district game.
