Mandarin is coming off a 35-0 beat down over Deland last week in the playoffs and will travel to Winter Park, a 34-7 winner over Palm Coast last week. Now comes the task of can the Mustangs break a twenty plus jinx and win their first ever road playoff game. Here is a preview of this weeks second round game with Winter Park.
REGION 1-8A
No. 3 Mandarin (7-4) at No. 2 Winter Park (10-1)
Where: Showalter Field
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
About Mandarin: A year ago this time, Mandarin was preparing for the off season after going 2-8 in Bobby Ramsay first season, what a turnaround for Ramsay in his second season. This is the first second round playoff game appearance since 2015 for the Mustangs, since a third round 41-26 loss to West Orange. Junior quarterback Carson Beck, an Alabama commit, has come up big for the Mustangs this season completing 139 of 245 passes for 2,273 yards, 27 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Of course having a trio of senior receivers like Demario Douglas (50 catches for 886 yards, 17.7 y.p.c., 9 touchdowns), Kris Mitchell (42 catches for 658 yards, 15.7 y.p.c., 7 touchdowns) and two-way player Darian Oxendine (44 catches for 593 yards, 13.5 y.p.c., 7 touchdowns). Two guys who could end up being x-factors in the game could be tailbacks junior Cameron Daniels (97 carries, 395 yards, 3 touchdowns) and senior Terrell Jennings (107 carries, 472 yards, 4.4 y.p.c., 5 touchdowns). For Mandarin to pull the upset, the defense led by senior lineman Christian Warren (92 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks), senior Nijel McGriff (86 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2 sacks) and Kasimir Absolu (35 tackles, 4 interceptions) must come up big and shut down the Wildcats potent passing attack as well as the just as explosive running game. A defense, which has accumulated 35 sacks and 14 interceptions will have their hands full trying to stop such a potent Wildcat offense. Warren and McGriff will be critical to bringing the pressure while the secondary of Douglas (5 interceptions), Absolu (4 interceptions), Jayvon Fulton (2 interceptions) and Oxendine (1 interception) will be tested and could also play a huge role in the game. One thing about this group of Mustangs is they won’t be intimated having played four teams still playing this week including Godby, Lee, Raines and Apopka. Speaking of Apopka, the win over the state power Blue Darters on the road was the spring board the Mustangs needed after a 2-3 start, the Mustangs closed out the regular season going 4-1 down the stretch. Mandarin is looking to end a couple trends that have haunted them over the years and that is beating an Orange County team as the Mustangs are 1-3 all-time in the playoffs against the county and 0-4 all-time on the road in the playoffs.
About Winter Park: Third straight year the Wildcats are in the second round of the playoffs after losing in the third round last season to Wekiva. The Wildcats are on a roll having won 8 in a row since a 25-22 loss to Wekiva, including a perfect 7-0 at home this season. The Wildcats offense could cause some serious problems for the Mustangs defense, especially through the air, where the Wildcats have a gunslinger in junior quarterback Casey Case (67 of 107 for 1,020 yards, 15 touchdowns, 3 interceptions). The addition of Peter Hayes Patrick, who was out five games after being ineligible that was eventually over turned, has been huge for the Wildcats as Patrick has accumulated 810 yards and 8 touchdowns on 122 carries in 6 games. The receiving core is legit led by the explosive Marcus Clarke (55 catches for 979 yards, 17.8 y.p.c,, 19 touchdowns). Defensively, this might be the best defense the Mustangs have faced all season long as the Wildcats have racked up 28 sacks and 21 interceptions, while holding 8 of its opponents to a touchdown or less. A defensive line featuring senior Nicholas Jackson (64 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 14 sacks) and senior JJ Valle-Smith (82 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks) could cause problems for Beck while also disrupting the running game as well. A secondary featuring junior Ethan Pouncey (8 interceptions), sophomore Daniel Edwards (4 interceptions) and sophomore Dakota Mitchell (3 interceptions) will also be a major concern for Beck.
Joe Pinkos: Winter Park by 6
Next: Mandarin would travel to Wekiva or host Apopka in the Region I-8A final next week and advance to the Elite 8 for the first time since 2016.
Photo courtesy of Eagles Eye Photography
Helmets courtesy of FloridaHSFootball,com
