(Daytona Beach, FL) -- Miami has always been the roadblock for the Bucs advancing past the 3rd round of the playoffs. Now, with the implementation of the new playoff system for the 2017 season, the Bucs faced an even more daunting task than in previous years. Face a team from Miami in each of the 1st three rounds. As expected, four of the five teams from Florida's strongest district, Miami's dreaded 6A-16, made the playoffs via the FHSAA point system. This meant that if Mainland was to advance to the State Championship, the Bucs would have to face and beat three of these teams to advance. For this very reason, we marked Mainland's path as the most difficult path to the title.

Mainland was coming off a big playoff win in the 1st round.... against one of these aforementioned teams, the Miami Norland Vikings. The Bucs had passed their first test, beating a team from Miami. Now, the Bucs had to be up to the challenge of facing the defending state champions Miami Carol City in Round 2... the same Carol City Chiefs that ousted the Buccaneers last year to go forward and claim the 6A State Championship.

Cam Davis... well is Cam Davis. The University of Miami RB commit had a big 31yd go-ahead TD run to give his Chiefs the boost past the Bucs in the 3rd quarter. This proved to be the points the Chiefs needed, as they held on to beat the Bucs 17-10.

Mainland had the ball twice in the red zone, but could not capitalize and cash in with points.

Mainland ends their 2017 campaign 7 wins 4 losses, with those losses to teams that are in still in the playoff chase and could be in their respective State Championship Game (Bartram Trail (7A), Dr. Phillips (8A), defending 4A State Champion Carol City, and 6A defending state champion Carol City.

Carol City advances to play Miami Northwestern in 6A Regional Final.