Football returned to Theofilos Field on Friday, Aug. 15th, when the Benjamin Bucs defeated the Dwyer Panthers, 27-7, in a preseason game.
The Panthers were ranked the 218th-best team in Florida coming into this game, while the Bucs were ranked the 81st-best team in Florida.
Both teams started slowly with back-to-back three-and-outs from the Bucs. It was not until the Panthers punted the ball to the 27-yard line and senior Kaden Faniel caught a deep ball for a 63-yard touchdown reception that the first points were put on the board.
After this score, the game momentum shifted in favor of the Bucs. Shortly after the first touchdown, another came through, when the Panthers quarterback and senior Robert Green scrambled out of the pocket, Buccaneers sophomore Cohen Roach stripped the ball and trotted into the end zone, putting another six points onto the board.
The Bucs defense dominated moving into the second quarter. With starting quarterback Charlie Smith moving the ball down the field, on first down, he handed the ball off to junior Nick Skillin, and he ran to the outside and hustled 32 yards to the endzone. Skillin reflects on the game as a whole.
“I gave it my all and left everything on the field. I’m gonna keep bringing that same energy and passion to support the team every day so that we can compete to our best ability,” Skillin displayed.
Shortly after the Bucs got the ball once again, senior Terrion Ivy-Akins scored a touchdown for the Bucs, ending the first half 27-0.
Moving on to the second half, the Panthers only scored seven more points. The final score was 27-7 in a successful Bucs win.
In his first game as head coach, Jason Belser saw a team that had grown during the offseason.
“We wanted to establish what we, as a team, call ‘safe football.’ We needed explosive and fast effort, and I feel like we did that for the most part. We are functioning as a team, holding each other accountable, and playing selfless football,” Coach Belser noted.
“I have to keep the intensity up and keep working week by week. Not only that, but we need to work as a team to get better. Every practice matters and every rep counts,” Faniel said.
Smith talked about how important it is to be a leader, especially in opening games
“I think it is the most important thing about being a QB. You gotta be a motivator. No matter what. I motivated the team not to stop even though we struggled on our first two drives,” Smith said.
From the stands, senior and co-president on the Sports Analytics club Stephen Cecil elaborated on how the boys did in their first game.
“We did very well. From the stands, it was pretty easy to see how confident they were. They came out of the locker room hype and ready to play, and in the game, they had a great spirit through all four quarters,” Cecil exclaimed.
Senior Chase Connor was a key student in the student section.
“The student section was fun. Although it was a preseason game, it was a great turnout, and I believe it will become bigger as the season goes on,” Connor declared. “One thing that we did that we will carry on throughout the rest of the home games is that we did a roll call in the middle of the game. I feel like it brings a good sense of spirit throughout the student section and the entire crowd.”
Starting safety, senior Julian Luiz emphasized how clutch the student section is for the team.
“The student section is important because it hypes us up. Whenever we are on the field and we hear cheering, it boosts our morale,” Luiz expressed.
Although the next few games will send the Bucs into rough seas, Belser looks to lead them to shore. They play Jupiter Christian on Aug. 22 at Theofilos Field, then go on the road versus Tampa Jesuit on Aug. 29th and Cardinal Newman on Sep. 25th
“We want to play smarter football. If we do that, then we will give ourselves a chance to win every game we play. Our first three games are tough, so we have to come out firing on all cylinders,” Coach Belser said.
Watch the Buc’s defense in action:
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