- April 26, 2024
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Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas high schools will square off 7 p.m. Sept 2, at FPC, in the county’s rivalry game. The Bulldogs have yet to lose in the Flagler Bowl.
Both Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas high schools have experienced extreme makeovers during the offseason.
The Bulldogs have a new starting quarterback after last season’s starter, Bentlee Critcher, transferred to Warner Christian. The Bulldogs also lost their top running back, Derron Green, to graduation.
But coach Caesar Campana is back for his second full season as head coach, and he feels his players are slowly buying into his style.
The Bulldogs went 4-7 last season (1-1 in the district), and lost to First Coast in the first round of the Florida High School Athletic Association’s playoffs.
This year, the Bulldogs are in Class 8-A and an entirely new district.
Redistricting done by the FHSAA pits the Bulldogs in a district with Spruce Creek, DeLand, Mandarin, Fletcher and Sandalwood.
The final four games on the Bulldogs’ schedule include district games against Fletcher, Sandalwood and DeLand.
Last season, the Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs’ rushing attack amassed more than 1,500.
The Bulldogs will have plenty of speed and youth to share the wealth in the rushing attack. The Bulldogs’ rushing attack is anchored by a big, physical and athletic front line, coach Caesar Campana said.
The Bulldogs’ will run the Wing-T on offense.
In the preseason game against Deltona, the Bulldogs amassed more than 400 yards on the ground offensively en route to a 60-0 victory.
Pirates
Last season, the Matanzas Pirates averaged 146 passing yards per game, 132 rushing yards per game and almost 29 points per game.
It was the first season coach Keith Lagocki’s team has run the spread offense.
The Pirates have had a battle for the starting QB job between junior Bryan Dieudonne and sophomore Al’Kwazi Spencer.
For most of the summer, Dieudonne was projected to be the starter, but in the Pirates’ preseason game last week, Spencer outplayed his counterpart, earning the starting job — at least for now.
Dieudonne will still be a large part of the team at linebacker.
In the preseason game, the Pirates defeated Eagles View, 21-20.
The Pirates are coming off a 3-7 season.
Last season, Matanzas was in a four-team district and played three district games.
With redistricting done by the FHSAA, the Pirates were moved into a six-team district, including Menendez, Ponte Vedra, Creekside, Nease and Palatka.
BULLDOGS SCHEDULE
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 against Matanzas
7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8 @ Seabreeze
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16 against New Smyrna Beach
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 @ Mandarin
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 @ Ponte Vedra
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 against Spruce Creek
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 @ University
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 @ Fletcher
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 @ Sandalwood
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 against DeLand
PIRATES SCHEDULE
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 @ Flagler Palm Coast
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 @ Florida Air Academy
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16 against University Christian
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 @ Pedro Menendez
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 against Ponte Vedra
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 against Fernandina Beach
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 @ Creekside
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 against Nease
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 against Palatka
7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 @ Atlantic
