FlaVarsity Week 6 Star: Mainland’s Denzel Houston shines in W over Deltona

Mainland quarterback Denzel Houston led his undefeated Mainland Buccaneers squad (6-0) to a 35-0 win over Deltona (4-2) last Friday. The 6-foot, 185-pound Western Michigan commit racked up 174 yards and three touchdowns in in the air, and 191 yards and a touchdown on the ground. His most sensational play came on a read-option keeper to the boundary side, where he weaved in and out of defenders en route to a 97-yard touchdown.

Going into the Deltona game, the Buccaneers were coming off a win against a very talented Dr. Phillips team and will travel to face a well-rested Cocoa squad coming off a bye week. Naturally, there was some concern that Mainland may have been looking past Deltona, but Scott Wilson and his staff preached focusing on the task at hand.

“Our coaches were telling us that it (the Deltona match-up) was a trap game, not to overlook any opponent, and to go out with the same mentality as we did vs. Dr. Phillips,” said Houston. “They had us prepared and we watched a lot of film. We just went out there and did what our coaches told us to do.”

Mainland is in the crucible phase of their schedule and the Deltona win was a big one. Mainland ascended to 2-0 in district play and dropped Deltona to 1-1.

Now it’s time to focus on Cocoa and this matchup should be a good one. Both teams have exciting playmakers behind center in Cocoa’s Bruce Judson and of course Denzel Houston steering the ship for the Buccaneers.

Regardless of the outcome however, there won’t be much time to reflect for Mainland as they will turn around and face-off with division rivals Mantazas, in a game that will likely decide the 6a District 13 champ.