JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The first Bold City Showdown was a one sided affair. Mandarin overpowered Atlantic Coast on both sides of the ball during Thursday night’s 39-7 win.
In addition to quarterback Carson Beck, who is verbally committed to Alabama, Mandarin has four receivers that are also fielding division one offers.
But it was the Mustangs run game that opened up the scoring. Terrell Jennings found a seam and rumbled over 20 yards to put Mandarin up 6-0 midway through the first quarter.
Atlantic Coast quarterback Bubba Wohlgemuth spent most of the first half on his back side. Mandarin’s constant pressure led to an interception by DeMario Douglass who returned Wohlgemuth’s errant pass to the Stingrays 15-yard line. Mandarin was unable to take advantage, missing a midrange field goal.
Atlantic Coast turned the ball back over to Mandarin a couple of plays later. Jayvon Fulton’s interception set the Mustangs up with first and goal from inside the Atlantic Coast 5-yard line. This time Mandarin found the end zone on a short touchdown run by Cameron Daniels, giving the Mustangs a 12-0 halftime lead.
Mandarin scored early in the third quarter to pull away for good, giving the Mustangs their fourth straight win over Atlantic Coast.