Sharks move to 3-0

PORT ORANGE — For the second consecutive season, the Atlantic Sharks are off to a 3-0 start.

Aaron Manning and Maximus Campbell connected for two clutch, fourth-down touchdown passes, and CJ Robinson rushed for 134 yards and two scores Saturday night as the Sharks held off Melbourne Central Catholic, 25-19.

Though he feels the Sharks are still not quite where they want to be, head coach DJ Mayo has noticed huge improvement. Two of Atlantic's three victories have come against 2018 playoff qualifiers, including MCC (0-2) in Class 3A.

"We kind of showed for a small period of time we can play with the Mainlands and DeLands, but I don't know for four quarters if we could do that," Mayo said. "(MCC) has got studs. They've got about three or four guys I did not see on film, and those guys made a difference.

"I'm really proud of us taking the next step. Last year, we would have lost this game."

Red zone struggles

The Sharks could have potentially put the game out of reach earlier, but they squandered four opportunities inside the red zone.

On both sides of halftime, Atlantic came up empty in its efforts to extend a 19-13 lead. On 4th-and-goal from the Hustlers' 19-yard line, Manning's pass for Perry Williams fell incomplete. Starting the second half with the ball, the Sharks' promising drive ended with a Torrey Gaines fumble at the MCC 18.

"We definitely shot ourselves in the foot way too many times," Mayo said.

Campbell's call

Campbell, a Coastal Carolina commit, set the Sharks up with another glorious chance at the midway point of the fourth quarter. He fielded a bouncing punt at the MCC 40 and returned it 31 yards to set up a first-and-goal.

Three unsuccessful running plays later, Atlantic called timeout. That's when Campbell suggested taking advantage of 1-on-1 coverage.

"(Mayo) said, 'Let's do it,'" said Campbell, who finished with seven receptions for 38 yards. "I'm at the point right now where I need to make plays for the team."

Manning executed a convincing playaction fake, and lofted a 2-yard pass to Campbell, who secured the catch near the back left corner of the end zone. It was the second time on the night he caught a touchdown pass on a fourth-down gamble, adding a 3-yard score in the second quarter.

Hustlers fight back

The Hustlers refused to quit after falling behind by two scores.

Keyonte Carree gave MCC hope with 2:48 left in regulation, hauling in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Mekhi Love. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound receiver, who claims an offer from Florida A&M, gave the Sharks' secondary fits in catching five balls for 72 yards.

MCC stuffed Atlantic near midfield on its ensuing drive and got the ball back at its own 42 following a wayward punt. However, Jaye Brockington sealed the win for the Sharks with his third interception in the space of six days.

It was a bit of personal redemption for Brockington, who took responsibility for a busted coverage resulting in Scoot Brown's 37-yard touchdown earlier in the game.

"It made me tough on myself," Brockington said. "I came out there, read the ball. It was just mine."

Next up

Atlantic, which made its case for a move up from the No. 5 spot in the Fab 5, travels to Matanzas at 7 p.m. Friday. The Pirates (1-2) rallied from 17 points down to upend Middleburg, 35-30, on Thursday.