Lakeland High School Football Dreadnaughts 5A State Champions

 

 

 

“You guys are 8-0, that’s a good thing right now…that was a good effort right there,” Coach Bill Castle said in the post game huddle Friday night after Lakeland’s defeat over Bartow, 43-21.
 

After this seasons coaching switches, the Naughts saw themselves facing former linebackers coach and defensive coordinator, Jason Butler on the opposite side of the field in district play. “Against Coach Butler, we already knew it would be a tough game, we just had to come out here and play,” senior defensive lineman. Sherby Samplice said.
 

With no scoring in the first quarter, the Naughts started driving the ball early in the second quarter when Anthony Davis scored on a 70-yard run with 9:44 left in the half, the Naughts advanced their lead to 7-0. On their next possession, Aaron Johnson would cap the Naughts scoring drive with 4:21 left in play, Zach Feddeler’s kick would be good, and the Naughts lead expanded to 14-0. Johnson would score a second touchdown from the 1-yard line with 1:08 left in the half. His score was followed by a 2-point conversion completed by Randy Bates after Bartow’s encroachment flag, moving the Naughts halfway to the goal. The Naughts ran into halftime with a lead of 22-0.
 

Ra’Don Dwight would spark the energy change in the third quarter, scoring on a first and goal attempt from the ten with 9:06 left in the quarter; the Naughts moved ahead, 29-0. Bartow would score it’s first touchdown their following possession when their Chase Matthews scored on a third and goal attempt from the nine with 5:16 left in the quarter, moving the Jackets closer to the Naughts, 29-7. After a muffed hike, Bartow would pick up a fumble on Lakeland’s following possession, putting them in scoring position. Tre Jordan would go out for a 1-yard pass to score for the Jackets with 3:59 left in the third quarter, making the score 29-14.  Dwight would score for Lakeland a few downs later on a first and goal attempt from the 2 with 1:32 left in the quarter, ending out the third quarter with a score of 36-14.
 

Bartow would get one more touchdown in the fourth when Dimitri Leverett ran for a quarterback keeper to score from Lakeland’s 1-yard line with 10:05 left in play. Jacob Sundey would complete the Naughts final touchdown drive with a 6-yard run with 5:37 left in game, making the final score 43-21.
 

Lakeland moves on to play their senior week game at home next Friday. “Next week’s going to be a big game, we have Ridge community and we just have to work real hard all week,” offensive lineman, Kevin Fisher said.