Lakeland High School Football Dreadnaughts 5A State Champions

Naughts Swarm Jackets
By Jordan Thurn

After a slow first quarter, the Naughts pull out a 37-6 victory over the Yellow Jackets.  “I was fired up for the game, I’ve been wanting to play Bartow since freshman year” senior Kendall Thurn said.

The board remained scoreless until the second quarter when the Naughts defense forced a safety with 8:11 remaining on the clock, giving Lakeland the lead 2-0.  Lakeland kept possession, going 3 plays before De’drick Gallishaw scored on a 22 yard pass from Raheeme Dumas with 6:35 left in the quarter, bringing the score to 9-0.  On the Naughts next possession, with a 4^th and goal from the 1, Forrest Cunningham dived into the end zone with 53 seconds remaining on the clock, giving the Naughts the lead at half, 16-0.  

On the first possession of the second half, Lakeland would go for two first downs before scoring on a 4-yard carry around the left side by Braxton Huggins, bringing the board to 23-0 with 10:54 remaining in the third quarter.  On Bartow’s next possession, Logan Cochran intercepted a pass to give the Naughts the ball on Bartow’s 31.  Dumas passed for 30 yards to receiver Ricquan Southward who made the catch for a Dreadnaught touchdown, making the game 30-0 with 7:26 remaining in the third.   Lakeland started out their first possession of the fourth quarter from their own 43 after a punt by Bartow.  Taylor Placides ran around the left side untouched for a 42-yard touchdown, with 9:07 remaining on the clock, bringing the score to 37-0.  Bartow capped out all scoring with a 55-yard screenplay.  “It was a tight physical game, they were fast at first, but we shut them out,” Antone Mooney said.

Dumas lead all rushing for the night with 11 carries for 140-yards, and passed for 122 yards completing 8-16.  Gallishaw and Southward both had 3 catches for 61 yards each.  Lakeland defense allowed 125 total yards, picking up one fumble and making one interception.  Caleb Hough went 5-5 on extra point attempts.  

Lakeland (5-0) will host Lake Region (4-1) next week. 

Scoring Summary

Second Quarter 
LHS — Safety, 8:11 
LHS — De’drick Gallishaw 22 pass from Raheeme Dumas (Caleb Hough kick), 6:35 
LHS — Forrest Cunningham 1 run (Caleb Hough kick), 0:52 

Third Quarter 
LHS — Braxton Huggins 4 run (Caleb Hough kick), 10:54 
LHS — Riquen Southward 31 pass from Raheeme Dumas (Caleb Hough kick), 7:26 

Fourth Quarter 
LHS — Taylor Placides 43 run (Caleb Hough kick), 9:07 
BHS — Freddie Stevenson 55 pass from Dimitri Lezerette (pass failed), 0:64

Conversations with Coach Bill Castle – Bartow Week

In this edition of Conversations with Coach Castle, you’ll hear from the Dreadnaught head coach and Running Backs Coach Danny Williams. Both will share thoughts on the victory against Haines City and about this Friday night’s road game against Bartow. Coach Castle discusses the team word of the year and Coach Williams talks about what it means to him to be a coach.

Conversations with Coach Bill Castle is shot and edited by Barrett Creative, a Lakeland, Florida based video production, web design and graphic design company.