Lakeland High School Football Dreadnaughts 5A State Champions

2107 Kickoff Classic: East Bay vs. Lakeland

Welcome to the 2017 football season as the Dreadnaughts take on the East Bay Indians in tonight’s Kickoff Classic. We hope you had a great summer and are looking forward to Friday Nights in the Fall.

The offseason for the Naughts has been one of change as many new players step up and fill positions lost to seniors. After the loss to Venice in the spring game, the Dreadnaughts went back to work this summer in an effort to forge a new identity after the loss of 31 seniors. The summer conditioning of grueling workouts in the weight room and countless sprints in the unforgiving summer sun has helped prepare these young men for the 2017 season. The emergence of new faces and new expectations that drives a team toward their one common goal.

There are many new faces stepping up to fill positions.

On offense, gone are 4-year starters WR James Robinson (Florida) and RB AJ Davis (Pitt) as well as 2-year starting QB Holden Hotchkiss (NDSU). But what will not be gone will be an offense capable of blowing up the scoreboard. Stepping into #5 at QB will be senior Kevaris Thomas, who will have the ability to hurt defenses with not only his arm but with his legs as well. In the backfield it will not be easy to replace 3-time Polk County Player of the Year AJ Davis but sophomore RBs Demarkcus Bowman (#22) and Quadir Hall (#4) will look to start their own 3-year legacies in the backfield. Replacing a quartet of WR will be seniors Antonio Whitehead (#7) and Daikwon Lawson (#12) along with juniors G’Darian West (#6) and D’Shawn Graham (#14). The only returning player to have caught a pass will be junior TE Keon Zipperer (#9) who will be counted on to replace the big plays left by Robinson and Willie Baker. The offensive line will return starters Robert Hardy (#54) and Aleek Saint-Aime (#51) as well as welcoming new faces in Adam Andesha (#50), Dacoda Weaver (#73) and Tanner Howe (#55)

On the other side of the ball, the defense should still be a strength even after the loss of 8 starters, including 3-year starters Damarri Mathis (Pitt) and Danquarius Longs. The LB unit should continue to be a force with the return of leading tackler Robert Madden (#21) and 4-year starter Jack Smith (#2). Khalil Crawford (#44) is a new face to watch along with returners PJ Sloan (#10) and Jason Hampton (#26). The defensive line will be stout yet again with the return of several guys with varsity experience including juniors Latrell Jean (#96) and Tre Huntley (#98). Zion Townsend (#99), Terrance Dindy (#97), and BB Brown (#1) will look to replace D-tackles Avery Edward and Marquis Greene while AJ Thomas (#23) will look to replace 3-year starter J’Quan Lawrence at defensive end. The secondary will feature all new starters with seniors Anthony Yarde (#15), Cequaveon Mathis (#17), Carlos Best (#11) and Lorenzo Brown (#8) as well as sophomore Fenley Graham (#3) looking to replace a talented secondary from last year.

We also welcome some new coaches. David Lundbergh will take over on the offensive line after a coaching stint at North Alabama and Deante Parker, a Dreadnaught alum, will be taking over as the secondary coach working with the corners and safeties.

We hope you’ll join us this evening at Bryant Stadium as the Dreadnaughts take on the East Bay Indians. East Bay is coming off a 6-4 2016 campaign and returns most off a talented roster. Offensively the Indians bring a mixed attack and a fast, strong defense that gave Plant’s offense fits in a rain-filled scrimmage last week. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm and tickets are available at the gate. Thank you again for your continued support of Lakeland Dreadnaught Football. You’re part of the team behind the team that helps us strive for excellence both on and off the field.