Lakeland High School Football Dreadnaughts 5A State Champions

Naughts come back to take down Falcons
By Jordan Thurn

With 10:35 left on the clock in the first quarter, Flanagan had already scored from a kickoff and an interception, promising a difficult game both offensively and defensively for the Naughts.  “I thought we were going to lose, but we came together as a team.  Defense held it down and offense controlled the ball.  It was a good win,” quarterback Raheeme Dumas said after the hard fought 22-14 victory for the Naughts, Dumas passed for 126 yards and lead the team with 68-yards rushing.

Later in the first, the Naughts punt team recovered the ball after a muffed punt by Flanagan, giving the Naughts possession.  Dumas then went for a quarterback keeper that gave the Naughts their first touchdown for the night on a 4-yard carry, bringing the score to 7-14.  After a long drive by Flanagan, defense held the Falcons out of the end zone with a goal line stand on 4^th and 8, giving offense back the ball.  The Naughts responded with an 11 play, 90-yard drive, resulting in a touchdown on a quarterback keeper with 26.5 seconds remaining in the quarter, bringing the score to 13-14 after a blocked extra point attempt.  The teams held the score until the next half.  

After receiving the 2^nd half kickoff, Lakeland drove the ball down to the red zone, on a 4^th and 14 field goal attempt that was completed by Caleb Hough, giving the Naughts the lead for the first time in the game, 16-14.  Defense fought the Falcons on the following possession, forcing a punt on 4^th and 12.  Lakeland added one more touchdown to the board with 4:06 remaining in the game.  Dumas ran for a quarterback keeper on 4^th and inches for the final touchdown, bringing the score to 22-14.  Flanagan had one more chance, but defense held on 4^th and 20 for a takeover on downs by the Naughts.  Lakeland ran out the final minutes of the game. “We made adjustments at half time, and we finished off the game with 4 strong quarters,” linebacker TJ Simmons said.  

Lakeland finished the night with 273 total offensive yards, Defense came up with two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.  “Defense played really hard and held it together.  Flanagan gave us a tough game, and I’m looking forward to the next game against Haines City, It’s a district game so it really counts,” Erick Andre said.

The Naughts play away next week at Haines City.

OVERALL INDIVIDUAL STATS