Lakeland High School Football Dreadnaughts 5A State Champions

Naughts win over Treasure Coast Titans
by Jordan Thurn 

The Naughts beat the Treasure Coast Titans 35-6 after coming off of a preseason loss to Lake Gibson last week, moving the Naughts’ official record to 1-0 for the season. “I feel like we improved in the offensive line this week. The receivers put in a lot of work, and defense held the other team to six. I think we did well,” quarterback, Aaron Johnson said.

The Naughts started out by scoring a field goal on their first drive of the game, when Zack Feddeler kicked the ball between the posts from the 24-yard line, giving the Naughts the lead, 3-0 with 6:43 left in the first quarter. Treasure Coast retaliated two possessions later, when they picked up a punt and ran it from the LHS 43-yard line until they ended with a first and goal-scoring attempt from the nine. The Titans would pick up their only touchdown of the night with 3:38 left in the first before missing their fake-two-point conversation, leaving the game at a score of 3-6. Lakeland would bounce back two plays later when Johnson connected with Ra’Don Dwight to score from the TCT 16-yard line after Anthony Davis ran back the kick off for ample yards, ending the first quarter with a score of 10-6.

The Naughts started off the second quarter with an 11 play possesssion covering 61 yards that ended in another field goal by Feddeler, with 4:08 left in the half, bringing the Naughts up to a 13-6 lead. Treasure Coast would find themselves backed into their end zone their following possession, giving up a safety to the Naughts defense, making the score 15-6 with 2:59 left in play for the half. Treasure Coast would turnover on downs their next possession and the Naughts would get the ball on their 40-yard line. On a one play, Hail-Mary pass, Johnson connected with Jacquan Foster to score with 0:00 left on the clock. The Naughts went to half time with a lead of 22-6.

Picking up with scoring the fourth quarter, Xavier Spann would connect with Johnson on a first and 20 from the 40 with 10:33 left in the game. The extra point was good, and the Naughts would bring up a score of 29-6. With 7:04 left in the fourth, Johnson would score after running twelve yards on a quarterback keeper to bring the final tally to 35-6.

Dominic McNish would pick up a sack for the night, Derek Boles would pick up two. The Naughts would end with 293 total yards offense in comparison to Treasure Coast’s 109.“[The win] was sweeter but it ain’t done, we have to finish [the season] strong.” Trey Threatt said in reflection of last weeks game.

Lakeland will take on the Winter Haven Blue Devils at home next week. “We’re going to prepare really hard, work really hard and be ready for Winter Haven,” team Chaplin, George Williams said.