Lake Wales Wins First State Title

FORT LAUDERDALE – The Lake Wales High football team accomplished two things on Friday afternoon at DRV PNK Stadium.

In winning the 3S state title, they captured the first ever football crown in school history and completed the first ever unbeaten (15-0) season.

Using a balanced attack, the Highlanders held off a solid and explosive Daytona Beach Mainland squad in a game that featured nearly 1,000 yards and plenty excitement with nearly 4,500 fans on hand.

The Buccaneers got on the board first with 7:55 left in the opening quarter on a 20-yard field goal by Jacob Gettman.

Mainland extended the lead to 10-0 with 4:18 left in the first half on a 56-yard pass play from Damarcus Creecy Damarcus Creecy 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Damarcus Creecy | 2023 FL to standout junior James Randle James Randle 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Homestead | 2024 State FL .

When Amare Sanders Amare Sanders 6'1" | 165 lbs | DB Miami Gulliver Prep | 2024 State FL caught a pass from Trent Grotjan from 64 yards out with 2:49, the Highlanders close the gap to 10-6. A two-point conversion by Xavier Marlow made it 10-8.

Lake Wales opened the third quarter on a high note when Grotjan took it in from the 1 at the 10:49 mark. Johnquae Richardson took it in for the two-point conversion and a 16-10 lead.

Mainland tied the game at 16 when standout Ajai Harrell Ajai Harrell 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Daytona Beach Mainland | 2023 FL took it six yards with 1:17 left in the third. The two-point conversion failed.

Lake Wales took the lead back with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter on a 75-yard pass from Grotjan to Diyantae Landrum Diyantae Landrum 5'9" | 160 lbs | RB Bartow | 2023 FL . The two-point conversion failed and it was 22-16 Highlanders.

The Buccaneers took the lead back with 9:16 left on a three-yard run by Harrell. Gettman's point after made it 23-22.

The excitement continued as Lake Wales took the lead with 6:47 left on a 27-yard field goal and a 25-23 lead.

Grotjan extended the lead to 32-23 with 5:15 left on a 3-yard run.

Mainland cut the lead to 32-30 with 2:16 left on a 1-yard run by Harrell

STATS WERE IMPRESSIVE

Mainland finished with 22 first downs to Lake Wales' 19. Mainland ran for 235 yards and passed for 243 for a total of 478. The Highlanders ran for 182 and threw for 319 for a total of 501.

Individually, Creecy was 16 of 25 for 243 yards and was picked three times. Harrell caught 9 balls for 139 yards, He also ran for 200 yards.

Grotjan was 13 of 22 for 319 yards and two scores. He scored twice on the ground.

Mitchell had three catches for 140 yards. Landrum finished with two catches for 87 yards and a score.

Corey Harris Jr. ended with 154 yards on 16 carries.

Defensively, Mainland was led by Zavier Mincey Zavier Mincey 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Daytona Beach Mainland | 2024 State FL with eight tackles and an interception, Ramon McCullough with seven and Myron Shafer with six.

The Highlanders were led by standout Sean Major with 13 tackles – seven for loss and a sack. Richardson finished with 11 tackles – five for loss. Jeremiah Anglin Jr. and Tavoris Jones chipped in with 8. Terrence Edmonds had a sack. Phillip Davis came up with two interceptions.

THE HIGHLANDERS (15-0)

ZEPHYRHILLS, W 33-0

Davenport Ridge Community, W 32-8

Sebring, W 20-6

EAGLE LAKE LAKE REGION, W 54-0

LAKELAND LAKE GIBSON, W 34-14

DAVENPORT, W 49-6

Kissimmee Gateway, W 42-0

Kissimmee Liberty, W 69-0

Auburndale, W 41-0

BARTOW, W 55-7

AUBURNDALE, W 34-10

OCALA VANGUARD, W 40-0

ZEPHYRHILLS, W 26-9

LAKE CITY COLUMBIA, W 37-7

Daytona Beach Mainland, W 32-30

BUCCANEERS (11-4)

DELAND, W 42-29

ST. JOHN'S BARTRAM TRAIL, L 17-3

FLAGLER PALM COAST, W FORFEIT

Lake Minneola, W 39-26

ORANGE CITY UNIVERSITY, W 34-0

Deltona, W 41-17

Kissimmee Osceola. L 33-6

DELTONA PINE RIDGE, W 66-0

DAYTONA BEACH SEABREEZE, W 51-22

Lake Mary, L 20-14

EAU GALLIE, W 28-14

Rockledge, W 16-14

Jensen Beach, W 45-10

Fort Myers Dunbar, W 30-23

Lake Wales, L 32-30

You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.