Lakeland/Polk County Are Big Winners

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The long verbal battle between south Florida and Polk County added another chapter on Friday night as the 2024 high school season began at the famed Traz Powell Stadium in Miami.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From Miami Carol City to Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and so many other teams that have squared off with the talented Polk County area – to the east of Tampa – the stage was set for two of the best teams in the state and country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All the talk that went on in various internet forums was finally settled when the Dreadnaughts, winers of the past two state titles, came away with an impressive 16-8 win against Miami Central, who had won four of the past five state championships, and rarely loses at home.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With second year head coach <strong>Marvin Frazier</strong> and his staff paying no attention to the south Florida mystique, this team used this first contest of the season to send a message to programs across the state – including 5A foe St. Thomas Aquinas – that they are indeed going to be tough to beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 SCHEDULE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>@Miami Central W 16-8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/6 - @Lake Mary</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/13 - @Winter Haven</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/20 – Miami Booker T. Washington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/27 – Lakeland Lake Gibson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/4 - @Riverview Sumner</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/11 - @Sebring</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/18 – Specialty Fit Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/25 @Lakeland Kathleen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DREADNAUGHTS TO KEEP AN EYE ON</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While this program is loaded with quality prospects and talent, here are a few that you will want to keep an eye on this season:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 – [player_tooltip player_id='827407' first='Ben' last='Beymer'], OL, 6-8, 300.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17394420/65432033478cfa09dca19b76" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17394420/65432033478cfa09dca19b76</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 - [player_tooltip player_id='827410' first='Donta' last='Jenkins'], DE, 6-3, 240 – 3.55 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16347606/Donta-Jenkins" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16347606/Donta-Jenkins</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 - Malik Morris, LB, 6-1, 230.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19358559/Malik-Morris" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19358559/Malik-Morris</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 – [player_tooltip player_id='1019973' first='Calum' last='Muldoon'], PK, 5-10 165.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17632020/Calum-Muldoon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17632020/Calum-Muldoon</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 - Damareion Smith, OLB, 6-1, 185.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18013749/Damareion-Smith" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18013749/Damareion-Smith</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 - [player_tooltip player_id='827385' first='Zander' last='Smith'], QB, 6-4, 220 - 4.2 GPA. 1090 SAT.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15063916/650745596899990b6444bcd8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15063916/650745596899990b6444bcd8</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 - [player_tooltip player_id='1127045' first='Keon' last='Young'], S, 6-0, 175.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16874857/Keon-Young" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16874857/Keon-Young</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OTHER DREADNAUGHTS TO KEEP AN EYE ON IN 2024:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shanard Clower, WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sammy Etienne, FS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='771522' first='Jermichael' last='Gillis'], DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cooper Martin, DL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Devon McCue, OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kavon McKinney, DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jadarious Dobie, RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='869381' first='Zyuan' last='Dukes'], WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1581926' first='Ziggy' last='Riley'], SS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jerry Thomas, WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1142239' first='Chad' last='Williams'], QB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1671138' first='Santana' last='Harvey'], DL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jammison Wilson, OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily.</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/"> https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at:</strong> Floridakids1@aol.com.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COACHES, PLAYERS: Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about! </strong>Floridakids1@aol.com.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->