Groveland South Lake Ready For The Next Level In 2026

After finishing with a school best 11-2 record in 2025, Groveland South Lake High's football program is certainly looking for more this coming season in District 6-6A.   The Eagles and veteran head coach Brad Lord went three rounds deep in the state playoffs a year ago, and after a solid off-season and some key returning players and newcomers, there is plenty of optimism.   “We are playing in a very competitive district with Orlando Evans, Apopka Wekiva and Lake Minneola,” said Lord. “We are going to have to master tackling, blocking and execution to compete for the district championship. We have a lot of experience returning and if we become one unit and have one heartbeat we believe we can compete for the district championship and make a deep playoff run. With the competitive schedule that we created we will have to be resilient and very physical.”   OFFENSIVE RETURNING STARTERS   2027 - [player_tooltip player_id='1258721' first='Tre' last='Kelly'], QB, 6'0, 200.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19414105/Tre-Kelly">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19414105/Tre-Kelly</a>   2027 - [player_tooltip player_id='2105711' first='Landon' last='Coning'], OL, 6'2, 260 – 3.7 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19641535/695fd220fa1d6072c74c764e">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19641535/695fd220fa1d6072c74c764e</a>   2027 - [player_tooltip player_id='1599649' first='Andrew' last='Carter'], OL, 6'3, 270 – 3.9 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19732306/Andrew-Carter">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19732306/Andrew-Carter</a>   2027 - Mark Elder, OL, 6'0, 260.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19664436/Mark-Elder">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19664436/Mark-Elder</a>   2027 - Cody Mason, WR, 5'10, 170.   2027 - Joseph Robinson Jr., WR, 5'11, 170 – 3.0 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19641716/6959da4c4a6128ad4fca2d5c">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19641716/6959da4c4a6128ad4fca2d5c</a>   2028 - Brian Bedingfield, TE, 6'5, 230   2029 - Sam Amarista- WR.   TAPE: <a href="https://ww.hudl.com/profile/26645822/Samuel-Amarista">https://ww.hudl.com/profile/26645822/Samuel-Amarista</a>     DEFENSIVE RETURNING STARTERS   2027 - Teejay Cummings, LB, 6-2, 210.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19521557/Teejay-cummings</a>   2027 - Anthony Johnson, DL, 5'10, 250.   TAPE:<a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19664514/Anthony-Johnson"> https://www.hudl.com/profile/19664514/Anthony-Johnson</a>   2027 - Brandon Dipaolo, DL, 6'0, 275.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19676349/Brandon-Dipaolo">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19676349/Brandon-Dipaolo</a>   2027 - [player_tooltip player_id='2105945' first='Rome' last='McKinnond'], DB, 5'9, 175.   TAPE:<a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20992974/Rome-Mckinnond"> https://www.hudl.com/profile/20992974/Rome-Mckinnond</a>   2028 - Ahvioume “Jawz” Scott, DB, 6'0, 175.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/25974947/Ahvioume-Scott">https://www.hudl.com/profile/25974947/Ahvioume-Scott</a>   2027 - [player_tooltip player_id='2122887' first='Jayson' last='Vasquez'], Edge/LB, 6'2, 210 – 3.8 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19641725/Jayson-Vasquez">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19641725/Jayson-Vasquez</a>     COACH LORD ON THE OFFENSE   “Look for Sam Amarista, Cody Mason, [player_tooltip player_id='1715865' first='Kyson' last='Cleveland'], Brian Bedingfield, Joseph Robinson, Jaivyn Cabrera, Jordan Guerrini, and [player_tooltip player_id='1681980' first='Willie' last='Dixon'] to keep the Eagles passing attack on track. All of these receivers will be big time weapons for four year starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1258721' first='Tre' last='Kelly'] who threw for 2400 yards in the 2025 campaign. Athletes [player_tooltip player_id='2105945' first='Rome' last='McKinnond'], [player_tooltip player_id='2107614' first='Ahvioume' last='Scott'], will join Joseph Robinson on getting reps on both sides of the ball.”   “Transfers [player_tooltip player_id='2083881' first='Sam' last='Wood'], Khristian Gustave, Zaide Nance, and Nezarian Russell look to keep the Eagle Running game strong. All four looked very strong in spring practice.  Nance had 88 yards in the spring jamboree and Russell broke two big bursts. Wood and Ghustave had to sit out the spring game due to a Lake County ruling prohibiting transfers from playing in the game.The Eagles rushed for over 2500 yards in 2025 and are looking to replace Malik Holman who is off to Erskine and who rushed for over 1,000 yards two years in a row.”   COACH LORD ON THE DEFENSE   “[player_tooltip player_id='2105945' first='Rome' last='McKinnond'], [player_tooltip player_id='2107614' first='Ahvioume' last='Scott'], Joseph Robinson, Cornelius van Rooyen, [player_tooltip player_id='2106688' first='Jariah' last='Powe'], Izaiah Battle and [player_tooltip player_id='1968902' first='Malcolm' last='Jones'] lead a talented defensive secondary for the Eagles. At linebacker Terrance Cumming and [player_tooltip player_id='2122887' first='Jayson' last='Vasquez'] are coming off strong junior seasons and Trevor Bailey and Kanius Brown had very strong spring practices.”   “The defensive line will be anchored by three-year starters Anthony Johnson and Brandon Dipaolo. Transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2228627' first='Latraverick' last='Anderson'] along with rising sophomore Jayden Kaley and Brian Bedingfield bring depth and strength to an experienced defensive line. Jayden Valsaaint also caught the coaches' eyes this spring.”   COACH LORD ON THE SPECIAL TEAMS   We return three-year punter Zaide Nance. Nance is one of the top directional punters in Central Florida. Marcello Velez Cortes looks to be the kicker for the Eagles for the 26 campaign. Velez Cortes has big shoes to fill. He is replacing all- state kicker Chris McKenna who is off to Southern University.”   EAGLES WILL HAVE SOME NEW FACES   The landscape of high school sports throughout the country has turned to transfers to continue to elevate their programs – and this coming season South Lake is no exceptions.   Among the new faces this season will be [player_tooltip player_id='1681980' first='Willie' last='Dixon'] (WR), [player_tooltip player_id='2228627' first='Latraverick' last='Anderson'] (DL/OL), [player_tooltip player_id='1715865' first='Kyson' last='Cleveland'] (WR), Isaiah Battle (DB/WR), [player_tooltip player_id='2083881' first='Sam' last='Wood'] (RB), Korbyn Blevins (H-Back), Khristian Gustave (RB), Jordan Guierrini (WR), Jaydenson Legros (DB/WR), Walker Motley (QB), Malcom Jones (DB) and Caleb Fuller (OL).     2026 GROVELAND SOUTH LAKE SCHEDULE   8/21 – at Clermont East Ridge   8/28 – Tavares   9/4 – at The Villages Charter   9/11 – Orlando The First Academy   9/18 – at Orlando Bishop Moore   9/25 – Apopka Wekiva   10/9 – at Orlando Evans   10/16 – at Winter Garden West Orange   10/23 – Lake Minneola   10/30 – Bushnell South Sumter     Statewide Coverage Daily. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a>   You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: <a>Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.   COACHES, PLAYERS: Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about! <a>Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.

After finishing with a school best 11-2 record in 2025, Groveland South Lake High's football program is certainly looking for more this coming season in District 6-6A.