A Wild Repeat For Lakeland

TALLAHASSEE – With the “Coach of the Decade” looking on, the Lakeland High Dreadnaughts continued a story that was written many years ago by the legendary Bill Castle.

A year after winning the 4S state crown in Fort Lauderdale against Venice in Castle's final game of his amazing career, the 12-3 Dreadnaughts picked up where he left off, beating the Indians once in a shootout at Bragg Memorial Stadium on the campus of Florida A&M.

The 60-48 win under first year head coach Marvin Frazier kept this winning tradition alive.

Lakeland got on the board first when senior Zander Smith Zander Smith 6'4" | 215 lbs | QB Lakeland | 2025 FL found Jamar Taylor from 15 yards out at the 9:59 mark.

The Indians (12-3) would come right back and score at the 9:26 mark of the first quarter on a 23-yard run by Jamarice Wilder Jamarice Wilder 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Venice | 2025 State FL .

The Dreadnaughts took the lead with 4:09 left in the opening quarter when Malik Morris took it in from the 8, but Venice was not finished.

When senior Jadyn Glasser Jadyn Glasser 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB Venice | 2024 FL found C.J. Lewis for a 13-yard score, it not only ended the exciting first quarter, but tied the game at 14.

Lakeland jumped back in front when Markel Johnson scored from the one with 6:14 left in the first half. The point after was no good.

Venice took the lead when Alvin Johnson scored from the “Shotgun” formation with 4:22 left in the second quarter.

The scoring fest continued when the Dreadnaughts jumped back in front, 27-21 with :41 left in the first half on a 25-yard run by D'marius Rucker.

Venice came out in the second half and took a lead on a one-yard run by Wilder at the 9:31 mark, but that would be the last lead the Indians would have.

The Dreadnaughts took the lead at the 1:07 when Carlos Mitchell Carlos Mitchell 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Lakeland | 2024 State FL scored from 15 yards out. The point after failed and it was 33-28, which set the table for a wild fourth quarter.

When Morris ran 51 yards with 10:09 left, the lead was extended to 40-28.

When Glasser was intercepted by Shanard Clower, who brought it back 60 yards for a 46-28 advantage with 7:39 left.

Rucker's second score of the game – a 45-yard gain extended the Dreadnaught's lead to 53-28 with 1:40 remaining.

In the final 1:23, Brycen Fisher's 55 yard kickoff cut the lead to 53-36. Glasser's 25-yard pass to Griffin Gisotti brought it to 53-42. Rucker's third score, a 68-yarder and Glasser's 48-yard pass to Deylen Platt Deylen Platt 6'3" | 175 lbs | DB Venice | 2024 State FL ended the barrage and a record 47-point fourth quarter.

PLENTY OF STATS

For Lakeland, everything was on the ground – with Rucker (22-209) and Morris (9-98) leading to 497 yards on the ground.

For Venice, Glasser was 14 of 24 for 203 yards and three scores. Lewis caught five balls for 75 yards and Gisotti also caught five passes for 55 yards.

On the ground, Wilder had 15 carries for 112 yards and Alvin Johnson finished with 90 yards.

Defensively, Morris, Mitchell and Joshua Smith Joshua Smith 6'3" | 180 lbs | DB John Carroll | 2026 FL all had 6 tackles.

Carter Dalton Carter Dalton 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Venice | 2024 FL led the way for Venice with 13 tackles, David Galloway had 12 and Chris Lee finished with 10.

The two teams ran 127 plays for 1,039 yards!

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