#13 EAST LAKE EAGLES (2-1) at #4 LAKELAND DREADNAUGHTS (2-0)
When: Friday, September 22, 2017, 7:30 P.M.
Where: Bryant Stadium, 1125 North Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33805
TV: Spectrum Sports (Channel 47 and HD 1147)
Coaches: EAST LAKE- Bob Hudson (106-55, 15th Season) LAKELAND- Bill Castle (409-90, 42nd Season)
How They Match Up:
East Lake and Lakeland have been dominant forces in the state for years, but rarely do we get to see the two powerhouse programs go head-to-head. That will change Friday night, as Bill Castle will try to notch his 410th career win in his 500th game as Lakeland’s head coach. The Dreadnaughts haven’t played in two weeks due to the effects of Hurricane Irma, but they hope to continue the momentum they built in an early-season 42-35 signature win over Apopka in the first week of September. Sophomore running back Demarkus Bowman has been the story for Lakeland so far, notching 173 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the Apopka game after scoring on four of his five touches in his first career start against Cooper City. Lake Gibson transfer Kevaris Thomas led his team to a state championship game appearance last season, and he has the tools to make the Dreadnaughts a contender this year, too. Tight end Keon Zipperer has 18 big school college offers, which include all of Florida’s “Big Three” schools. Seniors Robert Madden and Syracuse commit Jack Smith make a mean one-two punch at linebacker, while sophomore Fenley Graham is a budding superstar who already has returned two interceptions for touchdowns this season.
The Eagles have been the “cardiac kids” of Florida high school football this year, with two one-point wins and a two-point loss in their three games. East Lake has relied on a sound defense to overcome numerous turnovers through the first three games. Senior linebackers Jake Castle, Karsan Lilley, and Reed Puzzitiello make up one of the best and most experienced linebacker corps in Pinellas County. The Eagles are equally strong in the secondary, with a pair of dynamic safeties in senior Joshua Green and junior Jake Walsh. Adding IMG Academy transfer Micah Abraham (son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Donnie Abraham) gives East Lake two Division I caliber cornerbacks, as he joins forces with team leader Joshua Bowers, who is fully recovered from knee surgery after missing all of last season. Senior running back Breon Hillmon has a good combination of size and speed, while senior quarterback Jackson Rowland provides a steady hand to run the offense. Sophomore Tucker Gleason’s future is at quarterback, but he’s being counted on to be Rowland’s go-to receiver this year.
Three Facts to Know:
1. BRAINS AND BRAWN- East Lake players have enjoyed just as much success in the classroom as they have on the field. The Eagles had a 3.15 unweighted grade point average last season and always have a ton of players well over a 3.5 GPA. In fact, East Lake had the highest GPA in the state among football teams from 2010-2012. The East Lake staff receives grade sheets from each player at least every two weeks, and some of the Eagles are members of East Lake’s award-winning Engineering Academy.
2. “ALL IN”- Lakeland’s team mantra this year is “All In”, and Coach Castle says the players have bought into that philosophy. He believes the Dreadnaughts have already built a team chemistry that’s stronger than he’s seen in a long time. “All In” worked for the Cleveland Cavaliers two years ago, as the Cavs won their first NBA Championship. Will that motto also help guide the Dreadnaughts to their first state championship since 2006? Only time will tell.
3. REPLACING AND RELOADING- Both the Eagles and Dreadnaughts have maintained a consistent level of excellence over a long period of time. Many times, each team has lost a high number of players who’ve gone on to success in college and the NFL. Lakeland lost 31 seniors from last year’s team, while East Lake is replacing more than half its starters, including seven players who graduated on the offensive side of the ball. Yet both teams are expected to continue their long consecutive playoff streaks, as both are the favorites to win their respective districts.