Lakeland Repeats as State Champions

Dec 9, 2006

By: Robert Sumpter


At the end of Friday’s night game between Lakeland and St. Thomas Aquinas, there wasn’t a dry eye on the field. Both teams had played in one of the best high school games you will ever see and both teams left everything they had on the field. For St. Thomas they came up just short. Literally as they lost in double overtime to Lakeland 45-42.

The game started off as it would be another easy win for Lakeland as they dominated the game for three and a half quarters leading 21-0 with just over six minutes left to go in the game. That’s when St. Thomas woke up and provided us with the most exiting six minutes of football you will ever see.

Over that span, both teams scored 49 points with the Raiders outscoring Lakeland 35 to 14 tying the game and sending it to overtime.

In overtime, the Raiders scored first when junior running back Jeremiah Harden took a pitch seven yards for a touchdown. Harden finished the game rushing for 182 yards and four touchdowns on the night.

Lakeland responded with a 2 yard touchdown run by fullback Jamar Taylor to tie the score and send the game to a second overtime.

After St. Thomas forced the Dreadnaughts to a field goal, the Raiders drove down to the one yard line where coach Smith decided to go for the win.

They ran a off tackle play but was stopped at the one inch line by John Brown and Ahmad Black preserving the win and a third straight title for Lakeland.

This was the best game I ever played in. Both teams gave it there all and I am just glad that we were able to come out on top with the victory.” Lakeland’s star running back Chris Rainey said.

For the night, Rainey finished with 276 yards and three touchdowns.

The senior class at Lakeland will go down in history as one of the best classes to ever play high school football. Their resume includes three state championships and most likely two mythical national championships.

“I can’t say enough about this senior class. They worked hard all these years and they deserve the very best. I am just so proud to be able to coach a special group of players.” Castle said.


 

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