FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – It has been a long time coming for the Mainland Buccaneers and the Lake Wales Highlanders who had not played in the state championship in a combined 47 years between the two programs until today.
In the end, Lake Wales (15-0) held off Mainland (11-4) to claim the school’s first-ever football state championship with the Highlanders defeating the Buccaneers 32-30 at DRV PNK Stadium.
DEFENSES SHOW THEY GOT IT
In the first half, it was a battle of defenses and it showed two plays in which the Highlanders managed to pop the ball loose on the Buccaneers but an inadvertent whistle ended that play, and what was thought to be a Highlanders’ fumble recovery ended up with Mainland keeping the ball.
Huge first down run here for @TheMainlandHSFB. 52 yard run. Hall at the Lake Wales 20. That was Ajai Harrell on that run for the Bucs. #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/xXNl6SUhji
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
The result of the drive continuing for Mainland resulted in the Buccaneers scoring the first points of the game on a Jacob Gettman 20-yard field goal after quarterback Damarcus Creecy and running back Ajai Harrell orchestrated the drive down the field before the Highlanders shut things down inside the red zone.
That made the score 3-0 with 7:55 to go in the first quarter.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Buccaneers kick a 20 yard field goal to get the first points of the game@TheMainlandHSFB 3, @lwhs_f 0 – 7:55 1st Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone https://t.co/jCe8jElutt pic.twitter.com/hFtjYgriBv
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
After that field goal, it became a back-and-forth chess match between the Buccaneers’ def
\ense and the Highlanders’ defense, forcing punts, shutting things down on fourth down, or ending things on mistakes.
The first of three interceptions for the Highlanders would come off on Mainland’s second drive of the game when Philipp Davis intercepted a Creecy pass at the one-yard line that would end any hopes of the Buccaneers adding to their lead.
Philipp Davis with the pick near the end zone for @lwhs_f! #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/jPzVpOH99P
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
Later on, the Highlanders came close to scoring near the mid-part of the second quarter, but the Mainland defense was not going to let them get in the endzone when Johnquae Richardson was pushed back for a one-yard loss, dining the Highlanders a chance to take the lead and giving the Buccaneers the ball back.
Corey Harris with a huge 68 yard run for @lwhs_f #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/bmEG81Btp5
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
Lake Wales gets inside the Mainland 5 yard line and they come away with nothing as the Bucs stop the Highlanders on 4th and Goal #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/kozx12P0wP
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
With the ball in hand, Mainland quickly responded with a Creecy pass going down deep to Harrell for 38 yards down the Mainland sideline before Creecy did it again, this time finding James Randle Jr. down the middle for a 56-yard touchdown to make 10-0 for the Buccaneers with 4:18 left before half time.
Great idea pass of 38 yards by Marcus Creecy for @TheMainlandHSFB. Ball caught by Ajai Harrell #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/L4PS3rg3e3
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN MAINLAND! Demarcus Creecy finds James Randall wide open for 56 yards on the next play for the score! @TheMainlandHSFB 10, @lwhs_f 0 – 4:18 2nd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone https://t.co/jCe8jElutt
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
Lake Wales was undeterred though by the score and being down by 10 points.
On the next drive when Grotjan orchestrated a three-play drive that was capped off by Grotjan finding Carlos Mitchell wide open down the middle for 64 yards that would be capped off with Xavier Marlow completing the two-point conversion to make it 10-8 with 2:49 left to go.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN LAKE WALES! Highlanders respond with a 64 yard TD from Trent Grotjan to Carlos Mitchell! 2 point conversion is good!@TheMainlandHSFB 10, @lwhs_f 8 – 2:49 2nd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone https://t.co/jCe8jElutt pic.twitter.com/QnuEXDxK4r
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
Mainland, looking to respond to the Highlanders on that score made one of a few costly mistakes in the game when Davis got his second interception of the game in the red zone, ending any chances of the Buccaneers adding to their lead.
WOW Philipp Davis for @lwhs_f having himself a game today! SECOND INTERCEPTION inside the red zone today against Mainland! #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/Zn7YfxSpq0
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
From there the Highlanders and the Buccaneers continued to battle each other defensively not letting the other gain much that would see the Buccaneers take a 10-8 lead into the locker room at the half.
ELECTRIFYING SECOND HALF
The second half would be the total polar opposite of the first half when it came to things. In fact with the ball in hand, the Highlanders were determined to change the course of the game and did so fast after Marlow returned the opening kickoff for 43 yards.
Second half underway here with a great 43 yard kickoff return by Xavier Marlow for @lwhs_f #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/NFk1HOPavY
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
On the first play of the drive, Grojtan fired off a huge 53-yard pass to Mitchell that would set up a Richardson one-yard touchdown run that would give the Highlanders their first lead of the game following Marlow’s second two-point conversion of the day, going up 16-10 with 10:49 left in the third quarter.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
FAST START FOR LAKE WALES! Trent Grotjan on the 1 yard keeper. Xavier Marlow gets the 2 point conversion!@lwhs_f 16, @TheMainlandHSFB 10 – 10:49 3rd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone https://t.co/jCe8jElutt pic.twitter.com/mtSxCh3Qfn
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
Lake Wales would stop Mainland’s first drive of the half after they gained a first down, and the Buccaneers would ensue to stop the second drive for the Highlanders.
Mainland’s first drive stalls and they punt. Lake Wales will. Start their next drive at their own 6 #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/yfLfTkT32P
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
On Mainland’s second drive of the second half, they managed to march all the way down to the Highlanders’ 25-yard line before attempting to go for it on fourth down would bring any hope of retaking the lead to a stop.
With the Highlanders having the ball back, they were determined to make something of it but stalled out at the Mainland 42, and that sparked the Buccaneers to take advantage of the excellent field position which they did when Harrell bolted down the middle for 48 yards to get the Buccaneers down to the 11-yard line.
Lake Wales would then get called for an illegal substitution penalty that would move the Buccaneers to the six-yard line setting up Harrell to score from six yards out with the extra point blocked by the Highlanders to make it 16-16 with 1:17 left in the third quarter.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Ajai Harrell in from 6 yards out and we are all tied up after the PAT fails! @lwhs_f 16, @TheMainlandHSFB 16 – 1:17 3rd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone https://t.co/jCe8jED5l1 pic.twitter.com/9ZweQP1pfu
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
If you thought that score would hold up, the Highlanders had other things up their sleeves when Mitchell returned the kickoff for 18 yards with Grotjan finding Diyantae Landrum down the sideline for 75 yards to retake the lead 22-16 with 59 seconds left.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN LAKE WALES! Trent Grotjan to Diyantae Landrum for 75 yards! 2 point conversion no good. @lwhs_f 22, @TheMainlandHSFB 16 – 0:59 3rd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone https://t.co/jCe8jElutt pic.twitter.com/nphxuWpPGU
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
From there Mainland put together an 11-play, 70-yard drive to respond back to the Highlanders’ score with another score of their own that would be capped off by Harrell scoring from three yards out to retake the lead 23-22 with 9:16 left.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Ajai Harrell with a 3 yard TD and the Buccaneers take a 1 point lead with the PAT! @TheMainlandHSFB 23, @lwhs_f 22 – 9:16 4th Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone https://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/6RSwdSadOk
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
Lake Wales was determined to not let the lead change get to them and they did not as Grotjan and company orchestrated another scoring drive, this time for 63 yards on seven plays that would be capped off by a Mauricio Alvarez 27-yard field goal that would mark the last lead change of the game with Lake Wales going up 25-23 with 6:47 left.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
27 yard field goal is good for Lake Wales! Highlanders retake the lead!@lwhs_f 25, @TheMainlandHSFB 23 – 6:47 4th Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone https://t.co/jCe8jElutt pic.twitter.com/XzsUVoB8W3
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
Mainland, looking to match the Highlanders with a score made what would be the costliest error of the game when Creecy dropped back to pass that would be intercepted by Dylan Simmons at the Mainland 31-yard line that would cap off the scoring for the Highlander with Grotjan keeping it himself for three-yards to make it 32-23 with 5:15 left.
Another pick today for @lwhs_f! Dylan Simmons with this pick for the Highlanders! #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/JbeC1Vg1iB
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN HIGHLANDERS! Trent Grotjan in from 3 yards out. PAT is good!@lwhs_f 32, @TheMainlandHSFB 23 – 5:15 4th Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone https://t.co/jCe8jElutt pic.twitter.com/zhozMQePaA
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
Undeterred to try to stay in this game and have a chance of winning this game, the Buccaneers drove the field in just under three minutes with Creecy finding Harrell with a 41-yard pass play that would set up Harrell to score from one-yard out to make the score 32-30 with 2:16 left.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN MAINLAND! Ajai Harrell in from 1 yard out!@lwhs_f 32, @TheMainlandHSFB 30 – 2:16 4th Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone https://t.co/jCe8jED5l1 pic.twitter.com/1Oo0zeZSlV
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
Lake Wales would punt one final time near the end of the game giving Mainland two chances at the end of the game where the Highlanders would stuff Mainland to end the game.
HISTORY MADE
For the first time in school history did Lake Wales win the state championship and also the first time that the Highlanders have ever finished the season undefeated. Lake Wales had finished as state runners-up to Bolles in 1993 and Santa Fe in 1994 prior to today’s state championship win.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
LAKE WALES FINALLY DOES IT! They win their first football state championship in school history in a CLASSIC! @lwhs_f 32, @TheMainlandHSFB 30 – FINAL #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone https://t.co/jCe8jElutt pic.twitter.com/2pZZO1owoD
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 16, 2022
LAKE WALES HEAD COACH COACH TA’VARIS JOHNSON ON THE GAME
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