gwdrum75

2018 6A: 5907
2018 7A: 6693
I guess Lakeland showed up pretty well.
Sad part is that Armwood is about 20 minutes further from Orlando than Lakeland......and their crowd was dwarfed by Northwestern.

Great game. And I have to say, the STA fans and cheerleaders we ran into after the game were nothing but class....congratulating Lakeland on the win.  Great stuff!

Great game. And I have to say, the STA fans and cheerleaders we ran into after the game were nothing but class....congratulating Lakeland on the win.  Great stuff!

Great game. And I have to say, the STA fans and cheerleaders we ran into after the game were nothing but class....congratulating Lakeland on the win.  Great stuff!

Lakeland 7A State Champs

STA and Lakeland are playing each other for a third straight decade crazy stat 

That can happen when you have been at one place for 43 years......and have a spotlight on your program year in and year out. You are dealing with 14-15-16-17 year old kids. How many other programs have similar issues......but the light on them is not quite as bright....
If colleges can’t eliminate issues....with 18-19-20-21 year olds living ON CAMPUS...and countless full-time coaches keeping track of things, I don’t know how a public high school coach Is supposed to have complete control over everything with kids that leave the campus when school/practice is over.....and still dealing with their day job (teaching). 
Try to calculate the number of kids that have come through Lakeland since Castle became head coach (1976). I would say he has a pretty good success rate with these kids. 

That can happen when you have been at one place for 43 years......and have a spotlight on your program year in and year out. You are dealing with 14-15-16-17 year old kids. How many other programs have similar issues......but the light on them is not quite as bright....
If colleges can’t eliminate issues....with 18-19-20-21 year olds living ON CAMPUS...and countless full-time coaches keeping track of things, I don’t know how a public high school coach Is supposed to have complete control over everything with kids that leave the campus when school/practice is over.....and still dealing with their day job (teaching). 
Try to calculate the number of kids that have come through Lakeland since Castle became head coach (1976). I would say he has a pretty good success rate with these kids. 

Let me clear this up one more time. THIS IS NOT TRUE. 
DO NOT drag this kids name through the mud because some idiot(s) decided to start broadcasting incorrect information.
 

Weiner is probably the youngest of the "long-timers' left. 
Castle got offers to go elsewhere, but always said he felt at home in Lakeland. One of my biggest fears with Lakeland is what happens when he retires. I'm hoping they can promote from within and keep the stability there.

The days of a Florida public school coach being at a program 10-20-30-40 years are coming to an end. Get a little success, and you can get more money somewhere else. Can't blame them.........but it's why these programs can't sustain.

3 private school recruiting factories. Give yourself a big pat on the back.

I’ll be there Friday night. 

Columbiafan hasn’t seen this Lakeland team play 

Naughts 56-21  #TossUp
https://twitter.com/CountyPolk

Well I am going to Lakeland/Edgewater tomorrow and I will be planning on Lakeland Winning...
I look forward to either Venice and or St.Thomas.

Lakeland has had some great passing QB's in their past (Peace, Willis, Lowe). But, they had the ability to beat people with their feet as well. I am definitely not saying Hotchkiss and Thomas aren't great QB's, they just weren't the typical Lakeland style QB. And that caused Lakeland to lose one aspect of their offense that has typically made them successful. They both have the talent to succeed at the college level. And that is where I think a dedicated QB coach , that they have at the college level, helps them..
Has Lakeland won a state championship with a non-mobile QB, absolutely. Blair Castle didn't have to pass, or run. He just had to manage the offense and hand it off to Rainey or Taylor.

Lakeland has had some great passing QB's in their past (Peace, Willis, Lowe). But, they had the ability to beat people with their feet as well. I am definitely not saying Hotchkiss and Thomas aren't great QB's, they just weren't the typical Lakeland style QB. And that caused Lakeland to lose one aspect of their offense that has typically made them successful. They both have the talent to succeed at the college level. And that is where I think a dedicated QB coach , that they have at the college level, helps them..
Has Lakeland won a state championship with a non-mobile QB, absolutely. Blair Castle didn't have to pass, or run. He just had to manage the offense and hand it off to Rainey or Taylor.

no they don't.  Scheduling STA or a good Miami team means nothing for there quest for a state title.  SOS is overrated.  Lakeland, Edgewater, CCC, Naples, Crestview, Madison County, University and North Marion just to name a few all had easier SOS than Vero and are still playing.  
 
Columbia, Miami Central, AHP and Carol City had tough SOS and are sitting at home.    
 
it is water cooler talk.  Sounds good but means nothing

I liked to be challenged a few times a year but if you have a great team you can get just as much challenge in practice.  If you are really good you get more out of practices constructed to compete than games.

While it has been 60 years since their last meeting, Lakeland and Edgewater played 7 years straight in the 1950's. This will be the first meeting since 1958. Lakeland had the upper hand during that time taking the 7 game series 5-1-1.
1952 Lakeland - 25  Edgewater - 20
1953 Lakeland - 23  Edgewater - 6
1954 Lakeland - 7    Edgewater - 12
1955 Lakeland - 28  Edgewater - 16
1956 Lakeland - 20  Edgewater - 13
1957 Lakeland - 21  Edgewater - 14
1958 Lakeland - 13  Edgewater - 13

Lakeland has to take care of business against Edgewater first, which is not a given. But, once you get to Orlando, anything can happen. STA would be heavy favorites against either Lakeland or Edgewater.
Hell, STA probably should have beaten Lakeland in 06. If they don’t fumble an obscene amount of times and crank up their game before there is 2 minutes left to go, they probably win that game. 
Just get to Orlando, then leave it all out there. These are 14,15,16,17 year old kids. I don’t bet for or against what they may do at any time. 

Yeah. I think we are looking at shootouts to finish the season. 
I was glad to see Zipperer targeted more. His last TD run was a thing of beauty....just refusing to go down. They’re going to have to continue that to keep it loosened up for Bowman & McWilliams. 

I don't know.....it's the playoffs. Win or go home. Watch the last 2 minutes of this game.....down 21 points. Game isn't over until there is 0:00 on the clock.
 

While it has been 60 years since their last meeting, Lakeland and Edgewater played 7 years straight in the 1950's. This will be the first meeting since 1958. Lakeland had the upper hand during that time taking the 7 game series 5-1-1.
1952 Lakeland - 25  Edgewater - 20
1953 Lakeland - 23  Edgewater - 6
1954 Lakeland - 7    Edgewater - 12
1955 Lakeland - 28  Edgewater - 16
1956 Lakeland - 20  Edgewater - 13
1957 Lakeland - 21  Edgewater - 14
1958 Lakeland - 13  Edgewater - 13