Nulli Secundus

You're about to start a fight, LOL! Don't talk about the bands!

This has already happened my friend. Only going to get worse.

Don't start Dan, LOL!!!

What the hell y'all know about Coleman?

I fully expect a winning season with that schedule. The Polk schools are struggling minus 1st year Davenport and that depends on what they were able to get from Ridge, LOL.

The same thing is going on with Duval. The bigger question is can public/private co-exist an be somewhat equally productive in title count?

I'll give you 2018. Arguably, that was Lakeland's weakest schedule by far.

Lakeland is the largest (and densest) city in Polk County. The next largest city is Winter Haven which is less than half Lakeland's size. Also, the Lakeland area (suburbs) is around 300K. Naturally, that leaves the remaining 424K for the rest of Polk County which is spread out amongst smaller cities, suburban neighborhoods and unincorporated areas due to sprawl. When it comes to talent, a lot of people underestimate how much talent there is in Polk County. No one talks about or remembers all the years Lakeland dominated cross-town rival Kathleen and during the Red Devils worst years, they routinely had more D1 talent and produced more NFL players than Lakeland. I digress. Of the schools playing football in Lakeland, 3 have made a trip to title games within the last 16 years (4 if you count defunct Evangel).

Aw Hell! FLAG ON THE PLAY!!!! Let's discuss why people tend to think Lakeland's schedule are weak. Using what you stated as a starting point, I will illustrate that most teams wouldn't make it through unscathed if they played Lakeland's schedule. I'll even include the 2008 schedule, the year STA exorcised those demons on Lakeland's ass.

Defensive coordinator Kyle Worden will be the interim head coach while Lake Gibson conducts its search. Hopefully this doesn't tip the scales of balance in the city and hopefully the LG kids stay in place. However, going into the summer without an HBC is not a good situation for LG to be in.

Yep!!!

I fully expect GJ to provide an attractive coaching incentive to cultivate and grow that program. Who would pass up the opportunity to play at one of the newer schools in Lakeland with a nice address in a nice neighborhood? LOL. Poor Tenoroc out in no man's land. They don't have a shot in hell, even with all the planned development in the works.

Good for the Canes. I'm glad they pulled from within. We'll see if this yields positive gains long-term.

When Castle retires, Jenkins will become the dominant program in Lakeland/Polk County. Remember, I said it first!

Transfers. We can't use the "R" word around here, LOL.

I hate that most of the Lakeland area schools are in the same class (except for Victory). Such is life. However, when looking at one of Polk's strengths historically, it was the fact that we could raise hell regardless of the classification. I fear that getting multiple teams to the title game (let alone winning) may be lost to the early/mid 2000's.

LOL, Winter Haven can't catch a break with Lakeland to the west and Lake Wales to the east.

It will be very interesting to see how zones in Lakeland are re-adjusted to alleviate overcrowding at GJ or if capacity is added. Least likely will be renewed plans for another high school in SW Lakeland. It's weird to hear that LG has more talent than Kathleen. I'd never thought I would hear that statement based solely off the draw pools in the core of the city. What's really starting to sink in more so now than in years past most is the more dominant programs are playing in 1 of 2 classes which would make it really difficult to send multiple teams to state championship without beating the hell out of one another first.

Haines City has fallen a long way, 2 wins in 3 seasons. I can see them going independent. Mulberry could be a clerical error but even if not, they have faired better than HC with half the population. It's been rough ever since Ridge opened and I imagine it will get worse once a 3rd high school opens in 2021.

Being a middle age person, I understand what my parents and grandparents use to say about lives younger than yourself that are lost. I never knew him but I know those around him and what he meant to his family. He will be missed. Rest in Peace

Co-champions Southridge (Dade) Evans (Orange), Clewiston (Hendry), Jefferson were awarded half a point. That's where the discrepancy is.

Thanks Laz! Good stuff as always.

Go Edgewater!!!!

You beat me to it. 2005 was a beast especially defensively.

9) Broward