skyway

Impressive season for Columbia. Not quite at 2018 Lakeland level. I know that no other Lakeland team can match the 2018 team on this metric. The 2008 STA team had an 11-point win at Cincy Elder. Every other game was won by at least 21 points, including the 49-point win over Lakeland in the title game. Who else?

I know the 24-0 score was over Bradenton Southeast!

Fair enough. So, Columbia '97 pre-Carol City?

Columbia '97 pre-Carol City?

Give us the team's name and year!

Also only see 14 games there, so wondering about the 15th.

Off the top of my head, I can't name the team. Help me out! (Also maybe post it in the thread I just started)

This particular thread aims to compile a list of the most dominant teams in state history based on margin of victory (a loss isn't thrown out, it's a negative margin). This thread is not meant to be a discussion of strength of schedule; that can and has been done elsewhere. Nor is this post meant to lead to any sort of prediction of what will happen in future games. The 2018 Lakeland team is 14-0, having won every single game by a minimum of 17 points. They've outscored their opponents 660-115 on the season. Average score of all games has been 47-8. What are some other teams historically who can match or surpass this level of dominance?

I think that what you'll find as you go through the years is that, no matter what you think about "strength of schedule", you'll almost never find a team that's gone through and won all of the first 14 games by a minimum of 17 points. At least not the public schools north of Broward. Memories fade and, a lot of times, it's just the showing in the state final that people remember.

This can be measured, mostly objectively. Who do you have in mind? I'm sorry, but two-loss teams like 2011 Manatee fail to do the job.

We'd have to agree upon some criteria from which to judge. Talent on the roster, results on the field, and what else? Then break it down. Just please don't use calpreps computer rankings for anything

I remember following that 1997 season. Bradenton Southeast seemed to light everyone up. Then Columbia beat them 24-0. A shocking result that stands out enough that I didn't have to google that score.

The overall talent of the OL+TEs-the front blocking for Bowman- may be a bit better than that team. And I'm on the record as saying Bowman is clearly better than Rainey. Not yet as accomplished (though he has broken a couple of his records aleady as a JR), but the better player. No Taylor is a good point. I've recently watched a couple of the '05 games gwdrum has posted on youtube. Had I not done that, I may feel differently. But, I'm plenty aware that it is not in Lakeland's best interest to have anyone claiming this is their best ever team. Just my opinion...

There's a completely plausible argument that the '72 Dolphins are the best NFL team ever. But I think the 2018 Dolphins would beat that team on the field. Of course, there hasn't been 46 years that have passed since 2005 Lakeland played. But, there has been a fairly dramatic shift towards "super teams", where talent ends up "consolidated" at a few powers. And, mind you, I've not predicted STA will running clock this team. I think we have a good shot to beat them.

I respectfully disagree. Perhaps relative to the elite competition of the day, the 2005 team may have been better. But, straight up '05 vs this team, this team wins and it's not particularly close. And I will maintain that position even if STA puts a running clock on Lakeland next week. I'll go back and review '11 Manatee and '09 Plant tomorrow.

It's just a couple of us talking on message boards. And it's deserved when you see Grace Brethern rated higher. haha

I'd lean the other way there. If they don't have him, it will be a rallying cry for them. Sure hope he gets to coach.

No doubt. The OL + TEs along with Bowman had better be able to run the ball. Not a wild night, but they need to be able to get some things done on the ground. To do that, they'll also have to be able to successfully mix in some quick passes and some PA. They'll have to grind out a couple of drives. And they can't do that if they end up with 2nd and 19 after committing unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for trash talk after setting up 2nd and 4, as happened once tonight. Both Lakeland and STA have a TON of "secondary" (defense and special teams) scores this season. If it's not a draw in this area, Lakeland had better end up on the winning side of that stat. Otherwise it will not be a close game.

No, I really believe it to be true. Even if STA "running clocks" Lakeland. This is the closest thing possible to a Polk County all-star team. There's nowhere else with a couple hundred thousand residents in the area that a public school can end up with such a monopoly on the local talent. I'm not wild about how teams like this come to be. All of the transferring is bad for sports in general. But, those dynamics I describe combined with a legendary coach/program just don't exist anywhere else. I don't think we'll ever see a better public than this Lakeland team in November. It serves no purpose for me to say this team is better than Lakeland '99, '05 etc. I'm just certain it is true. And they may still get running clocked by STA. Because this STA team is also better than any of those teams Lakeland faced back in the day.

Fact #1: This Lakeland team is the best possible team that has been or can be assembled by any public school north of Broward. Fact #2: STA may still roll to a victory. I only hope Lakeland has a sharp week of practice (word is they did not this week) and plays a stupid mistake-free game. They had a couple stupid mistakes again tonight. Can't happen next week.

Lakeland-Edgewater will be free on lakelandfootball.com

The Ledger writer mentioned Castle told him Lakeland has had some poor practices this week. If that's accurate, I'm more worried than I was. I do think Edgewater is better than Plant.

The one fact that may matter more than any other in this game is that QB R.J. Harvey for Edgewater is a rare phenom. He's nothing like Trevor Lawrence. But, if Lamar Jackson can win a Heisman trophy, this kid may win one too. Short at 5'10", but built and runs like a running back. Defensive coordinators must have nightmares watching film in preparation for him.

Also worth mentioning that, in HS and sometimes even college, players often HATE returning punts...but coaches demand that they do. Often out of stupidity, maybe "toxic masculinity" lol. LOTS of muffed punts at this level. Kids seeming to think a punt is the same as a kickoff and they HAVE to be the hero and field the punt, depsite often difficult, dangerous circumstances. Thankfully Lakeland went without a returner there.

Lakeland has a D1 loaded DL as well, more so than that Manatee team. Though the DTs are really DEs playing inside. Lakeland's run blocking up front (OL + TEs) plus Bowman will be too much for even STA...IF McWilliams continues to be a threat with his legs AND they periodically mix in Zipperer and maybe a deep ball on the perimeter. But, no question STA is the favorite to win 7A.