skyway

Edgewater vs Lakeland was close for a half 21-14 with Edgewater showing some momentum at the end of the half and getting the ball to begin the third quarter. Then the second half started and Edgewater imploded. 
Second half mistakes and an inability to consistently and effectively run the ball against Lakeland were Edgewater's downfall. I get the impression that both the Edgewater vs Lee and versus Lakeland games misstated the extent to which each team were better than/worse than the other. So, believe it or not, Lee may have actually given Lakeland some difficulty. But we will never know. 
Despite the blowout, I am still glad I made the game, as the kid I know on the Edgewater team had a great game: he had a clutch reception for about 35 yards that set up their first score; a kickoff return for 47 yards that set up Edgewater's second score; and out jumped the Lakeland corner in the end zone to account for their final score.
When I saw him against Bishop Moore earlier in the season, my feelings were that he had talent, but seemed somewhat reluctant to engage in contact. What I saw last night tells me he can go as far as he wants in the game of football. 

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...

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. 

You all better beat STA within a inch of their life after how much Lakeland been trash talking all year or we will have to hear how weak 7a north is for months

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

As DJ Khaled said, "Anutha 1"
Hope Lakeland wins it all. 

If Lakeland has to pass they will not win.  If this STA team is like teams of recent years Lakeland will have to pass to win.  I haven’t seen STA to answer that.  It should be a great game.  I will take STA by 3 but pulling for Lakeland

So we meet again...

What can I say?  This will be the 6th time the Naughts and Raiders have met in the finals in two different classes and 8th overall dating back to 1996.  Combined, both teams have appeared in the finals 24 times with 16 state titles and 2 national titles a piece.
Forget the history between these two programs.  
Who takes it?

Lakeland-Edgewater will be free on lakelandfootball.com

Man it ain't jealous though 
 
I have no issue with STA and their success, I'm bothered that them constantly winning 7a has discredited every team in the class as being weak 

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. 

DONT YOU DARE 

haha thanks. Though I've been around the block for a long time. (Took a hiatus for a few years as I was over all of the super team building. I'm still over it, really. But, this is the first time Lakeland ratcheted things up to where they have Polk County's version of a super team.) I was around when Student Sports was the main message board-literally before the "turn of the century" lol. I think Canes came into the picture around 2005 or so. Maybe later. I was arguing with him some back then too 

yeah. 

Sometimes it's a great idea to get out and find a new place! Funny tidbit: My very last day in Florida as I was leaving to move away for good ended with me watching Lakeland beat Columbia in Lake City in the 2001 KOC. I drove away from the stadium after the game, hit I-10 west and haven't looked back since! (Other than still following HS football haha).

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. 

And Zipperer is freaking awesome. Use him MORE!

And, realistically.....their two minute offense has tended to involve handing the ball to Bowman and watch him run 80 yards down the field.

Exactly what did I miss with my 'rose colored glasses' on? I believe I said exactly the same thing you just did......just without the dig at Lakeland to finish it off. Good teams make adjustments to win games. Win or go home in the playoffs. Doesn't matter if some random bystander thinks you aren't playing up to their expectation. If you have more points than your opponent at the end of the game, you win. The 'Lakeland wasn't capable of playing Plant straight up' comment is pretty ridiculous. You make adjustments to give yourself the best chance to win
Fact is, they are in the state semi-finals. Only four teams from each classification can say that.
Now, I'm not the biggest Manatee fan for a couple of reasons (grew up in Lakeland and graduated from Southeast). But I do pull for the kids, since I coached some of them at the Pop Warner level.

They scored so many points so quickly through other means (rushing, defense and special teams) that it was hard to do much in that regard. But, there were times where they tried to open it up a little more in blowouts.
It is interesting to go back and watch the QB McWilliams's highlights from both the spring game at Venice and last season at Jenkins. Against Venice-without Bowman playing and with three current starting OLs out-they did look like a spread, open it up type of team.
http://www.hudl.com/v/2A05hJ

I'm not sure why you bother to try to pass as some objective observer. You're a Manatee fan who's jealous of Lakeland this year. It's OK. We were jealous of Manatee a few years ago. Just own it. 

Ah yes. Forgot! 

It was 2001.  

The playoff loss to Hillsborough in 2003 was at Hillsborough.