skyway

it would make some sense. But, I gather Clearwater is a program of ambition as well, and having a big name program come play them at their place is an awesome opportunity, and sure to be as close to a sellout as they could hope to have. Unless they think they'll be rebuilding and may be down 50-0 at halftime, it probably makes sense to keep the game.

On paper, it sure looks to be the best. But, they have to prove it on the field. They've been very prone to penalties for as long as anyone can remember. There's plenty that can go wrong, especially with so many new players, and the potential for some to be unhappy with the role they end up with. And, there is still some question as to whether Castle will really go through the entire season airing the ball out 20+ times a game. In 2017, Lakeland aired the ball out pretty well against eventual state champion Venice in the spring game, too. People thought Kevarris Thomas was going to be a legend. But, eventually, the offense went conservative, reverted back to a one-read passing game, and dried up the last few games of the season. If that happens again, and they revert to running the same offense they've had for years, I don't think the OL and backs are good enough to overcome the holding penalties and lack of a running threat at QB to score with ease. 
But that's the totally cynical view. The smart money is on this being the best team they've ever had, by far.

As would I. I think this year’s Lakeland squad would compete with just about anyone in the country not named Mater Dei. Unbelievable what they have done with their program in the past few months. Could this be their best team ever? Maybe. All I know is one thing: i do not want to be a team that stands in their way. 

That’s true, forgot that they were scheduled for week 1. Would love to see the Naughts beat IMG if they schedule them. Have a nice night, skyway! 

Would have to get Clearwater to sign off on that. That was to be a return trip for the 2021 game.

Agree with everything you have said here, Skyway. High gas prices now are probably going to end up raising the cost of travel and bus tickets and stop teams from traveling far (120+ mins,) to their opponents. Open enrollment led to mess we have now, but the FHSAA has to lie in the bed the state legislature made and make do with what they have. (Neutral political statement.) I see on social media they are trying to bring IMG to Bryant Stadium and get a game against AHP. Assuming both games happen, The Naughts will probably be favored in both matchups with all of the transfers they’ve received. 

My primary reaction is to be disturbed by it, followed by some sadness. Lakeland is literally-not even as a joke- forming a Polk county all-star team. That said, this merely follows a trend we see at all levels of team sports, most egregiously in college and high school at the moment. Players are jumping around to play for whatever team they want, whenever they want. This is mostly because gutless adults have decided to walk away and not bother to try to maintain any standards and rules. That part ticks me off.
Now, I also try to look for other ways to understand what is happening, in hopes of finding some positive direction for this to eventually lead.
For one thing, if you're a fan of the free market, and of people having the freedom to do whatever betters their situation, all of this can fit right in with that. (Of course, there are more rules and standards in place in the business world than there is in college or high school sports now). If a restaurant does a great job and pleases its customers, nobody thinks it's appropriate to make the customers split their time equally among other restaurants in the area. When schools like Lowell High in San Francisco stopped using high admission standards to sort through who to admit-there is very high demand- most of us were upset to see them go to a lottery system where it was just the luck of the draw which determined who was admitted. And, school boundaries amount to the same sort of lottery system when you get right down to it.
The other point here is that I think football is going to see continuing declines in participation. CTE and other injuries drive families away from the sport. And I also think the consolidation of talent at fewer places will lead to schools dropping the sport. So, we might see more all-star teams among fewer teams overall. The quality of the games will go up. And, you might just see regional all-star teams going at it, representing their communities. Word is most all of these kids for Lakeland grew up playing youth sports together. They all wanted to play together to close out their high school careers. if we end up seeing a Polk County all-star team taking on super teams from Dade or Broward, I don't think that's a bad thing. I just wish the kids would pick a spot to play and then stick with that program throughout.

Word is, that idea is attractive to players. They won't have to be run ragged given the quality of depth on the roster. They'll be fresh for the start of their college careers. It may be a compromise between the (awful) idea of sitting out the senior year, not wanting to jeopardize NIL or NFL money. A guy like McClain can play relatively few plays per game without it affecting Lakeland's ability to beat who they play. 

The secondary, which did very well vs. Venice, is now basically the second string. Four new guys rated higher than the guys who were out there in May.

a silver-lining may be that this will make a mockery of the "suburban" division. The Dade, Broward and even IMG aren't really any worse with poaching players. They literally went out and got all of the best players from their rivals.

There's no doubt the players drive all of this. 
I think there'e plenty of doubt over whether it's best to allow teenagers so much control. Kids are saying "business is business" about things they used to never have a say in. And, as I've suggested before, NIL money may eventually be a part of these decisions. The "super teams" tend to attract more attention, which can lead to more NIL opportunities.

a silver-lining may be that this will make a mockery of the "suburban" division. The Dade, Broward and even IMG aren't really any worse with poaching players. They literally went out and got all of the best players from their rivals.

There's no doubt the players drive all of this. 
I think there'e plenty of doubt over whether it's best to allow teenagers so much control. Kids are saying "business is business" about things they used to never have a say in. And, as I've suggested before, NIL money may eventually be a part of these decisions. The "super teams" tend to attract more attention, which can lead to more NIL opportunities.

yall refuse to believe its the kids that choose to transfer. coaches can only do so much but ultimately these jits wanna win! 

It looks like 4A suburban is doomed! 

Consensus #1 corner in the country Cormani McClain will play for Lakeland this Fall. Players joining Lakeland who did not play vs. Venice include:
5* CB/WR Cormani McClain
4* DB Brayshon Williams (2024)
3* OL Genorris Wilson
3* LB RJ Kelly
3* DB/Ath Shadarian Harrison 
3* WR Jamar Taylor (2024)
Potential 2-3* level recruits S/RB Jerrod Johnson, WR Jayren Dennis, OL Vass, DE Idris King. All ten players were standouts at other area schools last season, and have D1 offers. None played against Venice.

I won't try to be inside the mind of teenagers, but, good questions! The WRs are surprising given how loaded the position already was, with two guys each with multiple SEC offers and a third guy in the slot that they like. Seems like the new HC at LG is too strict, or demanding (perhaps too good of a coach) so some guys are jumping ship. The Kathleen kids probably all wanted to go together. Harrison is a DB/athlete so I doubt he will play QB.
I gather the new trend is for players to value competing in practice every day against top players. Also with that is the wish to play other top teams. While the 2022 schedule is one of the more challenging schedules we've had, it's probably still too weak for this monster team. They need at least one game against a recruited up "metro" team.

I'm a Lakeland grad, from more than 20 years ago, and have compiled stats, articles and game footage over Castle's career. But, I haven't lived in Florida in a really long time and have no real connections in the program now. So, I have no idea. I recommend following polkway for rumors and the like. I can only assess how they'll look once I find out what they have from others. I gather that OOS games are not a priority now. 

Don't see anywhere a published schedule for this season, so can't comment on how challenging it is overall.  But we do have you on Sept. 16th at Bryant Stadium and our kids look forward to the challenge as I think this may be one of the best squads Osceola has ever had.  Definitely will be in attendance as I am for most games each and every year. 

Asking out of curiosity Skyway; why would 2 WR's you listed from an opposing school transfer to Lakeland when they are already pretty stacked at that position.  Same question with Harrison from Kathleen, will he give up the QB status he enjoyed there to back up Pleuss who you won the recruiting battle to get from Ridge?  Usually transfers have their interest ahead of team, so just trying to make sense of the reasoning by some of the listed players.

It always remains to be seen how team chemistry plays out. But, this appears to be more of a team that should be playing your schedule, while you play ours. Granted, the staff couldn't have known all of these players would show up. Hopefully, there will be a bowl game of sorts after the suburban playoffs.

It appears as if Lakeland will make a mockery of the "metro" and "suburban" classes in year 1. They appear to have raided nearly all of the best players in the county, from most all schools. With the team who did not participate in the game which this thread is about:
S/RB Tank Johnson, likely Auburndale's best player.
OT/DT Vass from Bartow
OT Wilson, Lake Gibson's best OL coming out of spring
WR Jamar Taylor (Lakeland legacy), likely lake Gibson's best WR coming out of spring
LB Kelly, Kathleen's best LB
DE King, Kathleen's best DL
WR Dennis, Kathleen's best WR
DB Harrison, Kathleen's QB and best DB
It is said that more may be coming. Cormani McClain, consenus best DB in the country, is very good friends with many Lakeland players. No word on his changing schools...yet.
If this all holds up into Fall, it will be arguably MORE of a roster-raiding case than we've seen happen in Dade/Broward. The team will be dramatically more powerful than the one that blew out Venice in May. And the state championship game in 4S will be every bit the mismatch you'd see with something like Miami Central vs. Merritt Island.
Two points:
1) I find no joy in my team getting so good this way
2) Every other school tries to do this, they just haven't been able to pull it off quite to this degree. Lakeland isn't uniquely guilty in this. They're playing by the same "rules" as everyone else.

It always remains to be seen how team chemistry plays out. But, this appears to be more of a team that should be playing your schedule, while you play ours. Granted, the staff couldn't have known all of these players would show up. Hopefully, there will be a bowl game of sorts after the suburban playoffs.

We and Osceola are still standing in your way. Come and get us! 

Perspective, the foul would be an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty, not a Personal Foul penalty. Obviously, every official has a different level of tolerance for an objection to a call by a coach or player. The NFHS rules states that a UNS Conduct foul by a non-player includes, but is not limited to, disrespectfully addressing or trying to influence a decision by an official. That is very broad, as you would already know in legalize terms. Certain Coaches reputation procedes them, and the language used by the coach has an effect obviously. Good Head Coaches will instruct their assistant coaches not to voice any objections or complaints to the officials, and a good sideline official will mention to the Head Coach in the pregame that he/she only wants to communicate with the Head Coach. I suppose that the situation comes down to the individual officials tolerance level, with good officials realizing and respecting that Coaches spend all week preparing for a emotional game where circumstances will come up where leeway should be given, and not everything is black and white. It is a fine balancing act.