4S Title Game: Venice vs. Lakeland (Saturday 12/17 1:00)

[Nulli Secundus]

14 hours ago, VeniceIndiansFootball said:

Where is the evidence of this?

The QB run starting at 9:30 in the 4th.  The commentators exact words were, "very close to being too far out of bounds", lol.

[LakelandGator]

1 hour ago, Nulli Secundus said:

LOL, even the commentators said that wasn't a TD despite the ball was clearly grabbed with both hands and pulled into the body while in the air.  

Nulli let's be honest, it was pretty obvious who those commentators wanted to win that game, one guy in particular.

[Nulli Secundus]

8 minutes ago, LakelandGator said:

Nulli let's be honest, it was pretty obvious who those commentators wanted to win that game, one guy in particular.

All Dreadnaughts should be use to that by now, lol.  Thank goodness they don't dictate the outcome of the game.

[Perspective]

So, a week or so ago, I called out the Chaminade-Madonna coach for running one last play, resulting in a touchdown, at the end of their game with CCC.  The game was a blowout and the clock was running.   According to Jambun, C-M's TD was in response to CCC calling a timeout with 15 seconds to go (for reasons that are still unclear).   My response to that:  be the bigger man.  C-M should have just taken a knee. 

A week later, in the final seconds of the 4S title game, Lakeland picked a first down inside the Venice two yard line.  Granted it was a one-score game, but Venice was out of timeouts.   Instead of trying to punch the ball in for another TD, Lakeland took a knee.  Yes, there was a minuscule chance that had Lakeland actually tried to run a play designed to score, the play could have resulted in a fumble that could have been picked up by Venice and returned the entire length of the field for a game-tying touchdown.  Regardless, I'll give credit where I think credit it due.  Coach Castle showed class by having his QB simply take a knee so the clock would run out.  

As for the game itself, I thought Venice was the more disciplined team.   Lakeland shot themselves in the foot several times -- especially in the first half -- with what my dad would have called "stupid penalties."  Venice got burned at the end of the first half . . . they were up 14-7 and had Lakeland pinned back in their own territory going nowhere.  Venice called a time out or two, hoping to get the ball back with a chance to score again before the end of the half.  They forced Lakeland to punt, but then did absolutely nothing once they got the ball and took virtually no time off the clock.  Instead, they were forced to punt and Lakeland ended up with better field position that they had before the exchange of punts.  The 'Naughts got the ball down inside the 5 with the clock running down.  I can't remember exactly what happened next (a time out or the QB spiked the ball to stop the clock).  In any event, it appeared that when the Lakeland players returned to the line of scrimmage, the Lakeland WR just stayed out wide and the Venice defense didn't see him.   The ball was hiked and the WR trotted into the end zone with no one around him.  I'm guessing it was the easiest TD pass the Lakeland QB has thrown all season.  Instead of going into the locker room with a 14-7 or even a 14 - 10 lead, Lakeland knotted the score at 14 on the final play of the half. 

Neither team was overly-imaginative with their play-calling, especially in the second half.  The Lakeland ground game did enough to keep the chains moving and to ultimately score the go-ahead/winning TD.  Overall, a solid title game.  Both QB's took some shots and played gutsy games.  Biggest difference in my opinion was Lakeland's ability to convert a couple of critical 4th down plays whereas Venice came up inches short towards the end of the game on 4th down. 

Any reason why we won't see a rematch next year? 

[LakelandGator]

It's called "class" for a reason Plant fan.

These modern day jacklegs want the country to think they are coaching gurus, so CM was trying to impress some clueless poll voter that they are the best team in Fla and deserved a National Championship.

Scoring another meaningless TD on a far less talented 1M team was just what their type wanted to see. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately they failed to realize that Bishop Gorman is a recruited up power as well. And BG told a state of Florida recruited up power to "hold my beer".

But that's just my perspective.

[Perspective]

35 minutes ago, LakelandGator said:

It's called "class" for a reason Plant fan.

These modern day jacklegs want the country to think they are coaching gurus, so CM was trying to impress some clueless poll voter that they are the best team in Fla and deserved a National Championship.

Scoring another meaningless TD on a far less talented 1M team was just what their type wanted to see. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately they failed to realize that Bishop Gorman is a recruited up power as well. And BG told a state of Florida recruited up power to "hold my beer".

But that's just my perspective.

CM has a good team; no doubt.   But I'd much rather see a larger, deeper squad represent Florida against a national powerhouse like Bishop Gorman.   Not including IMG, give me any of the teams that played Saturday (Venice, Lakeland, Apopka or Columbus), although BG probably beats all four of these teams.  It would take a team like Miami Central, or a team that has both size and speed, like STA, to go toe-to-toe with BG.   Regardless of who plays them, requiring the Florida team to travel to Las Vegas a week after winning a state championship to play a team that has had a month to rest and prepare makes for a tough assignment. 

[LakelandGator]

34 minutes ago, Perspective said:

CM has a good team; no doubt.   But I'd much rather see a larger, deeper squad represent Florida against a national powerhouse like Bishop Gorman.   Not including IMG, give me any of the teams that played Saturday (Venice, Lakeland, Apopka or Columbus), although BG probably beats all four of these teams.  It would take a team like Miami Central, or a team that has both size and speed, like STA, to go toe-to-toe with BG.   Regardless of who plays them, requiring the Florida team to travel to Las Vegas a week after winning a state championship to play a team that has had a month to rest and prepare makes for a tough assignment. 

Not an easy task for sure, but CM is highly overrated and I stand by that statement. That final score is a black eye to the state considering all the hype about them and their offense.

IMO Aquinas is a toss-up better than MC down there, and MC is slightly better than CM.

I will also stand by this statement, "When Lakeland is not playing silly and getting dumb penalties they are better than that entire trio".

No team in America is scoring 49 points on this Dreadnaughts defense. Not a HS team, maybe a small college.

 

 

 

 

[Jambun82]

7 hours ago, LakelandGator said:

This is a TD with out a doubt.

 

I can't tell from that video if that was a TD or not. Hopefully, I can watch the game later in the week. 

[Nulli Secundus]

34 minutes ago, Jambun82 said:

I can't tell from that video if that was a TD or not. Hopefully, I can watch the game later in the week. 

If you watch the game, they show different angles so you be the judge.  To me, it appears that the receiver firmly grabbed the ball with two hands while preventing it from hitting the ground and never lost control.  Just my two cents.  Moot now as Lakeland scored 2 plays later.  

[Perspective]

11 hours ago, Nulli Secundus said:

If you watch the game, they show different angles so you be the judge.  To me, it appears that the receiver firmly grabbed the ball with two hands while preventing it from hitting the ground and never lost control.  Just my two cents.  Moot now as Lakeland scored 2 plays later.  

Nulli,  I, too, saw the clip.   While I tend to agree with you, the official on the sidelines 10 feet away was looking right at the play and appeared to have a good angle on both possession and foot in bounds.   So, I'm guessing he saw something that caused him to rule the pass incomplete.  

That said, you answered the question that I had:  what happened next?  Lakeland scored a TD.   So, all that really changed was a little more time ran off the clock and, I'm guessing, a different player ended up in the history books with the TD.  

[Perspective]

17 hours ago, LakelandGator said:

It's called "class" for a reason Plant fan.

These modern day jacklegs want the country to think they are coaching gurus, so CM was trying to impress some clueless poll voter that they are the best team in Fla and deserved a National Championship.

Scoring another meaningless TD on a far less talented 1M team was just what their type wanted to see. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately they failed to realize that Bishop Gorman is a recruited up power as well. And BG told a state of Florida recruited up power to "hold my beer".

But that's just my perspective.

I just copied and pasted this off the Internet.   It seems appropriate for this discussion.  It was about last night's NFL game: 

"Leading 24-12 with 1:39 left, the Packers had first-and-goal at the Rams’ 1-yard line on Monday night, and they decided to kneel down three times to end the game, rather than score another touchdown. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said that’s what he’ll always do in that situation.

“I didn’t think about that. I just think there’s a way you handle winning in this league. I’ve got a lot of respect for those guys we’re competing against,” LaFleur said.

It was pointed out to LaFleur that point differential is one of the playoff tiebreakers, but LaFleur responded that playoff tiebreakers aren’t something he thinks about during a game. He also said he wasn’t bothered by the Rams using their timeouts late in the game even as there was virtually no chance of them winning.

“If I knew that was going to be the difference, certainly, you do what you’ve got to do, but I think there’s karma involved in that, and I don’t want to be about that, and I’ve got too much respect for them,” LaFleur said. “I’m not worried about that.”

The people who were worried about it were those who bet the point total on Monday night’s game: The over/under was 39.5 points, meaning the under hit, but the over would have hit if the Packers had scored another touchdown."

(Emphasis added)

[Nulli Secundus]

On 12/18/2022 at 6:11 PM, LakelandGator said:

Agree 100%, but the noise coming out of Venice the last 2 weeks was their "scheme" would get the job done. Reality set it when he could no longer chase the refs down the sideline after every play screaming for a tough foul.

Lakeland/Osceola was clearly the defacto 4S State championship game. 

The Kowboys return a strong 2024/2025 class and could be the early favorite going into the 2023 season.

Don't go all Niceville 

[Nulli Secundus]

On 12/19/2022 at 4:41 PM, Perspective said:

Any reason why we won't see a rematch next year? 

1) New coach
2) We'll see how many players "jump ship" 

[Ray Icaza]

5 hours ago, Nulli Secundus said:

Don't go all Niceville 

Appreciate the optimism from Lakeland Gator as the pieces are in place to have another strong showing in the upcoming season.  We will not be able to replace Walker, Jackson or Mascoe as they are some of the most talented players we have ever had.  The sophomore class had 4 young DL that got alot of valuable experience especially thru the playoffs as LeBlanc and Palermo both missed games due to dislocated elbows and they seemed to perform pretty well.  LB crew pretty much intact and they are extremely talented with the secondary being the biggest question mark.  Offensively virtually everyone  returns so expect even better production on that side of the ball.  Time will tell. 

[Nulli Secundus]

27 minutes ago, Ray Icaza said:

Appreciate the optimism from Lakeland Gator as the pieces are in place to have another strong showing in the upcoming season.  We will not be able to replace Walker, Jackson or Mascoe as they are some of the most talented players we have ever had.  The sophomore class had 4 young DL that got alot of valuable experience especially thru the playoffs as LeBlanc and Palermo both missed games due to dislocated elbows and they seemed to perform pretty well.  LB crew pretty much intact and they are extremely talented with the secondary being the biggest question mark.  Offensively virtually everyone  returns so expect even better production on that side of the ball.  Time will tell. 

Obviously, dust has to settle on this side before I say anything.  We will see you guys again with hopefully the same winning results. 

 

[Ray Icaza]

1 hour ago, Nulli Secundus said:

Obviously, dust has to settle on this side before I say anything.  We will see you guys again with hopefully the same winning results. 

 

The few times we have squeezed out victories against your talented Naughts have come mostly at home.  I can only recall winning at your place one time so I am also hopeful that home field will give us a different outcome than this year.