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Lakeland Wins 53rd In A Row

By ERIK SABOL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2007

LAKELAND - Sept. 3, 2004, marked the first of what would culminate into a state-record 53 consecutive wins for the Lakeland Dreadnaughts.

They traveled cross country, they faced the best competition Florida could offer and, through it all, they always came out victorious.

On Friday night, however, the Dreadnaughts (8-0) were taken to the limit by Davenport Ridge Community (5-3) before winning 22-19 in two overtimes.

Lakeland prevailed when Jarred Haggins' pass found James Campbell in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown play. That overcame a 3-point deficit after Ridge had kicked a field goal to open the second OT.

Lakeland surpassed the record of 52 consecutive wins by Lake Butler Union County (1994-97).

'It's a blessing, man, it really is,' Campbell said. 'It's a blessing to be a part of this.'

Using a clobbering defense, Ridge held Lakeland scoreless for the first 45 minutes of the game. The Bolts led 10-0 on an 8-yard fade from quarterback Christopher Flowers to runner Michael James, and Jorge Contreras' 27-yard field goal just before halftime.

Ridge controlled the clock with a powerful running attack, fueled by James and his 31 carries.

A dazed Dreadnaughts offense took the field with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Haggins completed five consecutive passes, setting up Aaron O'Brien's 23-yard field goal to make it 10-3.

Lakeland recovered an onside kickoff and fullback T.K. Lamb blasted through a hole for a 40-yard touchdown run, forcing overtime.

Lakeland struck first in the extra period on Haggins' 5-yard touchdown pass to Campbell, although the extra point was missed. On Ridge's ensuing series, Flowers threw a third-down lob to the back of the end zone to Calvin Mason, but the Bolts also missed the conversion and the game went into a second overtime period tied at 16.

Ridge Comm.	7	3	0	0	6	3	-	19
Lakeland	0	0	0	10	6	6	-	22

R-James 8 pass from Flowers (Contreras kick)

R-Contreras 27 FG

L-O'Brien 23 FG

L-Lamb 40 run (O'Brien kick)

L-Campbell 5 pass from Haggins (kick missed)

R-Mason 4 pass from Flowers (kick missed)

R-Contreras 31 FG

L-Campbell 6 pass from Haggins

TEAM STATISTICS	RC	L
First downs	16	7
Rushing	55-162	27-98
Passing	8-13-88	9-19-82
Total yards	250	180
Interceptions by	0	0
Sacks by	2	3
Fumbles-lost	1-0	2-0
Penalties-yards	5-25	4-30