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Dreadnaughts Look To Get Back To Top

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: December 11, 2008

LAKELAND - There is no place like Bryant Stadium, where Lakeland High football games literally are larger than life.

There is the 15-by-20-foot, $400,000 Jumbotron, built in 2007, the golf cart that resembles a large helmet that leads the team onto field, and the three-story press box that displays the seasons the program won its six state titles.

But the program used to ending its season hoisting a state championship trophy exited the state playoffs early in 2007, when Kissimmee Osceola eliminated the Dreadnaughts in the Class 5A region semifinals.

That 22-7 loss seemed to indicate the program wasn't as dominant as it used to be.

This season, the Dreadnaughts are undefeated at 13-0 and ranked No. 6 in the USA Today Super 25

The Dreadnaughts host Pensacola Pine Forest in the Class 5A state semifinals at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The winner will play Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas or Largo in the state title game Dec. 19 at Orlando's Citrus Bowl.

With a dominant 40-20 victory against Chamberlain last week, Lakeland showed that the program has returned to its previous level.

"We proved them wrong," junior running back Rodney Watson said. "We believe we're the better team in 5A, and we're going to show them next week and the week after that."

Lakeland coach Bill Castle knows he will have to go through a tough Pine Forest team to reach the title game.

"They'll be completely opposite of Chamberlain," he said. "They're a very physical team."

Lakeland won three consecutive state titles from 2004 through 2006 and was proclaimed national champion in 2005 and 2006. The Dreadnaughts also won 53 consecutive games from 2004 to 2007.

Losing last season was motivation for this year's team.

"It was a lot more motivation," said Watson, who was a freshman on the 2006 title team. "That was the plan: to get back in it and put the team back on track."

"I like to think that may be a little part of it, but hopefully they just want to win every game they play," Castle said.

In 2006, the state final between St. Thomas Aquinas and Lakeland ended with a thrilling finish, with the Dreadnaughts stopping Aquinas at the goal line to win, 45-42, in two overtimes. Aquinas, ranked No. 1 in the nation, and Lakeland could meet again in the state championship game.

"It's real big," Watson said. "A lot of seniors are waiting for it. Me, I'm a junior, and I'm waiting for it."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851

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