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Lakeland Jumps On Bulls Early

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By JEFF JONES

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 22, 2008

LAKELAND - Being in your first playoff game ever is enough to give anybody a case of the jitters, but Bloomingdale also had the unfavorable spot of facing nationally ranked Lakeland in the 5A regional quarterfinals, and then was blown out 48-6 Friday night.

"We definitely showed our inexperience tonight," first-year Bulls head coach Jason Stokes said. "I thought we had a great week of practice, and I thought we were going to be a little bit looser, but we played tight tonight."

The Bulls' nervousness resulted in three fumbles that Lakeland was able to capitalize into scores, including a live ball penalty with 1:44 left to go in the first quarter, when most of the Bloomingdale offense thought the play was dead. Lakeland defensive back T.J. Denson picked the ball off the ground and ran it back 22 yards for the score.

"It's just not being heady," Stokes said. "We're a better football team than that. I just wish we had a better showing out here tonight."

Lakeland (11-0) on the other hand had little problems running their offense.

The Dreadnaughts got on the board early with a 3-yard run by Aaron Truedell, and following a turnover by the Bulls (6-5), went up 14-0 with a 9-yard run by running back Steward Butler.

Then with 4:50 left in the first, Javares McRoy returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown, and shortly after Steward Butler ripped off a 63-yard score to give Lakeland a 28-point advantage.

L-Butler 9 run (O'Brien kick)

L-McRoy 64 punt return (O'Brien kick)

L-Butler 63 run (O'Brien kick)

L-Denson 22 fumble return (O'Brien kick)

B-Johnson 5 run (kick failed)

L-Gary 71 block kick return (kick failed)

L-Keim 14 run (O'Brien kick)

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