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Dreadnaughts Pull Out Late Victory

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By JEFF JONES

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 11, 2008

Updated: 10/11/2008 01:39 am

LAKELAND - An inspired Lakeland Lake Gibson squad almost pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season Friday night, but couldn't quite close the door as district rival Lakeland squeaked by 15-14 to remain undefeated on the season.

Former Braves quarterback and current University of South Florida QB Matt Grothe watched intently from the sidelines as Dreadnaughts' running back Aaron Truedell ran for a two-point conversion with 2:33 left to go in regulation to win the game.

One play earlier, Lakeland (6-0) had attempted to tie the game with an extra point after a Truedell touchdown, but the Dreadnaughts changed their minds when an offside penalty on Lake Gibson for lining up in the neutral zone gave them the ball inside the 2-yard line.

For Lakeland coach Bill Castle, the decision to go for two points then was a no-brainer.

"We didn't even think about it, I liked our odds on the one-and-a-half-yard line," Castle said. "We wanted to get it over right then."

The Braves (2-3) got out to the early lead when quarterback Quinshon Odom hit receiver Anthony Woods for a 37-yard touchdown with 3:43 left in the first quarter.

That lead would stand until midway through the third quarter when Truedell ran 27 yards up the gut for a score to tie the game 7-7.

Lake Gibson retook the lead when Odom found David Richardson with a shovel pass that resulted in a 47-yard touchdown and a seven-point lead for the Braves.

But with time winding down in the fourth quarter and momentum heavily on Lake Gibson's side, Lakeland quarterback Jarred Haggins found receiver Theodore Wright for a 48-yard completion that set up the game-winning drive for the Dreadnaughts.

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