Lakeland football falls to The First Academy in double-overtime thriller
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
LAKELAND — On a brisk Halloween night, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" boomed on the PA system before kickoff at Bryant Stadium.
It was great foreshadowing for the game to come between Lakeland and The First Academy.
The Royals mounted a double-overtime comeback win over the Dreadnaughts, erasing a 21-7 deficit in the fourth quarter before eventually winning 35-28.
Lakeland (8-2) looked dominant to start the game. The Dreadnaughts were up 7-0 before a single play from scrimmage after Joseph Howard took a punt 89 yards to the house.
Lakeland extended the lead to 14-0 at the end of the first quarter after a short touchdown carry from Malik Morris (Florida commit). Morris also had a forced fumble in the first quarter that the Dreadnaughts recovered.
Lakeland's defense leads the way
A stout defensive effort, particularly from Dreadnaught defensive ends Drew Sapp and Santana Harvey, kept Royal first downs to a minimum in the opening frame. But TFA found the end zone late in the second quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass to Alabama commit Brian Williams Jr.
It would not be Williams Jr.'s last big touchdown of the night.
Lakeland scored a monumental touchdown in the waning seconds of the first half on a 48-yard strike from Kelin Hendirx to Cam Fuse. Suddenly, the Dreadnaughts held a commanding 21-7 lead heading into the break.
The third quarter was more of the same from Lakeland's defense, which managed to keep the Royals from scoring despite David Coleman forcing a fumble for TFA.
With eight minutes to play and trailing 21-7, Brian Dillard reeled in a tipped pass and took it over 50 yards – setting up an 8-yard touchdown carry from Jaelyn Powell.
The Royal defense stood tall when it mattered most, coming up with timely tackles behind the line of scrimmage that forced Lakeland to punt with plenty of time for TFA to work some magic.
Lakeland's defense, once again, put forth a sweltering effort with time expiring and the Royals knocking on the door. The Dreadnaughts pieced together three-straight stops in the red zone, but an encroachment penalty on Lakeland gave TFA a game-tying look on fourth down at the 1-yard line.
How Lakeland, The First Academy fared in overtime
Brian Dillard, in at wildcat, rolled to his right and found a streaking Williams Jr., who was open in the back of the end zone. The short touchdown pass forced overtime.
"(I was thinking) just go get the ball," Williams Jr. said. "Attack the ball. I've got to go get it. It's time to go make a play… They were mouthing off a lot, and that stuff really activates me inside. It just turns my mind off so I can play football, and that's what I did."
Lakeland drew first blood in overtime on a 13-yard pass from Hedrix to Howard, but the Royals needed just one play to respond. TFA brought big offensive lineman and Clemson commit Chancellor Barclay over to tight end, and defensive lineman Alex Willis (Georgia Tech commit) in at receiver.
Willis found himself wide open before walking into the end zone, forcing double overtime.
The Royals had the first look in double overtime, and again scored in just one play. This time it was Dillard, who brought down the 10-yard pass from Anthony Woods Jr, and the Royals led, 35-28.
And a child shall lead TFA
Woods Jr., an eighth grader, was exceptional in the win. He was on target more often than not, made the right reads, and didn't try to force anything against a daunting Dreadnaught defense.
The Royals forced Lakeland's game-tying look from the 3-yard line on fourth down. TFA blew up the keeper for Hendrix as he rolled right, and he was forced to work back to his left. Danny Odem (Nebraska commit) brought Hendrix down, but Hendrix tried to pitch the ball to an open Dreadnaught in the end zone.
"…We know we're here with one goal, and we know what we came to do," Odem said. "You know how they say the people you meet in college will be at your wedding? If I ever get married, these guys are going to be at the wedding."
After about five minutes of discussion, the officials ruled Hendrix down before the getting off the pitch that would've forced a third overtime, and the Royals let Bryant Stadium here every bit of it.
"We walked about this all we week, end it with a bang," Williams Jr. said. "We've had a lot of ups and downs, but this is the way to finish it. This is how we can play if we're all together."
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Lakeland football falls to The First Academy in 2OT thriller in FHSAA
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos