Lakeland Downs Venice For 4S Title

     The Lakeland Dreadnaughts held off the Venice Indians 21-14 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale for the FHSAA Class 4S state championship on Saturday. The Dreadnaughts captured their eighth state title in school history and their first state championship since 2018. The Indians were unable to repeat as state champions. 

     Indians defensive back Elliot Washington intercepted a pass on the Dreadnaughts first drive less than one minute into the contest. Venice(9-4) quarterback Brooks Bentley scrambled out of the pocket and raced down the left sideline on a 20-yard touchdown run at the 10:42 mark of the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. 

     Lakeland(14-0) tied it up 7-7 with 3:49 left in the first. Running back Markell Johnson rushed through the left side of the line and scored from three yards away. 

     In the second quarter, the Indians reclaimed the lead 14-7 at 7:31. Running back Alvin Johnson went through the right side of the line for a four-yard touchdown. 

     The Dreadnaughts answered back with no time remaining in the first half to even it up 14-14. Quarterback Zachary Pleuss tossed an eight-yard touchdown pass to tight end Omari Mixon on the right side of the end zone.

     It became 21-17 for Lakeland with 2:13 to go in the third quarter. Pleuss sprinted around the left end and reached the end zone from six yards out. 

     Venice came close to tying the game with 6:26 left in the fourth quarter. They loss the ball on downs when wide receiver Keyon Sears fell short of a first down on a double reverse at the Dreadnaughts nine-yard line.