Highlights as Lakeland tops Venice in Class 4S state title football game
Video highlights of Venice’s 60-48 loss to the Dreadnaughts in Tallahassee on Saturday, Dec. 9.
TALLAHASSEE ― John Peacock did not have to think long or hard or when the last time his Venice High football team turned the ball over five times.
“Cocoa,” Peacock said.
That was on Sept. 1 in a 10-point loss to the Tigers.
Venice went 12 games without a loss since, but the old turnover bug showed up at the most inopportune time.
The Lakeland High football team recorded five turnovers, picking off four passes and returning one for a touchdown, and recovering a fumble in handing Venice a 60-42 setback in the Class 4 Suburban State Championship game Saturday night to cap the high school football season at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
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It was the second straight year the Dreadnaughts (12-3) defeated Venice (12-3) in the championship game. Last year it was 21-14 in Fort Lauderdale.
This time the teams came out on fire offensively. Lakeland opened a 27-21 lead at halftime, only for Venice to take the second-half kickoff 65 yards in nine plays with Jamarice Wilder going over from a yard out. Josiah Arcadipane’s PAT kick was the difference in a 28-27 lead.
Despite forcing the Dreadnaughts to punt on their next two possessions, Venice’s offense stalled also.
It turned the ball over on downs near midfield, lost a fumble, punted, and had two interceptions, returning the first for a touchdown.
“I don’t think they did anything,” Peacock said. “I just think we had a bad quarter. We fell behind and had a tough time stopping them. That was basically it.”
The Dreadnaughts cashed in all four turnovers for a 53-28 lead with 1 minute, 40 seconds left in the game.
“The tides kinda turned quickly in that third quarter,” said Peacock. “We pressed and we didn’t need to press and fell behind.”
Venice was not finished making an impression on the scoreboard.
CJ Lewis returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Venice then recovered the onside kick, and Jadyn Glasser hit Griffin Gisotti for a 25-yard touchdown. Glasser then ran in the 2-point conversion to make it 53-42. After another Lakeland touchdown, Glasser hit Deylen Platt for a 48-yard score as time expired.
“We made a few mistakes, but when we really click together it could be a bad situation for the other team,” Lewis said. “We fought hard. We didn’t give up the whole time. We just kept fighting. We just came down short.”
Venice rushed for 234 yards with Wilder going for 112 on 15 carries and two touchdowns, and Alvin Johnson carrying 12 times for 90 yards and a score.
“They did a good job in stopping the run,” Peacock said. “That hurt us. That hurt us a lot.”
Glasser went 14-for-24 for 203 yards. Charles Lester III got Venice off to a good start with a 62-yard completion on the first play to Ryan Matulevich on the first series. Lewis (75 yards) and Gisotti (55 yards) each caught five passes and scored once.
Lakeland rushed for 497 yards with D’marius Rucker rambling for 209 on 22 carries and finding the end zone three times. The Dreadnaughts had seven rushing touchdowns. Former Palmetto High and Bradenton Christian School quarterback Zander Smith shook off an injury early and completed all six of his passes for 43 yards and a score. Smith also had a 43-yard run.
“I knew they had talented backs,” Peacock said. “They did a good job finding the cutback lanes. A lot of their stuff we stopped at their point of attack and they cut back. I guess they were doing a good job blocking the back side.”
The Venice seniors reached the state final the past three years, beating Apopka High, 35-7, in 2021 before losing to Lakeland in the past two seasons.
“It was just a great opportunity,” Lewis said. “I’m not even mad. It is what it is. It was on us. We beat ourselves. No other team could beat us but ourselves, and that’s what happened tonight.”
2023-12-11 11:07:40
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