Lakeland now owns eight Florida high school football championships after taking-down Venice 21-14 Saturday in the 4S state title game. Both game entered the game highly-ranked in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football.
No. 36 Venice have two first half leads (7-0 and 14-7) on No. 20 Lakeland.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 4S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 17, 2022
Quickly we have a VENICE TOUCHDOWN with a Brooks Bentley 20 yard keeper!@VeniceIndianFB 7, @LHSDreadnaughts 0 – 10:42 1st Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @countypolkhttps://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/xDs4kzmLXG
Lakeland tied the game at 14-14 just before the half.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 4S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 17, 2022
TOUCHDOWN LAKELAND! On the last play before half Zachary Pleuss finds Omari Mixon for an 8 yard TD @VeniceIndianFB 14, @LHSDreadnaughts 14 – HALF #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @countypolkhttps://t.co/jCe8jED5l1 pic.twitter.com/QLjHmodt2g
The game-winning score came in the third quarter on a 62-yard drive.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 4S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 17, 2022
TOUCHDOWN LAKELAND! Zachary Pleuss in with the QB keeper from 6 yards out!@LHSDreadnaughts 21, @VeniceIndianFB 14 – 2:13 3rd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @countypolk @H2_Recruiting https://t.co/jCe8jED5l1 pic.twitter.com/EJLoX3Wk5b
Venice had a shot at sending the game to overtime, but the Dreadnaughts D was equal to the task, stopping Venice an inch short of a first day at the Lakeland 9.
Lakeland finishes 14-0. Venice, which lost for the first time in four final tries, wraps-up 9-4.
