By Jim Stout
MaxPreps.com
WHEELING, W.Va. - "It's all about the championships".
The words are inscribed in unabashed terms across the black and orange tee shirts often worn by the Lakeland, Fla., High football team, its coaching staff and many of its fans. They're a reminder to all in that central Florida community of what's expected of their beloved Dreadnaughts each and every season - and what the Dreadnaughts have come to expect of themselves.
Thus when Lakeland went a mere 10-2 a year ago after winning back-to-back mythical national championships in 2005 and 2006 and compiling a 53-game winning streak, you can imagine what people were thinking and feeling.
"You live through something like that," said senior linebacker Jordan James, whose team bowed out in 2007 at regional semifinal stage, "and you feel what it's like to lose and you try to never forget it. You don't want that feeling to come back."
Judging by the way Lakeland played in its season opener on Monday, it may not come back.
The Dreadnaughts scored touchdowns on their first three possessions, including one on their first play from scrimmage, and routed defending Pennsylvania AAA champion Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 35-0, in the inaugural Friends of Coal Classic at sun-baked Wheeling Island Stadium.
Lakeland used the blinding speed of its offensive backfield and a punishing, relentless defense (64 yards total offense allowed) to hand Pittsburgh Central Catholic its first loss since the semifinals of the 2006 PIAA playoffs. The Vikings had gone 16-0 a season ago in becoming only the third team in Pennsylvania history to win three state titles.
Pittsburgh Central was dealt a devastating blow on the game's fifth play from scrimmage, when senior quarterback Nolan Krivijanski suffered a knee injury; he may be lost for the season with an ACL sprain. The Vikings had already suffered several pre-season injures to their offensive line, making life for back-up quarterback David Smyers (4-of-8, 33 yards, one interception) even more harrowing.
The loss by Pittsburgh Central Catholic in Game Two of the tripleheader was the second piece of bad news for western Pennsylvania at the Friends of Coal Classic. Cleveland Glenville scored just 4 minutes, 4 seconds into Game One and went on to record a 34-13 win over defending Class AAAA champ Thomas Jefferson.
Wheeling Central Catholic routed Steubenville, Ohio, Central Catholic in Game Three Monday night, 33-0.
The first-time event drew a crowd of over 8,000 spectators.
An eletricfying 80-yard touchdown run by Javares McRoy on Lakeland's first play from scrimmage set the Dreadnaughts up for a successful 2008 debut. Before the first quarter was through, Lakeland (1-0) had turned a fumble recovery and a one-yard run by Rodney Watson into a 14-0 advantage. Steward Butler's 40-yard scoring run with six seconds left in the opening period made it 21-0.
Lakeland coach Bill Castle, whose team has won the second-most state titles (six) in Florida history, liked the idea of scoring on the first play of the game and here's why:
"It takes a lot of pressure off the play-caller," said a smiling Castle, who is also the team's offensive coordinator.
As much as he enjoyed the performance of his own players, Castle acknowledged it had come at the expense of a wounded opponent.
"I'd seen tapes of four games that (Pittsburgh Central) had played in the past," said Castle. "They have a tremendous program."
Still leading by 21-0 at intermission, Lakeland increased its advantage to 28-0 with 6:43 left in the third period on 21-yard run by Aaron Trudell. Butler added his second TD of the game with 5:12 remaining in the game.
McCoy carried just two times but accumulated 106 yards to lead a Lakeland attack that amassed 398 total yards, of which 322 came on the ground.
"(Lakeland) outworked us, out-hustled us, outclassed us," said Central Catholic linebacker Sam Loughery (5 tackles, 2 assists). "They had speed and they had size. We see teams that size all the time in Pennsylvania. Their speed was like nothing we've ever seen."
Cleveland Glenville 34, Thomas Jefferson (Pa.) 13
Bill Cherpak said he knew it was coming.
Cherpak, the coach of Thomas Jefferson, knew that Cleveland Glenville had jumped Cleveland St. Ignatius with a long pass to start its season opener on Aug. 23. Thus Cherpak had his defense ready at the outset on Monday for the strong right arm of Glenville senior quarterback Terrence Owens.
It did the Jaguars no good.
Owens connected on a 43-yard pass with Shane Wynn on Glenville's first play from scrimmage, moving the Tarblooders into immediate striking range at the Jefferson 15. Ethan Cargill's 2-yard run produced Glenville's first score with 10:54 still to play in the opening period and Tarblooders never trailed.
Jefferson (0-1) drew within 7-6 and still trailed by only 21-13 with 8:41 to play in the third quarter but Glenville (2-0) responded in the latter instance with an eight-play, 70-yard drive to take a 28-13 lead.
"Glenville made big plays and we didn't," Cherpak said. "We threw the ball away and they didn't. You can't win that way against a team like that. We knew that first play might be coming and we were even in position to stop it but we didn't make the play."
Owens completed five of eight passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns, with both scoring strikes going to Michael Edwards (three receptions, 125 yards). Robert Walton carried for 134 yards on 20 carries and scored once.
Brian Baldridge rushed for 78 yards for Jefferson. New starting quarterback Tyler Wehner completed 12 of 25 passes for 175 yards for the Jaguars but threw a key interception in the end zone late in the first half.
Wheeling Central Catholic 33, Steubenville Central Catholic 0
In the final of the three games, DeVaughn Gordon of Wheeling Central rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns and Zach Loose scored twice on runs of 45 and eight yards as the local favorite Maroon Knights (1-0) won easily. The victory was the 34th in a row for the four-time defending West Virginia Class A champs
The winners racked up 436 yards total offense and built a 28-0 halftime lead. Quarterback Zach Hood completed nine of 14 passes for 142 yards.
Jim Stout is the MaxPreps.com Media Manager for the Eastern U.S., as well as a writer and photographer. He may be reached at 845-367-2864 or at jstout@maxpreps.com.
