3. 2005 Lakeland (Fla.)
Chris Rainey was nearly unstoppable for the 2005 Lakeland squad.
Photo by Todd Shurtless
While the 2006 Lakeland team may have gotten greater recognition nationally, folks around Florida believe the 2005 Dreadnaughts were better than their ‘06 version.
Quarterback
Billy Lowe provided senior leadership to a team that also featured twin offensive linemen Michael and Maurkice Pouncey and running backs
Chris Rainey and
Jamar Taylor. The Pounceys and Rainey signed with Florida after the following season while Taylor signed with Alabama.
John Brown manned the defensive line, while
Ahmad Black roamed the secondary. Seniors
Scott Bryant and
Troy Johnson anchored the linebacker spots.
Lakeland capped off a 15-0 season with a
29-point win over an Aquinas squad that entered the title game unbeaten and boasted five first team all-state players, among them future NFL'ers Major Wright, Marcus Gilbert and Sam Young.
Florida high school football historian Larry Blustein, who watched both 2005 Lakeland and 2008 Aquinas, told MaxPreps he gives the edge to 2005 Lakeland "by a field goal."
