Lakeland and Niceville battle in Class 5A semifinals: Live updates

Lakeland and Niceville battle in Class 5A semifinals: Live updates

Here we go again if you are the Lakeland Dreadnaughts.

Now if you’re the visiting Niceville Eagles and they’re pretty far from the Florida Panhandle, they want to play the role of spoiling Lakeland’s party and getting to another state championship game.

Tonight the two programs meet in a Class 5A semifinal that will determine who advances to the state title game. The winner will face the winner of the opposite semifinal between Manatee and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Stay tuned to High School On SI for live updates throughout the afternoon between the two programs at Bryant Stadium in Lakeland.

FOREPLAY

Niceville at Lakeland begins at 7:30 p.m. Lakeland is competing for its third straight state championship.

Niceville is 12-1, while Lakeland is 12-0 and has an 18-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the state.

Niceville is led by senior quarterback Kane Lafortune, who has thrown for 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.

Additionally, senior running back Johnny Lewis Jr. had 1,117 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Niceville won the coin toss and elected to defer until the second half. Lakeland is preserved.

FIRST QUARTER

After a nice kick return by Jaysean Pritchard, Lakeland receives the ball at the Niceville 49 yard line and sets it up.

Lakeland goes 3-and-out after three running plays and punts. The punt rolls to the Niceville 1-yard line, where the Eagles will start.

Niceville is forced to punt on its first possession and Lakeland takes over at the Eagles’ 32nd line.

Lakeland rotates at quarterback between North Dakota State signee Zander Smith and junior Chad Williams. The Dreadnaughts are on the Niceville 33 with a timeout for the first water break.

Lakeland turns the ball over on downs. Niceville takes over at its own 27-yard line.

Johnny Lewis Jr. comes through with a big first down run and brings the Eagles to midfield.

Lakeland took over at their own 25 with two minutes left in the first quarter. The game is still goalless.

Calum Muldoon hits the ball with a ridiculously long punt that pushes Niceville back to their own 2-yard line. Muldoon scored the game-winning field goal with three seconds left last week.

Niceville is forced to punt in a first quarter filled with punts and still no points.

End of the first quarter: 0-0.

SECOND QUARTER

The winner of that game will face the winner of St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Manatee next week for the Class 5A state championship.

Malik Morris runs the ball through a mob to the Niceville 15-yard line.

Lakeland fumbles the ball away at the Eagles’ 17-yard line. Niceville dodges a bullet and takes over at their own 22.

Niceville completes a few passes and has advanced into Lakeland territory. It’s first down for the Eagles and Lakeland’s 34-yard line. Niceville moves effectively and uses a rush-up offense

FIELD GOAL: Logan Karwacki hits a 45-yard field goal to give Niceville a 3-0 lead.

Niceville threatens again. The Eagles have a first down at the Lakeland 16.

Lakeland defensive back Kavon McKinney makes an interception in the end zone just before he loses the tie. The Dreadnaughts take on their 20. McKinney just signed his letter of intent with Mississippi this week.

Lakeland punches away and the ball is fumbled twice in the process, but Niceville recovers and takes over at the Lakeland 40 with just over a minute to play in the first half.

Niceville’s JJ Lewis shoots the ball to the Lakeland 7-yard line. Timeout on the field with 10 seconds left in the first half.

Niceville placekicker Logan Karwacki scores on a 24-yard field as the first half expires. Niceville leads Lakeland 6-0.

HALFTIME: Niceville 6, Lakeland 0.

1

2

3

4

OT

Niceville

0

3

Lakeland

0

0

The state semifinals are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time

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