What you need to know about Friday’s Round 2 playoff football games for Polk County teams

Polk County had 11 teams advance to this year’s high school football playoffs. With two teams having a bye last week, the rest went 3-6 with only Lakeland, Lake Wales and Bartow advancing.

The remaining five teams will play in four games as Lakeland and Bartow will play in an all-Polk matchup.

Here’s what you need to know about the four playoff games on Friday involving Polk teams.

First round: Shorthanded Lakeland remained overloaded with playmakers in rout of Mitchell

First round: Bartow, Lake Wales moving on; Polk’s small schools eliminated

Bartow (7-4) at Lakeland (8-3)

Lakeland wide receiver Rick Penick breaks a tackle after making a reception on Friday night at Bryant Stadium.

About Bartow: The Yellow Jackets were without starting quarterback KJ Valentine in the regular-season meeting that Lakeland won 30-2. Bartow has allowed seven points or less four times this season. Bartow’s win last week was its first playoff victory since 2006, when the Yellow Jackets won three games to become regional champions before losing in the state semifinals.

About Lakeland: Lakeland quarterback Zander Smith has completed 112 of 156 passes for 1,526 yards with 20 touchdowns and two interceptions. Markel Johnson (88-446) and Jadarius Dobie (55-395) are the Dreadnaughts’ two leading rushers. The top receivers are Jamar Taylor (37-524), Rick Penick (25-396), Pat Dennis and (21-310).

Prediction: Lakeland, 21-7.

Leesburg (10-1) at Lake Wales (11-0)

Lake Wales’ Messiah Marlow makes a reception in the first half against Bartow on Friday night at Bartow Memorial Stadium.

About Leesburg: The Yellow Jackets average 200.8 yards passing. Quarterback Salomon Georges completed 132 of 184 passes for 2,209 yards with 29 touchdowns and just two interceptions. His top receivers are Evan James (33-649) and Demetrice McCray (32-637). Lavoctris Patterson has…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/know-fridays-round-2-playoff-090533792.html

Author : The Ledger

Publish date : 2023-11-16 09:05:33

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