Lake Wales wins 25th straight Florida high school football game
BARTOW, FLORIDA -- Lake Wales received its wake-up call but the bell didn't ring until the fourth quarter.
Class 3S defending state champions Lake Wales erupted for four fourth-quarter touchdowns to turn back Bartow 28-3 Friday and finish the regular season 10-0. The Highlanders also extended their winning streak to 25 straight games.
"We made some great things turn real ugly tonight," Lake Wales head coach Tavaris Johnson said. "My favorite quote is, 'Champions don't always win, but they win at the right time.' So I am proud of the way we just fought through adversity. ... I am proud of Highlander Country tonight. We are undefeated and we are going to keep riding on that wave."
Lake Wales quarterback Brycen Levidiotis unleashes a pass against Bartow. The Highlanders won 28-3 for their 25th consecutive win.
Bill Kemp
Lake Wales also finished the regular season without yielding a single rushing touchdown.
"Our defense is nasty. Our defense is stingy," Johnson said. "They are playing through some pain and some hurt. But I am proud of the way they set the wall tonight."
The Lake Wales streak is the longest current overall winning streak in the state. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna has won 34 consecutive games playing against Florida schools, but lost to Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) in a national matchup this past December following its 13-0 state championship season.
"I am proud of them because we were picked to be a .500 team," Johnson said. "I told this team from Day 1, you control your destiny. The world doesn't do that."
Lake Wales defenders surround and close in on Bartow quarterback Kaleef Valentine Friday. The Highlanders finished the regular season without yielding a rushing touchdown.
Bill Kemp
After a lack-luster performance for the first three quarters, which included giving up three interceptions, Lake Wales found itself trailing Bartow 3-0 entering the fourth quarter.
But Lake Wales senior running back RaShad Orr broke free down the Memorial Stadium northern sideline on a 31-yard touchdown run to give the Highlanders a 7-3 lead.
Lake Wales senior running back Rashad Orr breaks loose on a 31-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter at Bartow.
Bill Kemp
The burst ignited Lake Wales on a fourth-quarter rampage.
Senior Johnqaue Richardson busted the game open, scoring on a 6-yard run before exploding on a 73-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 20-3. Kylor Sanford capped the Lake Wales assault with a 37-yard touchdown run with 1:52 remaining.
"I just trusted the process, trusted my linemen," Richardson said. "(The first touchdown) was a play we work on all week. That is liable to get into the end zone, 100 percent."
