Prediction: Lakeland (Fla.) falls in 5A state title game

The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in a few short weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we make our way back down south over to the Sunshine State to look closer at the 9-time state champion Lakeland Dreadnaughts. After coming up just short of winning it all in 2024, losing to St. Thomas Aquinas in the FHSAA’s Class 5A title game, the Dreadnaughts are always looking to the next campaign to compete for a championship. We predict whether Lakeland can bring home championship No. 10 or not in ’25.

Player Spotlight: ATH Malik Morris

Morris is coming off a spring in which he didn’t participate in the game against Jesuit (Fla.), but looked to be prepared for the 2025 season. The 2026 4-star Florida commitment’s importance on both offense and defense for the Dreadnaughts is invaluable as Morris in 2025 notched 95 tackles, nine sacks and also added five touchdowns on the ground. It’s no secret that when Morris is on the field, Lakeland is a better team and being a force on both sides of the ball at both linebacker and running back makes him that much more important to this fall’s success.

Others to watch: EDGE Santana Harvey, CB Jordan Young, WR Cam Fuse, QB Joaquin Kavouklis, WR Jerry Thomas, ATH Kelin Hendrix, TE Jasper Hepel, RB Jadarius Dobe

Season Prediction: 8-1

Last season ended in somewhat of a strange fashion for the Dreadnaughts as they were blown out in the Class 5A state championship by St. Thomas Aquinas at Pitbull Stadium. All that did was motivate head coach Marvin Frazier and his program to improve throughout the off-season. Lakeland is testing themselves this fall by traveling across the country to face national power De La Salle of California and challenging in-state foes like Lake Mary, The First Academy. We see the ‘Naughts falling against the Spartans and Rams, but they will make another deep run through the postseason. In that very title game we see a rematch against Aquinas, with Lakeland losing a consecutive championship game down in Miami.

Game-By-Game Predictions

Aug. 21 – at Auburndale (Fla.) Bloodhounds – W
The Dreadnaughts open the season up with a decisive victory over the Bloodhounds.

Aug. 29 – De La Salle (Calif.) Spartans – L
Lakeland travels the near 3,000 miles and drops its only game of the regular season against De La Salle.

Sept. 5 – Lake Mary (Fla.) Rams – W
We go against the Massey Ratings here and see the Dreadnaughts upending the Rams at Bryant Stadium.

Sept. 19 – at Miami Booker T. Washington (Fla.) Tornadoes – W
The Dreadnaughts head down to the 305 and return home to the 863 with win No. 3. this would be the second straight year Lakeland has won at Traz Powell Stadium.

Sept. 26 – Lake Gibson (Fla.) Braves – W
This will be a lot more competitive than it was a year ago, with Lakeland coming out on top in the rivalry game.

Oct. 3 – at Sumner (Fla.) Stingrays – W
Another team that’s improved from the 2024 season, but the Dreadnaughts comes away with the win.

Oct. 11 – at Sebring (Fla.) Blue Streaks – W
A little drive down Highway 17 to Sebring for Lakeland equates to another victory.

Oct. 24 – Kathleen (Fla.) Red Devils – W
Another rival and the Dreadnaughts make easy work of the Red Devils ahead of Halloween.

Oct. 31 – The First Academy (Fla.) Royals – W
Other than the De La Salle game, this might possibly be the toughest game on the slate for Lakeland. In a hard hitting affair, the Dreadnaughts come away with the last-minute victory to cap the regular season.