Congratulaitons To Coach Bradley Lord and the South Lake High School Team!
Place: SLHS – Opponent: Tampa Plant
Score-South Lake High School 37 Tampa Plant 36 3 OT
Game Summary by Coach Lord:
The Eagles would need three overtimes, but persevered beating a tough Tampa Plant team this past Friday night 37 to 36 in the FHSAA Regional quarterfinal. This is the first South Lake playoff win in 25 years and to do it in front of the home crowd was special. This propels South Lake High School to the Regional Semi Finals on Friday November 21 vs Osceola High School at Eagle stadium.
The Eagles would draw first blood in the contest when senior running back Malik Holman plowed his way into the endzone on the Eagles first drive. South Lake would fail on a two-point conversion and the score halfway through the first quarter was 6-0. Late in the first quarter, Tampa Plant would score on a South Lake blown coverage. Plant would make the extra point and take the lead 7-6 into the half as there was no scoring in the second quarter.
In the second half both defenses would play very well. The Eagles would get in the Plant Red zone three times and come away with two field goals giving them a 12-6 lead midway through the fourth quarter. The Panthers would then silence the homme crowd with a 98-yard kickoff return with 3:45 left in the game. Plant would convert on the two-point conversion taking the lead 15-12. The Eagles then would have their drive of the year. Some strong runs by Holman and a long pass from Tre Kelly to Isaiah Pina would set the Eagles up for a game tying field goal. Chris Mckenna would hit his third field goal of the night from 42 yards to tie the score and send the game into overtime at 15-15. Plant would score first take the lead 22- 15 in the first overtime but the Eagles would answer as Kelly would find Pina in the endzone and the extra point was good sending the two teams into a second overtime tied at 22. In the second overtime Kelly would then sweep to the left scoring a touchdown and the extra point was good giving the Eagles a 29-22 lead. Plant would answer in the second overtime sending the game to a third overtime deadlocked at 29-29. Plant would strike first and kick the extra point giving the Panthers a 36-29 lead in the third overtime. Holman would then find Cam Johnson in the endzone and the score was then 36-35. Plant would jump off sides while the eagles were in extra point formation. With the ball being spotted at the 1yard line the Eagle coaching staff rolled the dice and went for two. Holman would rumble to the right behind Jesse Barker and Quoy Nelson giving South Lake their first home playoff victory in 25 years.
McKenna kicked three field goals in the win, the last one a 44-yarder with 2:24 remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. He also was good from 32 and 42 yards.
Holman carried the ball 37 times for 258 yards and a touchdown. Junior quarterback Tre Kelly was 13-of-22 passing for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns. Isaiah Pina caught 5 passes for 136 yards and a TD. Keydrick Powell and Cam Johnson had TD catches. Tyson Williams had 14 tackles and Chase Coello also had 11 tackles. Jesse Barker had 9 tackles and a sack. “ We wanted this playoff win for our school and our community. We have a ton of work to do to be ready for Osceola next week, They are a seasoned team that played in the State championship a season ago. We are excited about the challenge it presents.”
Date of Next Game- FHSSA Playoff Regional Semi Final November 21, 2025 @ South Lake High School Vs Osceola High School Kissimmee time 7 PM.
