by Coach Brad Lord, South Lake High School
Date: 10/25/2024 at Eagle Stadium
Final Score: SLHS 28 / Lake Minneola 24 ..Season Record- 6-3, 4-0 District
Game Summary:
Lake Minneola got off to a fast start recovering an onside kick on the first play of the game setting the Hawks up with great field position in the Friday District Championship game. The Hawks would march down the field and score quickly taking a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. On the next series, the Eagles would again make another mistake and fumble on their own forty-yard line again setting the Lake Minneola Offense up on the Eagle side of the fifty-yard line. The Eagle Defense would stiffen holding the Hawks to a 25-yard field goal and the first quarter would end with Lake Minneola having a 10-0 lead. The South Lake Defense made some adjustments and great plays by Tyger Darden, Ju Ju White, Joseph Robinson, and Rome McKinnond would hold the Hawk’s offense to zero points in the second quarter. The Eagle offense would start to run the ball well at the end of the second quarter moving inside the Lake Minneola red zone but the drive would stall. Chris Mckenna came out and booted a 28-yard field goal late in the second quarter to get the Eagles on the board and the half would end with South Lake trailing 10-3.
To start the second half Tyger Darden would intercept a Minneola pass and the Eagles would march down the field with big-time runs from Marcel Walker{ 13 carries 193 yards} and some power running from Malik Holman { 24 carries 110 yards 3 touchdowns}. Holman would rumble in from the five-yard line tying the game at 10. The Eagle defense would hold the explosive Minneola offense to 6 points in the third quarter and the Eagles would tack on another long field goal by Mckenna and a safety outscoring the Hawks 12-6 in the third quarter. Minneola would again take the lead early in the fourth quarter. The Eagle running game would answer, Walker and Holman had some big-time rushing plays due to some great blocking from the offensive line and JR Fullback Tyrese Thompson. Holman would find the end zone twice in the fourth quarter and the Eagles would outscore the Hawks 13-8 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory giving the Eagles their first District Championship since the year 2000.
“ We knew this game would be a battle. Coach McGlynn had his team ready and they punched us in the mouth right away. Both teams had big plays on offense and the game came down to the wire. Our guys have fought hard all year. We have matured as a team not only on the football field but on the school campus and in the classroom. I believe that maturity helped us in some rough spots this past Friday. South Lake Football has not won a district title in 24 years. It is awesome that we can share this victory with the South Lake Community. We have to get back to work this weekend and Monday to prepare for another very talented team, Leesburg High School. “
South Lake High School vs Leesburg at Home (Senior Night)
Date: November 1 at 7 pm.
