Lakeland (FL) to host St. Joseph’s Prep (PA) on Sep. 8th in a regular season matchup

The defending Class 4S state champion Dreadnaughts go head-to-head with the Pennsylvania powerhouse on Sep. 8th

LAKELAND, FLORIDA- It’s not everyday that you see the Lakeland Dreadnaughts scheduling out-of-state opponents. 

Under first-year head coach Marvin Frazier, they’ll be playing an out-of-state powerhouse for the first time in over 10 years. Via the release of St. Joseph’s Prep 2023 football schedule release, Lakeland will host the Pennsylvania power at home on Sep. 8th. 

St. Joe’s Prep has confirmed they are playing the Lakeland Dreadnaughts on September 8th… This will be a good one, and it means Lakeland is playing a national schedule for the first time in a decade. https://t.co/BkhrUoORC2

— PolkWay (@polk_way) June 1, 2023

Lakeland is in a transition this off-season after capturing the program's eighth state championship back in December over Venice 21-14 for the Class 4S crown. Bill Castle retired after 47 years as the school's head football coach and has been since succeeded by Frazier, an assistant under Castle the last several seasons.

The Dreadnaughts look to have plenty of talent coming back plus an infusion of transfers as well. Joining the offensive ranks led by running backs D'Marius Rucker, Markel Johnson and wide receiver Jamar Taylor Jr. is Palmetto transfer Zander Smith. Smith, a rising junior, played quarterback for the Tigers in 2022 and threw for 1,638 yards and 14 touchdowns.

There’s a slew of defensive players to watch out for on Lakeland’s side as well, with linebacker Joshua Smith and defensive back Keon Young becoming just a couple of the names to watch out for this fall. 

Among some of the stars on the St. Joseph’s Prep side is 6-foot-1, 200-pound quarterback Samaj Jones, who has offers from Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Penn State and West Virginia. Jones last year for the Hawks faced off against St. Thomas Aquinas in the Broward County Classic National High School Football Showcase and was impressive versus the Raiders, a 48-37 loss. 

Photos: No. 12 St. Thomas Aquinas holds off St. Joseph's Prep 48-37 in season opener #FLPreps https://t.co/X51DlFAnjU pic.twitter.com/gkkypPBupj

— Florida High School On SI (@SBLiveFL) August 27, 2022

Other players to watch from come September are cornerback Omilio Agard and wide receivers Brandon Rehmann, David Washington Jr. 

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.