36 days until Florida high school football season: One number for each day as we count down to kickoff 2023

SBLive Florida gives you one significant number per day as we mark the days until high school football returns.

The Florida high school football season is scheduled to begin Thursday, Aug. 24 — 36 days from today. As we count down the days until kickoff, SBLive Florida will give you one significant number per day.

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36

After nearly 50 years at the helm of the Lakeland High School football program, Bill Castle stepped down as head coach after leading the Dreadnaughts to their eighth state championship under his watch after the 2022 season. 

Going out on top after Lakeland defeated Venice 21-14 for the Class 4S crown was the kind of storybook ending had happening for Castle. It was 36 years ago that Castle led Lakeland to its first-ever title. 

Back in 1986, Lakeland defeated Dunedin 14-10 to come away with the program’s first of many state championships to come under Castle. This 2023 season marks a new era for Lakeland as they will be led by new head coach and former assistant Marvin Frazier. Castle can’t stay away as he was seen recently at a Dreadnaughts’ practice. 

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