Football preview: St. Joseph’s Prep (Pennsylvania) at Lakeland

LAKELAND, FLORIDA- It has been 14 years since the Lakeland Dreadnaughts has faced a program from outside of the state of Florida.

That 2009 season, the Dreadnaughts faced De La Salle of California and won the game 31-30 in overtime. Could we see a similar result this season?

St. Joseph’s Prep (PA) enters the game as SBLive Sports/Sports Illustrated Power 25’s No. 10 ranked team in the country and the Hawks are absolutely no strangers to the Sunshine State.

The Hawks just visited Florida last season, playing in the Broward County Classic Elite High School Football Showcase, losing to St. Thomas Aquinas. This time around St. Joseph’s Prep returns for a Week 3 tilt with one of the state’s top programs in the state down in Polk County.

Some may think this could be an easy dub for the Hawks, but the Dreadnaughts will defend every node of grass tonight at Bryant Stadium coming off win No. 1 under first-year head coach Marvin Frazier.

Frazier led the Dreadnaughts to a 28-0 win over Largo last week in a game that displayed the kind of defensive dominance they exhibited in 2022 en route to the Class 4S state championship.

A difference many can see already when it comes to the offensive side of the ball for Lakeland is at the quarterback position with Palmetto transfer Zander Smith. Smith has not disappointed when it comes to arm talent and accuracy through two games.

The signal caller has completed 32-of-37 passes for 422 yards and five touchdowns. The biggest stat line the pops out on Smith’s sheet is zero interceptions. He’s got a pretty nice set of skill players around him, with wide receivers Jamar Taylor Jr. (12 catches, 142 yards), Rick Penick (five catches, 129 yards( and Carlos Mitchell (four catches, 28 yards) all playing a role in the passing game.

Lakeland has a trio of backs that could be the best duo in Central Florida in Jordan Henderson (93 yards), Markel Johnson (41 yards) and D’Marius Rucker.

The Dreadnaughts on defense bounced back to pitch a shutout against the Packers and that’s behind a bevy of talent in the front seven and secondary. Lakeland brings back plenty when it comes to the linebacking unit, with Malik Morris and Joshua Smith leading the way.

The secondary is loaded with Power Five talent post-Cormani McClain, with players like Brayshon Williams, Carlos Mitchell, Jameson and Akron Young. When it comes to defensive backfields, you find many as talented as this.

Samaj Jones, a Cincinnati commitment, is the St. Joseph’s Prep starting quarterback but is rumored to be out for this game. If he’s a no go, that deals a blow to the Hawks’ offensive attack that features a very talented offensive line and skill players group.

Senior wide receivers Brandon Rehmann (West Virginia commit), David Washington Jr. (Kentucky commit) annd Elijah Jones are the two go-to-targets in the passing attack. Kahseim Phillips and Isaiah West are the Hawks’ primary running backs on the ground. Up front on the line of scrimmage, offensive lineman Lakeem Steele (6-foot-2, 300 pounds) paves the way as the team’s top blocker.

On defense is where the Hawks really have their calling card at as the group features several Power Five talents across the board. Players to watch out in the front seven for are linebackers Nick McGlynn, Anthony Sacca and defensive linemen Maxwell Roy, Alexander Haskell.

In the back four, St. Joseph’s has a slew of talented defensive backs that include Davon Willie and Wisconsin commitment Omillio Agard.

ANDY’S PREDICTION: St. Joseph’s Prep (PA) 30, Lakeland 23

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl