Plant at Lakeland. You don’t need to say much more after that. They’ve played just four times since 1997, but from the atmosphere and anticipation that surrounds this one–you’d think it was an annual rivalry that makes Florida-Georgia aka “The Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” seem tame. There’s going to be a million-and-one articles breaking down this one–the statistical comparisons–the individual match-ups–the coaching strategies. This one has a slightly different tenor to it. We’d like to leave who-what-why-how to the beats that are zeroing-in on this one at Bryant Stadium tomorrow, and give you some “outside the box” reasons why this game has such an attraction to it–the 2015 version that is.
1. Plant and Lakeland have played 27 times and the all-time series is 12-12-3.
They started playing each other in 1930. That’s just eight years after the FHSAA was created. Knowing the leaders of these two programs–on and off the field–this one’s one of the most important games in this series. Winner of this game gets to have bragging rights–until next season. This game “could” be kicking off a stretch of four-straight contests in the playoffs with the two paired in opposite districts the first round in Class 7A.
2. The Last four games are split 2-2. Lakeland won the two games in 97/98 by a combined score of 106-0. Plant has won the last two games in 09/10 by a combined score of 68-6.
So—-who starts the next trend? It’s hard to imagine the Panthers being in a situation against anyone in which they would be mollywhoped by another program–to that extent. The reality of the situation in 1997 and 1998 was that the Panthers weren’t very good–at all. In ’97, Plant was 0-10 and in 1998, they finished the season 4-6. That same span, Lakeland was 25-2. The last two games are interesting because the ‘Naughts were a combined 26-2 the two seasons that Plant cleaned their clocks. The Panthers finished 25-4 and with a state championship to their credit in 2009.
3. Bill Castle is 4-2 all-time vs. Plant since arriving in 1977 and 2-2 in the playoffs against the Panthers. Robert Weiner is 2-0 vs. Lakeland and 2-0 in the playoffs against the Dreadnaughts.
Two of the biggest names in the entire region–and State of Florida for that matter–get after it. Coach Castle may have a winning record, but those two losses in the playoffs aren’t ever going to be forgotten. As far as Coach Weiner is concerned, how many coaches can say they’re undefeated in their careers against Lakeland? Also, Coach Castle kept calling James Wilder Jr in a recent interview with BHSN–Willie Wilder. Whether that’s by design–or not–it adds some intrigue, doesn’t it?
4. Speaking of which–there’s no James Wilder Jr. this time around.
Whether he’s known by Lakeland’s Staff as Willie, William or Wyle E. Wilder–this roadrunner no longer needs to be chased around by hapless Lakeland defenders. Although the nightmares of #32 running like he’s the lead bull through the streets of Pamplona are probably still present in some form or fashion.
5. The message boards–multiple ones at that–will be GOLD regardless of the outcome.
Some of the biggest “isn talkers” walking the face of God’s Green Earth on the internet as it pertains to this format represent these two fan-bases. Nothing more needs to be said about this. Grab your popcorn and pull up your favorite chair after this one–and stay for the lesson in how adults digress into teenagers in the span of four quarters.
6. 2009’s loss to Plant was Lakeland’s first EVER home shutout–in the playoffs.
Call Lakeland whatever you want–just make sure you include the terms perennial powerhouses and immensely proud and dedicated to defending their home turf. Having the Panthers hand them their only shutout loss in the HISTORY of the program at Bryant Stadium in a setting such as the playoffs may be the equivalent of kicking their dog while drinking the last cold Yoo-Hoo out of the fridge.
7. Both teams are arguably playing their best ball of the season.
Probably the most football-related reason on this list, but it adds to the intrigue. The bevy of “supernatural talent” that we’ve become accustomed to from both sides is not exactly present, but there is even more intrigue to this when you look at just how even these two really have become this season and are arguably playing their best football at the season–just in time for one of the biggest match-ups in the entire state. No pressure, fellas.
8. Not only did Lakeland lose to Plant via running clock in 2010, they were forced to forfeit that entire season to add insult to injury.
We know what happened at Bryant Stadium in 2009 when the Panthers shutout Lakeland 20-0, but the debacle that turned into a 48-6 running clock at Dad’s Stadium eventually added even more salt to the wound as the Dreadnaughts had to forfeit. Time to exorcise those demons at Bryant Stadium.