Highlanders Drop Naples, Win Homecoming Game

After being stymied by the stout defense of the Naples Trojans for most of the first half, the Lake Wales Highlander eleven found the winning formula in the second half, opening with four straight touchdowns to chalk up a 32-0 victory Friday night in front of a Homecoming crowd at Legion Field.

With the win the Highlanders advance to 3-1 on the season as they face their first district for next Friday night when they host Melbourne Eau Gallie.

Senior RB sensation Marquish Seabon opened the second-half scoring with a run up the sideline to put the Highlanders ahead 12-0. Seabon went on to gain165 yards on 16 carries. Not to be outdone, QB Trent Grotjan racked up 165 yards passing.

Using their season-long mix of quarterbacks paid dividends as QB Tyron Summerall opened the scoring on a keeper just before half-time, while Grotjan repeated that trick in the second half with a 60-yard run. At the start of the season Head Coach Tavaris Johnson had been ambivalent about who would lead the squad, but flexibility has proved an asset.

Grotjan also threw a long TD play to Sophomore standout Carlos Mitchell that covered 62 yards. Jaremiah Anglin Jr. followed that by scampering into the end zone on another Grotjan pass.

Meanwhile. next foe Melbourne Eau Gallie fell to 2-3 on the season after losing a close game to 3-1 Viera. The Commodores will arrive determined to derail the Highlanders' repeat of their district title. The Lake Wales squad played in Class 5-A last year, but moved to the 6-A class this year due to a student population increase.