Lake Wales Defeats Port St. Lucie to Advance to Regional Semifinals

The Lake Wales Highlanders advanced to the Class 6-A Regional semifinals after a solid game against the Port St. Lucie Jaguars Friday night, emerging victorious by a 35-0 score.

Quarterback Trent Grotjan, a Junior, tossed two TDs in the first half to put the Highlanders in command of the game. The first score came on the squad's first offensive play when a toss to Carlos Mitchell covered 52 yards. Xavier Marlow carried the ball across the finish line in both the second and third quarters and added two-point conversion after a late touchdown dash by QB Tyron Sumerall on a keeper.

The defense made big plays as well, with Tavaris Jones and Chuck Taylor both marking big sacks. Kenyan Culver, Mitchell Cain and Sean Major also got into the action on big stops. Courtney Brown intercepted a Jaguar toss in the end zone for an important turnover.

The Highlanders will next have to travel to Ocala to meet the number one Regional seed, Vanguard. That team completed a demolishing of Palm Bay by a score of 38-0. Lake Wales defeated Heritage only weeks ago by a single touchdown to clinch a playoff slot. Gametime is 7:30 pm. Friday in Ocala.