Lakeland’s grit leading it to best start since 1982
An unheralded Lakeland football squad is quietly making a lot of noise in the LVC this fall.
The scrappy and “sum-of-their parts” Eagles are 5-0 for the first time since 1982 and playing with unbridled passion and peak physicality.
Even though Lakeland has been to the playoffs the past three seasons and all Joe Woodhull teams are known for their heart, hustle and tenacity, this year’s club was overlooked early on in favor of the area’s glitzier, more college-scholarship-heavy programs.
“There’s no magic pill, wait, well, maybe the magic pill is grit,” responded Woodhull when asked what the recipe for success is for his Eagles in 2020. “We keep the expectations lofty around here. We don’t make excuses and we embrace who we are. Some people might look at a team without a bunch of kids bound for college football scholarships as a negative, we view it as strength. We make it part of our identity. We play hard-nosed, disciplined football
and get after it and let the chips fall where they may.”
A win this week against Milford (1- 4) would unofficially crown Lakeland the champions of the LVC. Before the season, due to the fact that teams were not playing full league schedules because of the pandemic, the league’s coaches decided that the LVCwouldn’t be awarding a 2020 league championship trophy.
Woodhull has mixed in a triple-option attack with his normalWing T offense this year, tailoring the scheme for Eagles junior
quarterback Tate Farquhar to best utilize his skill set. Farquhar is committed to play baseball in college at Michigan State, but is also a real-deal RPOthreat under center on the gridiron.
“The change to our offense has been good for us, it has given us a jolt,” Woodhull said. “Tate being back there at quarterback gives us a great deal of confidence. He’s going to hurt opponents one way or another. He just knows how to make the right play at the right time.”
Juniors Reid Jabiro and Evan
Percin head a crowded backfield rushing the rock with bone- crushing efficiency for the Eagles. Senior Shane Ells and junior Mike Sherrill are game-changers on both sides of the ball; Ells as a slotback and safety and Sherrill as a wide receiver and linebacker.
“I had a feeling before the season that this could be a special group,” Woodhull said. The lady with the golden foot Bloomf ield Hills senior kicker Sara Huston booted the game-winning extra-point to send her Black Hawks to a climatic 35-34 overtime victory at previously-undefeated Berkley in Week 5. Huston is only the third female football player in the history of the city of Bloomfield Hills. The Black Hawks are 3-2.
Quote of theWeek
“We’re going to dictate style up front, smack teams in the face with our power (sets), wear them down and run them over,” said Stoney Creek senior tailback Cam Burford of the Cougars approach in what’s been a dominant 5-0 start for his team.