Edgewater restores program’s pride
Bittersweet season ends with state semifinal loss to Lakeland, but coach says heads ‘held high’
After traveling more than a thousand miles for high school football playoff games over the past four weeks, Edgewater’s impressive turnaround ended a game short of its intended destination.
The Eagles (12-2) lost 56-21 at Lakeland (14-0) on Friday in a Class 7A state semifinal. Edgewater was within 21-14 at halftime before the Dreadnaughts reeled off 28 points in the third quarter to secure a spot in the FHSAA state championships this week at Camping World Stadium.
It was a bittersweet ending for a group of upperclassmen that experienced a 0-10 season in 2016, won a district championship in 2017 and secured Edgewater’s first region title since 2009 this fall.
“We’ll learn from it and bounce back,” said Edgewater coach Cameron Duke. “My message to these guys was that the love that we have within this program doesn’t end with a loss and that we’ve got to keep our head held high for everything that’s been accomplished.
“The foundation has been set the past two years and hopefully [deep playoff runs] is something we do consistently,” he said.
Duke implemented a “Restore The Pride” motto upon taking over the program two years ago. And there was plenty of Edgewater pride on display along a packed visiting grandstand Friday at Lakeland, just as there was when the team made postseason trips to Gainesville, Tallahassee and Jacksonville.
“We brought the community back together,” said Edgewater senior quarterback R.J. Harvey. “There were so many people out here for this game, and we appreciate them for supporting us.”
The turnout by fans this year has been a noticeable change since that winless season, as senior Nate White pointed out following a practice earlier in the week.
“Going into the season there were a lot of people that doubted us, but it feels good knowing that our school and all of College Park are behind us,” White said. “Last year or two years ago our fans weren’t traveling too far with us, and now it’s a great atmosphere with our band and cheerleaders and people in the stands.”
The seeds of exceeding expectations appear to be planted for Edgewater receiver Tommi Hill (13) hauls in a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ loss to Lakeland Friday
the future and will likely be used to fuel returning players into next season.
“We did something that people thought we couldn’t do,” said junior running back Isaiah Connelly. “I’ll always love these guys until the end. We came together every day [on the field] and bonded even more through activities outside of school.”
State finals
State championship games begin Thursday in Orlando with Baker (13-0) playing Madison County (12-1) in Class 1A at 1 p.m. and Cocoa (10-3) taking on Jacksonville Raines (12-1) in 4A at 7 p.m.
Friday games include Tallahassee North Florida Christian (8-4) vs. Hialeah Champagnat (9-5) in 2A at 10 a.m. and Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (12-2) against North Marion (12-2) in 5A at 3 p.m. Lakeland plays Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (13-1) to round out the day at 8 p.m.
The final games of the 2018 season take place Saturday, beginning with West Palm Beach King’s Academy (12-1) against Hollywood night. Chaminade-Madonna (11-2) in 3A at 10 a.m. Miami Northwestern (9-5) plays Crestview (10-2) in 6A at 3 p.m. and Jacksonville Mandarin (10-4) faces Miami Columbus (14-0) in 8A at 8 p.m.