Lake Wales (FL) flashes its talent at Bill Deeds Polk County 7v7

Carlos Mitchell stands out with a pair of TD catches in the title game

AUBURNDALE – Lake Wales returns a ton of talent and they provided a show on Saturday – especially the hands of Carlos Mitchell.

Lake Wales players and coaches join former coach Billy Deeds for the championship trophy photo after winning the annual Billy Deeds Polk County 7v7 passing tournament on Saturday at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale / Photo by Bill Kemp

Lake Wales won the seventh annual Billy Deeds Polk County 7v7 passing tournament, knocking off Fort Meade 18-6 in the title game at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex. It was only the second trip to the tournament for Lake Wales, which usually travels to several alternative summer clashes around the state.

Mitchell, a junior wide out and defensive back, caught two touchdown passes in the title game, including an acrobatic one-handed catch in the corner of the end zone to seal the win and stun onlookers.

“Get ready to hear that name a lot,” Lake Wales head coach Tavaris Johnson said. “He is a threat and has a high ceiling. He is an X-factor and will be all over the field. He is also a better cornerback.”

Lake Wales senior quarterback Trent Grotjan said he smelled the play developing before the ball was snapped in the final minute of play.

“I knew right off how the defense was playing and I was going to have that corner route. I just laid it out there and knew he was going to go get it. He made a beautiful catch,” said Grotjan, who also connected with Carldayle Brantley for the third touchdown pass in the title game.

Lake Wales receiver Carldayle Brantley hauls in a pass during the Billy Deeds Polk County 7v7 passing tournament championship game against Fort Meade on Saturday at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale / Photo by Bill Kemp

“We saw our weapons and we spread it out. We had young players making plays and seniors making plays. We got a chance to see how we are going to compete this year. This was about bragging rights today.”

Johnson said Lake Wales took a nice step winning the passing tournament, especially since the program is renowned for great running teams.

“We wanted to compete and show we could be competitive with the pass. I can’t say enough about my quarterback. I tell him, ‘Champions don‘t always win, but they (win) at the right time.’ He was beating himself up early, but I told him to just take what they give you. You have threats in this game, look around you and let your guys work,” Johnson said. “The momentum that this brings and the spirit that this brings, we are going to build on it.”

Lake Wales finished the day posting a 7-1 record, only losing once – in the opening round of pool play – ironically to Fort Meade 13-2.

Fort Meade won its first seven games of the tournament and earned the top seed coming out of four rounds of pool play. It was the seventh trip to the tournament for Fort Meade, which also finished second to Auburndale in 2018.

“This is kind of like a snapshot,” said Fort Meade head coach Jemalle Cornelius, who played college football at Florida for Urban Meyer. “Our skill guys have been working real hard. We went to UCF and we have been throwing with Lake Wales this summer. This has really been a team-building thing for us.”

Only nine teams competed at this year’s tournament. Notably missing was defending champion Auburndale, which has won the Polk 7v7 title three times. Lakeland Kathleen is a two-time winner and Lake Gibson, also missing, won in 2017.

Photo by Bill Kemp

Winter Haven senior quarterback Joseph Tarver throws a pass during pool play rounds at the annual Billy Deeds Polk County 7v7 passing tournament on Saturday at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale.

Photo by Bill Kemp

Bartow junior quarterback Drew Fitzgerald fires off a pass during pool play rounds at the annual Billy Deeds Polk County 7v7 passing tournament on Saturday at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale.

Photo by Bill Kemp

Kathleen junior quarterback Anthony Oldham flips a pass off down the sidelines as the clock expires during pool play rounds at the annual Billy Deeds Polk County 7v7 passing tournament on Saturday at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale

Photo by Bill Kemp

Ambassadors Christian Academy quarterback Antonio Mchellon finds an open receiver over the middle during pool play rounds at the annual Billy Deeds Polk County 7v7 passing tournament on Saturday at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale.

Photo by Bill Kemp

Fort Meade junior quarterback Carson Montsdeoca prepares to unleash a deep pass during the annual Billy Deeds Polk County 7v7 passing tournament on Saturday at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale.

Photo by Bill Kemp

Fort Meade's Ryan Valdez looks a pass into his hands during action at the annual Billy Deeds Polk County 7v7 passing tournament.

Photo by Bill Kemp

Lake Wales senior quarterback Trent Grotjan unleashes a pass during the semifinals at the annual Billy Deeds Polk County 7v7 passing tournament on Saturday at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale.

Photo by Bill Kemp

George Jenkins freshman quarterback Preston Garcia fires a pass over the middle during pool play rounds at the annual Billy Deeds Polk County 7v7 passing tournament on Saturday at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale.

Photo by Bill Kemp

Lakeland Christian senior quarterback Parker St. John finds a receiver during pool play rounds at the annual Billy Deeds Polk County 7v7 passing tournament on Saturday at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale.

Photo by Bill Kemp

Ridge Community sophomore quarterback John Kostuch fires off a pass during pool play rounds at the annual Billy Deeds Polk County 7v7 passing tournament on Saturday at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale.