Lakeland to face Miami Central in Week 1 of 2024 Florida high school football season

The 2023 FHSAA Class 4S state champion Dreadnaughts will make a highly anticipated trip down to the 305

Dade County versus Polk County. 

It’s an ongoing social media conversation that seemed to be just a fantasy. Now it has seemingly become reality. 

According to Landlin May of PolkWay Media, the Lakeland Dreadnaughts, the 9-time state champions, will take on the Miami Central Rockets on Aug. 23rd at Traz Powell Stadium. The Rockets are also 9-time state champions. 

🚨 BREAKING 🚨

I have just received confirmation that Lakeland Highschool Will be playing Miami Central Week 1 at Traz Powell Stadium on 8-23 @LHSDreadnaughts @Roc__Nation

— PolkWay (@polk_way) January 22, 2024

The titanic matchup between two of the Sunshine State’s storied powers is another indication of a change of scheduling under head coach Marvin Frazier at Lakeland. 

Just last season, Frazier scheduled national powers like Miami Norland and St. Joseph’s Prep of Pennsylvania. Now add Miami Central to the growing list of teams Lakeland isn’t afraid to add to their regular season schedule. 

2024 Florida high football state championship predictions

The Dreadnaughts are slated to play out of Class 5A in the tentative Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) new classifications. No finalize classifications have been released as of yet, but are anticipated to come by no later than early February. 

Lakeland is coming off back-to-back Class 4S state championship victories, both coming over Venice. 

Now the argument of the 863 vs. the 305 will be who comes out on top in this matchup that is sure to be one of the best of the opening week slate in Florida. 

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl