Lakeland and Niceville battle in Class 5A state semifinal tilt: Live updates

The Dreadnaughts are on the hunt for another state championship, but the Eagles from the Florida Panhandle are looking to spoil the party

Matt Christopher

Here we go again if you're the Lakeland Dreadnaughts.

Now if you're the visiting Niceville Eagles, traveling quite a ways from the Florida Panhandle, they're looking to play the role of spoiling Lakeland's party of reaching another state championship game.

Tonight, the two programs clash in a Class 5A state semifinal that will decide who goes on to the state title game. Winner will face the winner of the opposite semifinal between Manatee and St. Thomas Aquinas.

>>>FHSAA 2024 PLAYOFF BRACKETS<<<

Predicting the winners of the 2024 Florida high school football playoffs 5A state semifinals

2024 FHSAA high football state championship projections

Top 25 Florida High School Football Rankings (12/2/2024)

Follow along at High School On SI for live updates throughout the afternoon between the two programs at Bryant Stadium in Lakeland.

PREGAME

Niceville at Lakeland set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Lakeland is vying for a third consecutive state championship.

Niceville is 12-1 while Lakeland enters 12-0 and riding an 18-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the state.

Niceville is led by senior quarterback Kane Lafortune, who has thrown for 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.

Additionally, senior running back Johnny Lewis Jr. had rushed for 1,117 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Niceville won the coin toss and elected to defer until the second half. Lakeland will receive.

FIRST QUARTER

Lakeland received and sets up at the Niceville 49-yard line after a nice kick return by Jaysean Pritchard.

Lakeland goes three-and-out after three running plays and punts away. The punt rolls all the way down to the Niceville 1-yard line, where the Eagles will begin.

Niceville is forced to punt after its first possession and Lakeland will take over on the Eagles 32.

Lakeland is alternating quarterbacks between North Dakota State signee Zander Smith and junior Chad Williams. The Dreadnaughts are on the Niceville 33 with a timeout for the first water break.

Lakeland turns the ball over on downs. Niceville takes over at their own 27-yard line.

Johnny Lewis Jr. breaks loose for a big first down run puts the Eagles at midfield.

Lakeland takes over at its own 25 with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. The game is still scoreless.

Calum Muldoon connects on a ridiculously long punt that pins Niceville all the way back to their own 2-yard line. Muldoon hit the game-winning field goal last week with three seconds remaining.

Niceville is forced to punt in a first quarter that is filled with punts and still no scoring.

End of the first quarter: 0-0.

SECOND QUARTER

The winner of this game will face the St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Manatee winner for the Class 5A state championship next week.

Malik Morris runs the ball through a mob all the way down to the Niceville 15-yard line.

Lakeland fumbles the ball away at the Eagles 17-yard line. Niceville dodges a bullet and takes over at their own 22.

Niceville completes a couple of passes and has moved into Lakeland territory. It’s first down for the Eagles and the Lakeland 34-yard line. Niceville is moving effectively utilizing a hurry-up offense

FIELD GOAL: Logan Karwacki connects on a 45-yard field goal to put Niceville up 3-0.

Niceville is threatening again. The Eagles are down to the Lakeland 16 with a first down.

Lakeland defensive back Kavon McKinney makes a leaping interception in the end zone just before going out of bonds. The Dreadnaughts take over on their 20. McKinney just signed his letter of intent with Mississippi this week.

Lakeland punts away and the ball is fumbled away twice in the process, but Niceville recovers and takes over at the Lakeland 40 with just over a minute to play in the first half.

Niceville’s JJ Lewis rushes the ball down to the Lakeland 7-yard line. Timeout on the field with10 seconds left in the first half.

FIELD GOAL: Niceville placekicker Logan Karwacki connects on a 24-yard field as time expires in the first half. Niceville leads Lakeland 6-0.

HALFTIME: Niceville 6, Lakeland 0.

THIRD QUARTER

Niceville junior tight end Max Roche hauls in a big catch, giving the Eagles a first down at the Lakeland 32-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN: Niceville scores on a 32-yard run by Troy State commit Jon Bocchino. The 2-point pass comes up short but the Eagles now lead 12-0.

Lakeland punts away and Niceville will take over at its own 44-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN: Niceville fumbles and Lakeland senior defensive back Jermichael Gillis picks it up and returns it for a touchdown with 5:36 left in the third quarter. Calum Muldoon adds the point-after kick and the Niceville lead is cut to 12-7.

Lakeland had a huge touchdown run called back because of a penalty. But the Dreadnaughts are driving and are in Niceville territory at the 46, trailing 12-7.

That's the end of the third quarter: Niceville 12, Lakeland 7.

FOURTH QUARTER

Malik Morris breaks loose on a 59-yard touchdown run. The 2-point conversion failed, but Lakeland now leads Niceville 13-12.

 Niceville hooks up with a huge pass play to move the ball down to the Lakeland 21-yard line with 8:34 left in the game.

Logan Karwacki misses on a 27-yard field gaol attempt for Niceville. Lakeland takes over leading 13-12 with 6:34 left in the quarter.

Malik Morris fumbles away the ball for Lakeland. Niceville recovers at their own 27-yard line, trailing 13-12.

Niceville has moved the ball down to the Lakeland 19-yard line with 4:46 left.

TOUCHDOWN: Niceville back JJ Lewis Jr. scores with 3:03 left to put the Eagles back in front. The 2-point pass is complete and Niceville leads Lakeland 20-13.

St. Thomas Aquinas leads Manatee 16-13 in the fourth quarter. The winner will play the winner of this game for the 5A state title next week.

TOUCHDOWN: Lakeland blocks the Niceville punt and returns it for a touchdown. Muldoon kicks the PAT and the score is tied 20-20

FIELD GOAL: Logan Karwacki misses a 45-yard field goal with 2 seconds remaining that would have won the game and given the Eagles a berth in the Class 5A state championship game. We are headed to overtime tied 20-20.

OVERTIME

Calum Muldoon misses a 24-yard field goal in overtime. Niceville now goies on offense.

Niceville place kicker Logan Karwacki misses a 24-yard field goal and now we are going to a second overtime tied 20-20.

DOUBLE OVRETIME

TOUCHDOWN: Niceville scores on a post route pass to the tight end and the PAT is good, Niceville leads 27-20. Lakeland will now have a chance to match it.

TOUCHDOWN: Lakeland quarterback Zander Smith scrambles and scores a touchdown. Calum Muldoon delivers the PAT and we are tied at 27-27.

TRIPLE OVRETIME

TOUCHDOWN

Lakeland gets a touchdown run and the point-after kick to take a 34-27 lead.

TOUCHDOWN: Niceville gets a touchdown pass but opts for a 2-point conversion which fails. Lakeland wins 34-33 and will play for the Class 5A state championship against St. Thomas Aquinas.

FINAL Lakeland 34, Niceville 33

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT
Niceville	0	6	6	8	13
Lakeland	0	0	7	13	14

PREGAME

State semifinal is slated to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time

---

Follow High School On SI throughout the 2024 high school football season for Live Updates, the most up to date Schedules & Scores and complete coverage from the preseason through the state championships!

Be sure to Bookmark High School on SI for all of the latest high school football news.

Download the SBLive App

To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App