BARTOW — Rain and lightning delayed the start of the game for more than two hours, and a flash of sparks in the lights that knocked out nearly half the lights at Bartow Memorial Stadium ended the game about one half too soon.
In the nearly one half of football that was played — there was 10 second left in the first half when the game was called — Lakeland dominated Bartow for a 40-7 victory on Friday night in a Class 5A, District 6 battle.
Lakeland (7-1, 4-0) clinched the district title with the victory as the Dreadnaughts can finish no worse than tied for first in the district with Sebring. Lakeland would win the head-to-head tiebreaker after being Sebring in the regular season.
Although Lakeland’s Xavion Mitchell end the day with 73 yards on nine carries, averting more than 8 yards per carry, Bartow had some success early in slowing Lakeland’s ground game.
That success, however, worked in Lakeland’s favor. Senior quarterback Kelin Hendrix completed 10 of 13 passes for a season-high 229 yards and four touchdowns in just the one half of action. It was Hendrix’s first 200-yard game of the season, and he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season with his effort. He now has 1,059 yards passing.
“We just wanted to open up the pass game for this game, and show teams that we can do it both ways and we can't be stopped,” Hendrix said.
Hendrix’s first three completion went for at least 46 yards. His first completion on third-and-13 went to Rashard Kelly for 46 yards down to the 2. Mitchell scored Lakeland’s first touchdown on the next play.
Hendrix then completed a 61-yard pass to Joseph Howard Jr. on the first play of Lakeland’s next possession.
After a 15-yard penalty against Bartow kept Lakeland’s third drive alive, Hendrix then threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Cam Fuse, and the first quarter ended with Lakeland leading 21-0.
The Dreadnaughts added three touchdown in the second quarter. In between his 1-yard touchdown run Hendrix threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Howard and a 10-yard touchdown pass to Fuse just as spark shot out from the one of the lighting banks and more than half the lights on the visitors’ side went out.
Bartow’s only offensive highlight came when quarterback Amire Hall scrambled the flicked an underhanded, backhanded toss to Erik Koshinski for a 53-yard touchdown.
George Jenkins 28, Winter Haven 21
What a game by George Jenkins freshman wide receiver Sha’Shawn James and the Eagles.
In the wildcat formation with under a minute left against Winter Haven on the road, James scampered for 33 yards to the 1. He then scored with 28 seconds left to make it 28-21 before intercepting a pass on defense as a safety during Winter Haven’s final attempt to come back.
Running back Malik Raymond registered 15 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. Running back Jermaine Harrison posted nine carries for 108 yards, defensive back Jacob Soto returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown, and cornerback Sheldon Dennis had an interception. James added 68 yards rushing on four carries and two scores and two interceptions.
On the Winter Haven side, MJ Smith had a rushing touchdown.
With the win, it keeps the Eagles alive in the district. And when it comes to the George Jenkins perspective, the program needs Haines City to go down against Poinciana on Monday.
George Jenkins (5-2) will play Poinciana 7:30 p.m. Friday at home, while Winter Haven (3-5) will match up against Ridge Community (0-7) 7:30 p.m. Friday on the road.
All Saints 7, Windermere Prep 3
The Saints beat Windermere Prep 7-3 on the road. But the game was called in the third quarter due to the weather.
The winning score was from All Saints quarterback Trey Bellotto to receiver Owen Shoultz for a 65-yard touchdown.
All Saints' defense played lights out, which allowed the offense to overcome two missing starting offensive linemen.
The Saints (4-4) will take on a winless Babcock team at 7 p.m. next Friday at home.
Santa Fe wins by forfeit
The Hawks won via forfeit Friday at home because St. Stephens had too many guys out to make a competitive game.
Santa Fe (7-1) will next play Zephyrhills Christian Academy 7:30 p.m. Friday at home.
Haines City to play Monday
Haines City's game vs. Poinciana was postponed to Monday at 7 p.m. because of the inclement weather.
Other scores
After falling in overtime last week to Bartow, Lake Gibson this week prevailed over Auburndale in overtime, 32-29.
Discover barely won over McLaughlin
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Roundup: Lakeland airs it out in win as weather plays havoc on schedule