No. 16 Berkeley Prep at Lakeland Christian
When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Viking Stadium, Lakeland, FL
TV: BHSN Channel 47 and HD 1147
Live Streaming: log onto bhsnlive.com to watch the game online.
Coaches: Dominick Ciao is in his eigth season at Berkeley Prep (53-24); Wayne Peace is in his fourth season with the Vikings (23-10)
How they match up: Last season, Lakeland Christian got their first-ever win over Berkeley Prep, 27-24, on a last-second field goal in a game that was delayed two days by weather. This year, hopefully the skies will be clear for another great match up between two well-coached teams. The Buccaneers are led by senior quarterback Brad Mayes, a Lehigh commit, who has thrown for 398 yards and four touchdowns this season. Mayes is hopeful his favorite target, Jacob Mathis, will be healthy after dealing with a knee injury in week three. Defensively, look for defensive lineman Bo Peek and Joe Schiano to make a lot of plays as well. Lakeland Christian will be without star running back T.J. Simmons after the UCLA commit suffered a devastating leg injury in the Vikings' kickoff classic, ending his season. With Simmons out, star quarterback Christian Alexander will take the reigns, hoping to lead the Vikings to a second-straight 4-0 start. Alexander, an FIU commit, has been starting since he was an 8th grader. He'll need help from Keland White, who is starting in place of Simmons, and R.B. Marlow to lead the Vikings to victory.
Three stats to know:
1. The Buccaneers have six-straight seasons of a .500 or better record.
2. This is the second year in a row Lakeland Christian has started 3-0, yet the Vikings are still looking for the school's first postseason birth.
3. Lakeland Christian head coach Wayne Peace is a legend in Lakeland. The Dreadnaughts alum led lakeland to their first-ever playoff appearance and was an All-American quarterback at Florida, leading the Gators to theri first-ever AP Top 10 finish in 1983.