By Kyle Coppola
South Lake High Football Win First District Championship Since 2000
Groveland, FL — The South Lake High School Eagles clinched their first District Championship since 2000 in a nail-biting 28-24 victory over Lake Minneola on Friday night. A fast start by Lake Minneola had the Eagles scrambling early, but key defensive adjustments and a relentless rushing attack powered by Marcel Walker and Malik Holman helped South Lake secure the win in front of a roaring home crowd.
Lake Minneola struck first, recovering an onside kick on the opening play and swiftly moving down the field to take a 7-0 lead. After a South Lake fumble, the Hawks capitalized again with a 25-yard field goal, extending their lead to 10-0 by the end of the first quarter. South Lake’s defense, led by standout performances from Tyger Darden, Ju Ju White, Joseph Robinson, and Rome McKinnond, tightened up and held the Hawks scoreless in the second quarter. Chris McKenna finally got the Eagles on the board with a 28-yard field goal just before halftime, closing the gap to 10-3.
(Quarterback Tre Kelly hands the ball off to Malik Holman. Photo Credit – JOE OTT)
In the second half, South Lake’s defense came out strong as Darden intercepted a Lake Minneola pass, setting up the Eagles offense for a decisive drive. Walker, who rushed for an impressive 193 yards on 13 carries, and Holman, who recorded 110 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries, began to wear down the Hawks’ defense. Holman powered into the end zone from the five-yard line, tying the game at 10 apiece.
(Tre Kelly becomes the first quarterback in 24 years to lead South Lake High to a district championship. He is only a sophomore. Photo Credit – JOE OTT)
The teams traded scores in the third quarter, with South Lake outscoring Lake Minneola 12-6 thanks to another McKenna field goal and a crucial safety. In the fourth quarter, the Hawks briefly regained the lead, but the Eagles’ ground game proved unstoppable. Walker and Holman continued to break off long runs, aided by a stellar offensive line and key blocks from fullback Tyrese Thompson. Holman punched in two fourth-quarter touchdowns, sealing a 28-24 victory and delivering South Lake’s first district title in 24 years.
“We knew this game would be a battle,” said South Lake Head Coach Brad Lord, reflecting on the hard-fought win. “Coach McGlynn had his team ready, and they punched us in the mouth right away. Our guys have fought hard all year. We’ve matured as a team not only on the football field but also in the classroom and on campus. That maturity helped us stay composed in tough spots tonight. It’s awesome to share this victory with the South Lake Community, but we have to get back to work and prepare for another talented opponent next week.”
The Eagles will celebrate Senior Night as they host Leesburg High School at 7 p.m. on November 1, looking to build on their historic win and continue their postseason journey.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
