By Kyle Coppola
South Lake High’s Playoff Run Ends, but a New Era Has Clearly Begun
South Lake’s incredible season came to an end Friday night in Seffner, where top-ranked Armwood defeated the Eagles 42–0 in the regional final.
It wasn’t the ending the players, coaches or community hoped for, and Armwood showed why they hold the number-one ranking by controlling the game on both sides of the ball, but for South Lake, just getting to the regional final was a huge step in the right direction for the future of the program.
The Hawks moved efficiently on offense, kept the Eagle offense from finding momentum, and added both a punt return and a blocked punt returned for touchdowns.
Even on a tough night, South Lake found moments to be proud. Junior defensive back Rome McKinnond continued his breakout year with two interceptions. He showed the competitive spirit his team carried all season.
After the game, Coach Lord reflected on the journey his players have taken.
“Armwood beat us in every facet of the game,” he says. “I know our players are very disappointed on the outcome and final score as they have worked hard all season long. We have to understand the process and learn from the Armwood game. In three seasons these players have gone from an 0-10 season, to an 11-2 record while winning back-to-back district championships, two playoff games, and making the school’s first appearance in a regional championship. I am extremely proud of what these players have done on campus and on the football field.”
“Our Seniors will have some life lasting memories of a fantastic season and our younger players will learn from this game bettering us for future,” he added.
Coach Lord’s words speak to something bigger than a scoreboard. They reflect a team that rebuilt itself from the ground up. Three years ago, this senior class walked off the field after an 0–10 season, disappointed, uncertain, but unwilling to let that define the program. What followed was a turnaround that few teams ever experience. It took commitment, leadership, and belief, and those seniors helped bring all three.
This season wasn’t just about the wins, although there were many. Back-to-back district championships, two playoff victories and a trip to the school’s first-ever regional final since South Lake High was formed in 1993 by merging Clermont High School and Groveland High School.
It was about restoring pride in a program rich in history, bringing back memories of the strong teams of the late 90s and early 2000s and showing younger players what is possible when a team stays committed to a goal.
As the players walked off the field Friday night, there was disappointment, there were tears as the seniors came to realize they would never put on a blue and white uniform, pads and helmet for South Lake ever again. They will return as alumni in the future. But there was also something just as powerful as all that emotion – gratitude.
Gratitude for the journey, the brotherhood and the belief that they had helped build something lasting and bigger than themselves could be seen on their faces. The seniors leave behind a legacy that will be talked about for years, and the underclassmen now carry a clear vision of the standard set before them.
And here’s another thing I loved seeing, the kids smiling and having fun. There were so many smiles this year. These kids truly had a good time. Yes there were tough moments and things to learn when mistakes were made, but this team had a great time. That was highly evident at the team’s first ever Thanksgiving day practice followed by a Thanksgiving day meal. Moments like those are ones these kids will talk about for the rest of their lives.
The season may be over for South Lake, but what this team accomplished will continue to shape Eagle football for years to come. This season wasn’t just a step forward, it was a turning point. And for everyone who wore the Eagle jersey, coached on the sideline, or cheered from the stands, it was a season to remember.
Thank you for representing Lake County with pride. It’s been an honor covering this team’s journey. For now, the work on planning for a third district championship in-a-row in 2026 is just beginning.
Photos provided by Andrea Rush Photography and shotbysbjr
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.
