Some background on
Lakeland Evangel Christian HS:
Published Thursday, December 1, 2005
CHARGING FORWARD
Evangel Christian Finds Success in Underdog Role
By DURWARD BUCK
Ledger Correspondent
LAKELAND
Evangel Christian, as the smallest school in Lakeland, had to play in the shadow of football powers like Lakeland, Lake Gibson and Kathleen during the 2005 season, but the Chargers have the spotlight all to themselves Friday afternoon.
For the first time in the school's history, Evangel will play for a state championship in any sport, meeting Graceville in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class B title game at Florida International in Miami. The game begins at 1 p.m.
Under coach Dedrick Dodge, the Chargers have adopted an underdog mentality, partially because they have labored in relative obscurity in a football hotbed where most of the attention goes to the bigger schools.
"I know what it's like because I've been there," said Dodge, who played at Mulberry High in the 1980s as a two-way player at 6-foot-1, 153 pounds. He went on to play at Florida State, for London in the World Football League and for seven years in the NFL where he won two Super Bowl rings.
Evangel (10-3) was an unlikely candidate for a state championship berth in the spring.
"When we started spring practice we had 17 guys and we lost three of them," Dodge said. "So we trained to play Frostproof with 14 players."
They expect to suit up 22 players for the championship game.
Graceville (9-4) also had to compete with a small squad.
"They are just like us," said Dodge. "They have a lot of guys who have to play both ways."
On offense, the teams differ greatly. Graceville has a 2,000-yard in 5-7, 165-pound sophomore J.J. Laster.
Evangel has multiple weapons. Running backs Dominique Booker, Jaime King and Andre Davis are all breakaway threats. Senior quarterback Tim Maguire has passed for 2,026 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Booker, a 170-pound junior, is listed at 5-10, but looks smaller because of his low-to-the-ground running style. He led the county in rushing with 1,839 yards. King, the closest thing Evangel has to a power runner at 5-9, 180, has 755 yards on only 62 carries. Davis, a blur in the open field, averages 13.8 yards a carry (53 carries, 732 yards).
Then there is all-purpose Art Evans, who can play running back, slot back, wide receiver, and kick returner, plus cornerback on defense. "He can do it all," Dodge said. Evans has 52 receptions for 1,100 yards and has caught 10 more passes thrown by the other team. The 6-1, 170-pounder is only a junior. His teammates call him "the shark."
"He is the best two-way athlete in the county," Dodge said. "I wouldn't trade my skill players for anybody.
There is an intriguing matchup on the line as Graceville's top offense lineman Foy Wilson (6-4, 225) will go against Evangel defensive end Dustin Anglin (6-3, 255).
The Chargers has eight or nine players going both ways, some of them in unusual combinations. Junior Nathan Galan, for example plays tackle on offense at 6-1, 226. On defense he moves to linebacker.
He leads the team in tackles with 127.
J.J. Laster is the player to watch, however. The Tigers sophomore has 253 carries for 2,158 yards, an 8.5-yard average and has 26 touchdowns. He can also be used as receivers out of the backfield.
In all, Laster has accounted for 2,466 yards and has scored 188 points (31 touchdowns.
Quarterback Lee Steverson has thrown for 1,038 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Chargers played against another 2,000-yard rusher last week in Jupiter Christian's Cedric Epps. "They are different types of runners," Dodge said. "Laster may be faster."
Throughout its season, Evangel Christian has played with uncertainty about the school's future. Originally affiliated with Carpenter's Home Church, the school was sold to Without Walls Church and there were questions about whether Evangel Christian's athletic programs would continue.
Although there is no official word, it now appears that Evangel Christian will keep going, according to school administrators.
"It was just something we had hanging over our heads, and we had to deal with it," Dodge said.
The core players, the 14 who began the spring, have bought into Dodge's motivational pitch. "I tell them we are the underdogs and we have to prove ourselves every time we go out there," the coach said.
Evangel ended the season ranked No. 2 in Class 2B, behind St. Petersburg Keswick Christian. It was a curious alignment, considering Evangel defeated Keswick, 37-22, to win the district.
