Polk County High School Football Preview Week 1
By Ethan Jones
Lakeland at Kathleen
The time that everyone has been waiting for is finally here: Week 1 of high school football is here! The offseason is over, and it’s time for the toe to once again hit the pigskin. With that being said, here are some games that are going on around Polk County this week that you should keep an eye out for. Starting off, we have Lakeland at Kathleen. In this game, you can expect plenty of excitement, as there are several star players on both teams to watch, including Lakeland quarterback Kelin Hendrix, Lakeland edge rusher Santana Harvey, Kathleen running back Xavion Mitchell, and Kathleen outside linebacker Akeelynn Rumph. Hendrix is coming off an impressive 2025 season in which he threw for 1,796 yards and 22 touchdowns, making him one of the players to watch heading into this matchup. The reason why this game is a must watch is because it’s a Lakeland match up as well as a measuring stick game for both teams. Even though historically Lakeland has been the better team, they still set a high standard for themselves heading into the season. For Kathleen, this game is an opportunity to prove themselves after a disappointing 2–8 season in 2025. The Red Devils will be looking to start the new season on the right foot against one of the biggest programs in the area.
Prediction: Lakeland 41, Kathleen 20
I have the Lakeland Dreadnaughts winning by a fairly large margin despite playing on the road. The biggest reason is the talent advantage Lakeland has, especially on defense. I expect the Dreadnaught defense to create problems for Kathleen throughout the game.
Tampa Bay Tech at Lake Gibson
The next game you will want to watch out for is Tampa Bay Tech at Lake Gibson. This game has some star players playing in it such as Lake Gibson Linebacker Malachi Moore, Lake Gibson quarterback Caleb McFarlane, And Lake Gibson wide receiver Jase Severit. This game is a must watch because of the fact that it is an early and great challenge for Lake Gibson after their opponent finished last season 9-3 and finished first in their district. For Lake Gibson, they are trying to prove to themselves and their fans that they have what it takes and that they have improved. After having a 5-7 season, Lake Gibson is eager to turn the page and get the new season underway.
Prediction: Lake Gibson 25, Tampa Bay Tech 20
I’m going with Lake Gibson to pull off the upset. Besides home-field advantage, I like Lake Gibson because they come into this season with something to prove and have experienced playmakers returning. Tampa Bay Tech enters the matchup with much higher expectations after its successful 2025 season, while Lake Gibson has an opportunity to flip the script. If the Braves can avoid turnovers and make enough big plays on offense, I think they have a legitimate chance to pull off the upset.
Lake Region at Winter Haven
Lastly, my last recommendation for games to watch this week would have to be Lake Region at Winter Haven. Heading into this game some players that you should watch out for would have to be Lake Region quarterback/wide receiver Jayden McCutchen, and Lake Region linebacker Jaquarius Lucas. For Winter Haven I would say keep an eye out for Running back Jakari Faniel, and offensive lineman Jedgar Otero.
Prediction: Winter Haven 31, Lake Region 0
The reason why I have Winter Haven winning the game is because of their most recent history with Lake Region having won their last eight match ups against the Thunder and in their last seven of those eight being consecutive shutouts where they outscored Lake Region 296-0. Overall, these are my predictions for this week’s upcoming games.
Final Predictions:
Lakeland 41, Kathleen 20
Lake Gibson 25, Tampa Bay Tech 20
Winter Haven 31, Lake Region 0
Overall, Week 1 should give us a great look at where these Polk County teams stand heading into the 2026 season. Whether you’re looking for a potential blowout, a measuring-stick game, or an upset opportunity, there’s plenty of football to watch this week.
