With Lakeland Football coming to a close after a rough year, there were still some positive things to pick out of the season. Even though the results didn’t always show it, the players continued to fight hard every game and never gave up. Younger players gained valuable experience, and the team grew closer through the challenges. The coaches are focused on building strength, teamwork, and consistency for next year. With more dedication in the offseason and a stronger mindset, Lakeland is determined to bounce back and make next season one to remember.
There were many standout players during the season with stars on offense and defense with LB Tanner Wallace receiving “Player of the Game” in the win against Governor Livingston and rising QB Hunter Struble receiving “Player of the Game” in the wins against Jefferson and Dover. Another standout performance was having TE/DE Roland Theriault receive player of the game in the LRHS win against Cresskill. All of these players had a great season with Hunter and Tanner looking to add more wins next season.
“The standout players of the season were Chase, aka the Wanaque Wizard, and also Hunter who is our sophomore QB,” said sophomore Craig Palatucci.
After a season packed with growth and flashes of brilliance, this team is gearing up for an even bigger year ahead. Sophomore quarterback Hunter Struble led the charge through the air, throwing for an impressive 1,415 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’ll have plenty of familiar firepower returning, with two of his top targets back in action — junior Chace Severs, who hauled in 38 receptions for 476 yards and four touchdowns, and sophomore Ryan Sabric, who added 28 catches for 354 yards and two scores. With so much talent and experience coming back, expect this offense to take a major leap forward next season — faster, sharper, and more confident than ever.
“We had a lot of depth and a lot of young guys who put in work in the offseason and they were ready to step up and play,” said sophomore Ryan Sabric.
Some of the challenges this season according to Coach Thomas McCormack include a lack of experience and the younger players having to step into big roles.
“New players are experiencing some pretty big events for the first time which can be a little overwhelming,” said Coach McCormack. “Coming from a freshman game with 50-100 at attendance to a varsity game with upwards of 1200-1400 during West Milly is a challenge.”
Lakeland Football started the season off with an easier part of their schedule going 3-2 feeling pretty good about the season. As the season heated up, they went head-to-head with powerhouse teams chasing playoff glory and championship dreams. They couldn’t find much success during that stretch due to the power house teams and the lack of experience due to having seven seniors starting and the rest of the team being comprised of underclassmen.
“In my opinion, we need to play our game for all four quarters of the game. We seem to play well for maybe the first three or the last three quarters of the game,” said Sebilia. “I myself and I’m sure others take accountability for this, whether it is lack of senior leadership or just excitement for the game, I think a lot of our games would have different stories if this wasn’t a factor.”
The team had some close games that could have definitely turned into wins but would fall short in most of them ending the season with a 4-6 record.
“The game that stood out to me the most was the Ramsey game,” said senior Frank Sebilia. “While we couldn’t get the win, we played as a team and played well. We moved the ball very well and it was just a very well-executed team effort and really showed the growth we have had throughout the season.”
With returning stars and more experience going into next year, Lakeland is building their momentum. Fans can expect a renewed fire next season, as this squad aims higher, works harder, and dreams bigger. One thing is certain: Lakeland football isn’t just surviving tough matchups, they are gearing up to be at the top of the food chain.
“Our guys have battled for four quarters in every game this season,” said Coach McCarney. “With each game comes new experiences and learning opportunities. We stress the importance of staying consistent, trusting one another and continuing to work.”
