BRANDON - Unbeaten Lakeland overpowered Brandon in a Class 5A, District 7 showdown that quickly turned into a laugher.
The Dreadnaughts, ranked No. 3 in 5A, outgained the Eagles 455-124 on the ground and nearly reached their average of 48 points with a 47-12 thrashing.
Led by defensive end Ricco Dixon and linebacker Antonio Sykes, the Eagles held the Dreadnaughts (4-0) to 8 yards on their first two possessions and forced a third and long on their third. But Chris Rainey broke free on a draw for 41 yards down to the 18. One play later, Steve Chancey took it in.
On Brandon's next possession, Edgar Lewis sacked Tyson Gordon, who fumbled. Jesse Smart jumped on it in the end zone for a 13-0 lead.
Brandon (2-1) pulled within 13-6 when Gordon found junior Darren Deravil on the sideline for a 54-yard touchdown.
Then Rainey took over. The sophomore scored on a 69-yard run up the middle in the second quarter, returned the second-half kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and scored on a 58-yard run 93 seconds later. He finished with 232 yards on 10 carries.
Brandon pulled within 34-12 on Win Hutchinson's 16-yard run in the third. But the running lanes he and Mike Brown enjoyed in last week's 49-48 win over Jefferson were nonexistent.
"Lakeland's defensive line manhandled us," Brandon coach Jim Wilt said. "They took away the outside. If we can't run, we can't throw either. It's that simple."
Quarterback Chris Griffin, who rushed for 82 yards, scored Lakeland's final touchdown on a 12-yard keeper.
"Brandon played real hard and physical," Lakeland coach Bill Castle said. "We had planned to run the option, but they stopped us. So we had better luck spreading it out."
