LAKE WALES — The preseason work is finished. Friday night, the games start counting.
Lake Wales opens its 2026 regular season Friday night at home against DeLand in what should provide an immediate measuring stick for a Highlanders team that brings back a significant amount of talent from last season.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Lake Wales.
The Highlanders got their first opportunity to line up against another team last week in a preseason matchup against Auburndale. While the preseason contest did not count toward the regular-season record, it gave Lake Wales an opportunity to evaluate a roster that includes a number of players who played major roles during last year’s 10-3 season.
Now the difficulty increases.
DeLand comes to Polk County with considerable expectations. The Bulldogs enter the season highly regarded in Florida’s Class 6A, while Lake Wales is also ranked among the top teams in Class 4A.
DeLand is coached by Rick Darlington and brings a roster with size and experience in several key spots. One player to watch is senior quarterback Gardner Nordman, listed at 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds. The Bulldogs also have senior defensive end Leighton Hill at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, along with senior offensive linemen Tucker Wilson and Justin Burns.
For Lake Wales, many of the names to watch Friday night will already be familiar.
Senior running back Kamari Smith returns after averaging 121 rushing yards per game last season and scoring 18 rushing touchdowns. Smith gives Lake Wales a proven option in the backfield and will be one of the players DeLand’s defense will have to account for throughout the night.
Sophomore Kingston Loydd also returns after being thrown into a major role as a freshman. Loydd completed 62 percent of his passes and threw 20 touchdown passes last season while also contributing on the ground. He is listed on this year’s roster as a quarterback, free safety and athlete.
Senior Kaneilius Purdy gives the Highlanders another experienced offensive weapon. Purdy caught 11 touchdown passes last season and averaged more than 87 receiving yards per game. Lake Wales lists him at quarterback and running back this season, providing the Highlanders with another player capable of being used in several ways.
There is experience on the defensive side as well.
Senior Raeshaun Pugh averaged 9.2 tackles per game last season and caused four fumbles, while senior Loobensky Lafortune recorded 4.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries. Senior A’Quayvion Herring had four interceptions. All three return on the 2026 roster.
That returning production is part of what makes Friday night’s matchup intriguing.
Lake Wales isn’t easing into its schedule. DeLand represents a significant opening-night challenge, particularly as a highly regarded program competing in the larger Class 6A classification.
For the Highlanders, Friday begins another challenging schedule of their own. Lake Wales travels to Sebring next week, visits Winter Haven on Sept. 4 and begins district play at Lake Region on Sept. 11. Later games include Osceola, Jones, Kathleen and Bartow.
But those games can wait.
Friday night gives Lake Wales an opportunity to find out immediately where it stands against a talented DeLand team.
DeLand at Lake Wales
Friday, Aug. 21
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
