Still, nobody's case for No. 1 is stronger than Lakeland's

I sure hope that, like me, you were able to watch No. 1 Lakeland's unbelievable (and I do mean unbelievable) 45-42 double-overtime win over regionally ranked St. Thomas Aquinas for the Florida Class 5A championship last Friday night.

There was so much to see.

And so much to say about what was seen.

Forget about the FHSAA's investigation into Chris Rainey's alleged confession (an alleged confession? Wow) to taking gifts and possibly cash from one or more of his fellow Lakelanders. The ultimate fate of Lakeland's perfect season and state championship title are a seperate matter. For now, at least.

But what about the game ... You know, the one in which Lakeland was dominating, leading 21-0 at the half and 35-14 with just over 2 minutes left to play. That's 2 minutes left to play in the game.

Aquinas, which has lost to Lakeland in the state championship game three consecutive times, battled back to score 21 points in less than two minutes, aided by two onside kick recoveries.

There are so many ways you can go with the way this game unfolded. And all of them are probably valid.

You can make the case that Lakeland was almost the victim of what was a flukey comeback. Had Rainey not broke free for his last touchdown from 55 yards out (making it 35-14), the Dreadnaughts could have held the ball and run off more clock. Aquinas might not have even got the ball back.

But you could also rightly question how a team ranked No. 1 in the nation -- that makes a living playing tough defense -- could fall apart like a cheap suit in the final minutes like that.

Look at it from as many angles as you want, but remember this: The only result that really matters is the scoreboard. Lakeland won the game. Just like they did the 44 games before it.

Win or lose, the questions are already starting to fill my email inbox. Most sound someting like "Do you think Lakeland is really the most deserving team to be ranked No. 1?"

I do. Here's why.

Championships are not about perfection. Not every championship team is pristine. This Lakeland team had its flaws. Probably more flaws than last year's squad that finished No. 2 in the National Prep Poll. But this year, being slightly more flawed than last year is probably going to be good enough to finish the season ranked No. 1.

Every season is different. And no team is perfect. Even the 1985 Chicago Bears were less than immaculate on one side of the ball.

Sports might not be only about winning -- so they certainly are not about being perfect, either. Especially not in high school football. If perfect is what you seek, try bowling, where rolling a 300 is as good as it gets every single time.

Though not infallible, no team accomplished more than Lakeland did this season. The Dreadnaughts played the entire season with a target on their backs that no team would envy. As defending USA Today national champions, more times than not Lakeland got the best shot from every team it faced. In essence, the Dreadnaughts raised the level of play of every team they played. That's why so few teams go undefeated three seasons in a row.

True, it's easy to pick apart the negative aspects of what Lakeland didn't do. They blew out fewer teams that last season. They allowed St. Thomas Aquinas to score 35 in the fourth quarter and tie the game. Focusing on the negative is commonplace in our culture. The showbiz parlance is that "sex sells." Well, in journalism (including sports journalism) it's negativity that sells.

But let's look at the positive. Let's describe how incredibly well Lakeland played through adversity this season. Lakeland's 2005 season almost seemed too easy to believe. Only one game decided by less than 14 points.

But 2006 wasn't as easy, and that's a feather in Lakeland's cap. Their four wins in games decided in the closing minutes (including two overtime wins over regionally ranked teams) are a testament to the playmakers in the Dreadnaughts' lineup.

Here is how columnist Roy Fuoco of the Lakeland Ledger described the "it" that this team had: "Some teams wilt under the overwhelming momentum the opposing team has. Players often start pointing fingers, looking for a teammate to blame. The Dreadnaughts hung tough ... The entire team came together on the final play (versus St. Thomas Aquinas), and not just the swarm of defensive players who held together to make the stop. On the sidelines, players were holding hands."

''It says a lot about the experience and poise of this senior group,'' Lakeland coach Bill Castle told the Ledger. ''Hey, what a senior class to make a run with 45 in a row. I'd have to say this is probably the most talented senior class that I've ever had.''

• Lakeland started the season ranked No. 2 in the National Prep Poll. Its credentials for that lofty national ranking were undisputable: Back-to-back 5A state titles and 30 consecutive wins. A senior class that boasts 10 bona fide Division I prospects, including a whopping eight who are committed to Southeastern Conference colleges.

• Lakeland finished the year with those same credentials, and then some: Three consecutive 5A crowns and 45 consecutive wins. The same 10 future Division I players still in the senior class, though Jordan Hammond (LSU) missed the year with a knee injury.

• Lakeland is also the only team in the Top 25 to defeat a nationally or regionally ranked team from another state -- Cincinnati St. Xavier, in a game played in Cincinnati.

• Seven of Lakeland's 15 wins came against teams with at least nine wins.

So, scars and all, Lakeland has accomplished all that sat before it when the season started.

And that, my friends, was quite a lot.