Sickles to face Kathleen in bowl game

Posted Nov 11, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Nov 11, 2012 at 12:11 PM

For the second straight year, the Sickles football team will be playing in a postseason bowl game.

The Gryphons, who finished the 2011 regular season 7-3 but just missed qualifying the playoffs out of one of the state’s toughest districts, will take on host Lakeland Kathleen (6-4) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

‘‘Our kids are deserving of some reward for being 7-3 and having three very closes losses we could have won,’’ said Gryphons coach Brian Turner. ‘‘We’re playing a very good Kathleen team. Their four losses are by a total of just 10 points.’‘

Sickles losses this season were by a point to Wharton, four points to Armwood and by a touchdown to Jefferson. Wharton was the district runner-up to defending Class 8A state champion Plant and defending 6A champion Armwood was district runner-up in the Gryphons’ league, 6A-8.

Jefferson, a 2010 state champion, finished the year 6-4 with five straight victories, which included four wins in 6A-8 play.