Week 5 football: Atlantic vs. Lakewood canceled due to 'unforeseen issues'

Emilee Smarr, Palm Beach Post
·2 min read

A top-billed Week 5 matchup between the Lakewood Spartans and the Atlantic Eagles has been canceled as of a Friday afternoon Twitter announcement.

With less than five hours to kickoff, team staff member Fred Self tweeted on behalf of Atlantic's program that "unforeseen issues" prevented Lakewood's trip from St. Petersburg to the Delray Beach campus.

Atlantic coach Jamael Stewart told The Palm Beach Post that Spartans staff called Friday to share that the visiting team "didn't have enough buses" and therefore wouldn't be in attendance for the rematch.

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Atlantic head coach Jamael Stewart encourages his players during their game against Glades Central in September 2021.
Atlantic head coach Jamael Stewart encourages his players during their game against Glades Central in September 2021.

The 4A-turned-2M Spartans paid for former 5A Atlantic's transportation to Lakewood High School in September 2021. Lakewood's budget apparently didn't have the emergency funds for the "one bus short" to make Friday's ride to Atlantic possible.

Eager to avenge last fall's 34-28 loss and a failed second-half comeback, Stewart said he told Lakewood coaches that he would've made arrangements to travel to St. Petersburg had there been earlier notice.

Stewart said the schools will not be able to reschedule the game. Attempts were made to reschedule for the Eagles' bye week, scheduled for Week 6, but Lakewood is set to host Boca Ciega. The Spartans' next bye week is scheduled for Oct. 28, when Atlantic will be hosting Glades Central.

In 2022, Lakewood hasn't looked quite like the Final Four contender it was in 2021.

The Spartans went from three consecutive undefeated starts to a 2-2 record in the current season, including a 27-7 shutdown from Palm Beach Central.

A now well-oiled Atlantic likely would've sent the Spartans home with a 2-3 record - especially with Lakewood's three-star leading rusher and standout defensive back Tra'quan Johnson unexpectedly benched by injury for Week 5.

The Eagles will take the field again on Oct. 7 at Pahokee.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Emilee Smarr is the high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. She can be reached at esmarr@gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Week 5 high school football: Atlantic vs. Lakewood canceled