Going into the 2009 season, the Lake Gibson Braves knew they were going to have to get the ball in Remi Watson’s hands.

  They just didn’t know they would need him this much.

  Watson, a junior, led the county with 1,410 rushing yards on 180 carries and led the Braves to the playoffs as Class 4A-8 district champions. Watson is The Ledger’s 2009 Large School Offensive Player of the Year, the first time The Ledger has selected players of the year from large and small schools in football.

  Lake Gibson coach Keith ­DeMyer said Watson was pivotal to his team’s 7-4 season and playoff run.

  “He was going to have to get so many touches a game for us to excel offensively,” DeMyer said.

  Watson was the team’s ­second-leading rusher in 2008, with 307 yards. Shawndell ­Artis led the team with 1,020 and was slated to be the No. 1 running back this season.

  But Artis missed the team’s first five games, and Watson was ready to carry the load.

  In addition to his rushing yards, Watson scored 16  rushing touchdowns, had 314 receiving yards with another six scores and also was 9-of-11 passing for 81 yards and two touchdowns in limited time filling in for quarterback Quinshon Odom.

  Watson is versatile, but he prefers pounding the rock.

  “I like being the workhorse, because that’s the number they call on when the team’s in a tough position,” he said.

  Watson, who runs 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, said his vision is his best asset, helping him find the holes the Braves” offensive line produced on their way to averaging about 250 yards per game on the ground.

  With Odom graduating and Artis back in the fold, Watson could see more split time at receiver, running back and even quarterback next season.

  “I just want to make it to state next year,” he said.

 - THE LEDGER

 2009CLASS 4A DISTRICT 8 CHAMPIONS  ERRIN JOE NAMED TO CLASS 4A SECOND TEAM  REMI WATSON NAMED TO CLASS 4A SECOND TEAM   CHRIS ANDERSON NAMED TO CLASS 4A THIRD TEAM        RB Remi Watson, OG Chris Anderson and OT Errin Joe named to All Polk County First Team  DE Trent Taylor named to All Polk County Second TeamOC Kenton Wilkins named to All Polk County Third Team  RB Markus Harper, OT Kody Jones,OG DeMarcus Martindale,WR Deshea Edwards DT Devonte Terrell DT Umbuju Grant earn All Polk County honorable mention  

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TRADITION

 Located in one of the  most fertile recruiting grounds in all of college football, Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland, Florida boasts a powerful tradition that includes seven regional finals appearances and over 60 wins the past five years. 

   STATE FINALIST:

• 2003 
• 2004

  REGIONAL FINALIST:

• 2000 
• 2001
• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006

HOME OF THE BRAVES

Welcome to the online home of the Lake Gibson Braves, one of the most successful football programs in the state of Florida this decade.

This site willl update often with the latest Lake Gibson Football news, scores, stats and more.

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