(Photo Credit: Paul Kabalin/Jupiter Lacrosse)

The 2023 high school lacrosse season has arrived across the South.

Across the Deep South, the season has officially begun with play underway in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, as well as Texas and Tennessee, at the time of writing this. Over the next week and change things get rolling in Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Once again, each week of the high school season I publish a weekly article detailing some of the highlights and headlines from the prior week’s action across the region.

So, let’s get after it.

Big Battles in The Peach, Sunshine State

It is still super early in the year with many teams only a week or so into regular season play, but there have already been multiple major battles. Two such contest took place in Georgia and Florida last week.

Ponte Vedra (Fla.) made the nearly two hour trek south from the Jacksonville suburbs to the Orlando suburbs to face Lake Mary (Fla.). The Sharks defeated the Rams 8-7 in the 2A region one title game last spring and hadn’t lost to the Rams sine 2017, playing three times since that season.

The battle between these two would be decided by a single goal once more. However this time around, overtime would be needed. Caden Harshbarger (North Carolina commit) received the pass up top, blew past a short-stick, and sent home the game-winner to secure the victory for the Rams in one of the most high-profile early season matchups. These two could very well meet later on this spring in the region title game once again.

Bolles (Fla.) opened the season traveling from their home in Duval County across the state to face Gulf Coast power Cardinal Mooney (Fla.). The Bulldogs knocked off the Cougars 12-9 in a contest in which Ethan Binns lead the way with a hat trick.

Down in the Peach State, Lambert (Ga.) traveled to face Blessed Trinity (Ga.) in what was a battle between a pair of power programs from each of the two larger classifications (7A and 5-6A).

For just the second time ever, the Titans of Blessed Trinity earned the victory over the Longhorns of Lambert with a 9-8 win last week. Sophomore Michael Read led the way for the Titans in the win with a hat trick. That included the eventual game-winner.

State Champs Start Strong in Texas

Jesuit Dallas (Texas) comes into the season as back-to-back state champions and looking to three-peat.

The Rangers have gotten their season off on the right foot with a 3-0 record through their early portion of the year. That includes a 9-6 victory over The Woodlands (Texas) in which they blanked the Highlanders in the final frame while putting in four scores of their own to earn the 9-6 victory. Senior attackman Cameron Martin netted a hat trick in the win.

Jupiter’s Hot Start

This early on, there are plenty of teams who have yet to lose and many more who you could say have started the season hot. The best example of a team starting hot, however, may be Jupiter (Fla.).

The Palm Beach County power is off to a 3-0 start after defeating King’s Academy (Fla.) 11-3, St. John Paul II (Fla.) 13-4, and St. Edward’s (Fla.) 10-3 last week. It has been a pair of sophomores who have helped lead the way for the Warriors in the early going with Dustin Suluzka recording 12 points (10G/2A) while Dylan Furshman has gone 43-for-51 (84%) at the faceoff dot through three games.

Player of The Week

Roswell (Ga.) is off to a 3-0 start with a 16-2 win over Decatur (Ga.), Lovett (Ga.), and Allatoona (Ga.). Senior attackman Hill Plunkett (Army West Point commit) has helped lead the way for the Hornets through this early portion of the season with a combined 14 goals through those three contest. That includes a seven-goal outing against Lovett.

Upcoming Games to Watch

Tuesday, February 21

St. Andrew’s (Fla.) vs Jupiter (Fla.)

Benjamin (Fla.) vs St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.)

Tampa Jesuit (Fla.) vs Harrison (Ga.)

Wednesday, February 22

Cambridge (Ga.) vs Buford (Ga.)

Friday, February 24

Pine Crest (Fla.) vs Benjamin (Fla.)

Oceanside Collegiate (S.C.) vs Christ Church Episcopal (S.C.)

Saturday, February 25

Tampa Jesuit (Fla.) vs Lake Mary (Fla.)

Wando (S.C.) vs Christ Church Episcopal (S.C.)