Butter Bowl turns 20 with playoff stakes for both schools

The 20th Butter Bowl carries playoff weight for both sides when Land O' Lakes (5-3) hosts Sunlake (4-4) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at John Benedetto Stadium.

The Gators likely need to win their final two games to earn an FHSAA playoff berth, according to the Tampa Bay Beacons. After the Butter Bowl, Land O' Lakes closes the regular season Oct. 30 at St. Johns Bartram Trail. The Seahawks are chasing a .500 finish that could land them in the Florida Invitational Tournament (FIT), the 16-team statewide event for bubble teams.

Sunlake leads the all-time series 10-9. Land O' Lakes has won the past five meetings, including a 27-7 victory in 2025 and a 56-21 blowout in 2024. The last Seahawks win came in 2020, 20-17.

Melendez vs. Merriman

The matchup to watch is on the ground. Gators junior running back Eli Melendez has piled up 920 total yards and 10 rushing touchdowns this season. He ran for 519 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore, per the Beacons' spring preview.

Sunlake senior halfback Nathan Merriman has 753 rushing yards and three touchdowns in only five games. In a profile published by the Sunlake Perch, the school newspaper, Merriman said the Butter Bowl stands apart on his schedule: "No matter what, I will win the Butter Bowl once in my high school career."

Merriman ripped off a 74-yard run in Sunlake's 14-10 road win over Weeki Wachee on Oct. 2, finishing that game with 142 rushing yards on eight carries.

Defenses set the tone

Land O' Lakes' defense has allowed just 99 points in eight games, including back-to-back shutouts of Cypress Creek and Mitchell. Junior linebacker Gabe Garcia leads the unit with 51 tackles, five for a loss. Seniors Tyrae Jackons and Danilo Faria have combined for two interceptions and 11 pass breakups in the secondary.

Sunlake senior linebacker Blake Daniels anchors the Seahawks' defense with 76 tackles. He also handles kickoff duties and plays fullback, clearing the way for Merriman, according to the Beacons' district preview.

District picture

Land O' Lakes head coach Dan Goodspeed, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive lineman who won Super Bowl XXXVII, has the Gators at 3-1 in Class 5A-District 7. Their only district loss was 16-13 to Wiregrass Ranch, which sits at 4-0 in league play. The Gators rolled Wesley Chapel 44-6 in their most recent outing.

Sunlake, coached by first-year head coach Chris DiGiacomo, enters the Butter Bowl at 4-4. That record includes a 41-0 district loss to Wiregrass Ranch on Sept. 25.