It was weird. Seeing the sidelines at Tom Storey Field without a Clayton pacing the grass felt like a glitch in the Altamonte Springs matrix. For almost forty years, Lake Brantley HS football and the Clayton family were basically the same thing. Then, in late 2024, the news hit: Skip Clayton was out. The dynasty that defined Seminole County football for decades ended with a 9-22 record over three seasons.
Football in Central Florida is a different beast. You've got powerhouse programs like Lake Mary and Seminole constantly reloading with D1 talent. If you aren't winning, the seats get cold fast. Brantley fans aren't exactly known for their patience either. They remember the 2006 state runner-up run. They remember the undefeated regular seasons in 1998, 2011, and 2015.
So, when the school hired Garrett Kruczek to take over for the 2025 season, it wasn't just a coaching change. It was an identity crisis. The Patriots are trying to figure out how to be "Lake Brantley" without the triple-option offense that made them famous—and feared—for a generation.
The Triple Option and the Ghost of George Clayton
Honestly, you can't talk about Lake Brantley HS football without talking about George Clayton. The man was a legend. He spent 19 years as the head coach, racking up 148 wins. He didn't just coach; he built a system that was miserable to play against.
His triple-option attack was a relic that somehow never went out of style. While every other school in Florida was trying to run the spread and throw it 40 times a game, Brantley would just line up and run it down your throat. It was disciplined. It was physical. Most importantly, it worked. Under George, the Patriots made 15 playoff appearances.
When Skip Clayton took over from Dave Delfiacco in 2022, the hope was that the "Clayton Magic" would keep rolling. Skip was a 1996 Brantley grad. He lived and breathed Patriot football. But the landscape had shifted. Between the rise of the transfer portal (which hit Brantley hard, losing key players to rivals like Lake Mary) and a brutal 7A schedule, the wins just didn't come.
The firing in November 2024 was heavy. It marked the first time since the mid-80s that a Clayton wasn't on that staff. It felt like the end of an era because, well, it was.
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Enter Garrett Kruczek: A New Brand for 2025
If you want to move away from the "old school" ground game, you hire a guy like Garrett Kruczek. He came over from The Master’s Academy in Oviedo, where his teams were putting up video game numbers. We're talking 46 points per game.
Kruczek’s arrival in 2025 brought a "brand-new brand" of football to Altamonte. The 2025-26 season showed the growing pains of that transition. The Patriots finished the 2025 regular season with a 6-4 overall record. On paper, that looks like a solid step up from the previous year’s 3-7 mark. But the nuance is in the district play.
Brantley went 0-3 in Class 7A, District 3. They struggled against the big dogs like Seminole and Lake Mary. It’s one thing to beat teams you're "supposed" to beat; it's another to stand toe-to-toe with the elite programs in the state.
Key Names to Watch on the 2025-26 Roster
- Dereck Chambliss (Sr.): A veteran presence who had to bridge the gap between the old regime and the new.
- Luke Jones (So.): A young talent that Kruczek is clearly looking to build around for the next few years.
- Angel Rivera-Velez (Sr.): One of the heart-and-soul guys on the varsity squad this year.
- Jacob McDonald (So.): Part of that younger core that saw significant snaps as the team moved to a more open offensive scheme.
The roster is young—nearly half the varsity squad this past season were sophomores or freshmen. That’s by design. Kruczek isn't just trying to win now; he’s trying to scrub the old triple-option muscle memory and install a high-flying spread.
The NFL Pipeline: It’s Not Just Local Hype
People sometimes forget that Lake Brantley HS football has produced some serious professional talent. It’s not just a "high school story."
Take Patrick DiMarco. He’s probably the most famous recent alum, carving out a decade-long career in the NFL as a fullback for the Chiefs, Falcons, and Bills. He was a Pro Bowler. Then there’s Tion Green, the running back who starred at Cincinnati before getting his shot with the Detroit Lions.
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And you can't overlook Jared Bernhardt. His story is basically a movie script. He was a lacrosse legend at Maryland (won the Tewaaraton Award, which is the Heisman of lacrosse), then decided to play one year of DII football at Ferris State. He won a national title there as a QB, then somehow made the Atlanta Falcons roster as a wide receiver in 2022.
That’s the kind of athlete Brantley produces. Even when the team record is shaky, the raw talent coming out of Altamonte Springs is undeniable.
Friday Night Lights at the "Patriot Patch"
If you’ve never been to a home game at Lake Brantley, you’re missing out on a specific kind of Florida subculture. The stadium—often called the Patriot Patch or just Brantley Stadium—is tucked right off Sand Lake Road.
The atmosphere is driven by more than just the scoreboard. The "Marching Patriots" band is a massive deal here. They’ve scored straight Superiors at the District Marching Festival for over 30 consecutive years. They have 250+ members. When that band starts playing, the energy in the stands shifts.
Then you have the Sparklers dance team. It’s a full production. For a lot of families in Altamonte, Friday night isn't just about the four quarters of football; it’s about the community ritual. Even during the 9-22 stretch, the stands stayed relatively full. There’s a deep-seated loyalty there that coaches like Kruczek are trying to reward.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Rivalries
Ask a casual fan who Brantley’s rival is, and they’ll say "everyone in Seminole County." But it’s deeper.
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The Lake Mary rivalry is the big one. It’s the "Battle of I-4" (or at least one of them). In 2024, Lake Mary beat Brantley 52-12. In 2025, the gap closed slightly, but the Rams are still the hurdle Brantley has to clear to be relevant in the post-season.
Then there’s Seminole High. The 2024 matchup was a 61-6 blowout in favor of Seminole. It was ugly. These games aren't just about records; they're about recruiting territory. When Brantley is down, those schools "pick the bones," taking the talented middle schoolers who would have traditionally worn the red, white, and blue.
Kruczek's biggest job isn't just calling plays on Friday nights. It's keeping the kids in Altamonte from putting on a Lake Mary jersey.
The Actionable Future: What’s Next for the Patriots?
If you’re a fan or a parent watching this program, the "wait and see" period is over. The 2025 season provided a glimmer of hope with six wins, but the 2026 season will be the real litmus test for the "Kruczek Era."
- Monitor the Quarterback Development: Watch how Luke Jones and the younger arms adapt to the spread. If the completion percentages don't climb, the defense will spend too much time on the field.
- Watch the Transfer Wire: Keep an eye on local middle school standouts. If Brantley can't keep their local talent, the 6-4 ceiling will be hard to break.
- Attend the Spring Game: This is where the new identity is forged. The 2026 spring game will reveal if the "high-scoring" promise of the new coaching staff is actually translating to the public school level.
The era of the triple-option is dead. The Clayton dynasty is in the history books. Now, Lake Brantley has to prove it can win with speed and air yards instead of grit and ground-and-pound. It’s a risky bet, but in a county full of track stars, it might be the only way back to the state finals.