The Windermere Prep Lakers will host the Legacy Charter Eagles with a spot in the Sunshine State Athletic League’s Coastal League Championship on the line this Friday.

Although the Lakers are undefeated at 9-0 and cruised comfortably to a 57-13 win over Boca Raton Christian in the first round of the SSAC Playoffs Oct. 28, the roster for coach Jacob Doss’ team is riddled with injuries. 

Windermere Prep, which started the season with 31 players on the roster, will dress just 18 players for Friday’s game — including two kickers.

“They’re just kind of freak injuries,” Doss said of the poor fortune that has befell his team. “It’s just been one of those years.”

Despite that, the Lakers seem from a distance to be as dominant as ever. Windermere Prep is averaging 45.7 points per game and allows just 14.9 points from its opponents. That, Doss said, is a sign of his role players bringing it when they are called upon.

“Kids have had to step up, and they’re doing it pretty well,” Doss said.

One positive for the Lakers is that sophomore quarterback Kai Patterson, who missed a few games because of injury late in the regular season, will be available for Friday’s game against the Eagles. In his first year with the program, Patterson has progressed significantly during the fall, Doss said.

“I can’t speak highly enough for what our quarterback Kai Patterson is doing,” Doss said. “We’ve thrown a lot at him. … He’s making the correct reads on all of his run-pass options.”

That wasn’t the case all year, though. After a narrow win against CFCA Oct. 14, Doss said he challenged a number of units on the team — most notably those players involved with the Lakers’ passing game.

“I called it all out a practice — I told them that I didn’t like where we were,” Doss said.

The Lakers beat Legacy Sept. 30, 48-27, but the coaching staff is taking nothing for granted two games away from the SSAC Florida Bowl.

“It’s no doubt going to go way into the fourth quarter,” Doss said. “We are absolutely expecting a heck of a ball game. They are extremely well-coached, and they are the most physical team we have played all year.”