NAPLES – One team has made the playoffs each of the last two years. The other didn’t even exist two years ago.

If you watched Friday night’s Campbell Conference opener between Poland Regional High School and Lake Region, you might have mistaken Poland for the former and Lake Region for the latter.

The Knights, making their varsity debut, thoroughly outplayed the Lakers in virtually every aspect of the game on their way to an emotional 26-14 victory at Art Kilborn Field.

Quarterback Alex Smith threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, leading a Poland offense that outgained Lake Region by better than a two-to-one margin (332-151 total yards).

“It feels unbelievably good,” said Smith. “We’ve been working so hard and we’ve got to thank our coaches. I mean, they’ve shown unbelievable dedication to us.”

“Boy, our seniors were great leaders on the field today. I couldn’t ask for more,” said Poland coach Rick Kramer. “I’ve got some great coaches and a great sports staff and great administration.”

Using the no-huddle, the Knights executed their “triple shoot” offense splendidly, taking advantage of their speed by throwing to the flats and stretching the defense with an occasional bomb. Smith (12-for-22, 217 yards, one interception) was accurate and smart, and his receivers, particularly Jere Callahan (five catches, 66 yards, one TD) and Joe Polmerleau (five catches, 76 yards, one TD), were sure-handed.

“He’s a decent quarterback for a high school kid,” Kramer said. “I think he could be a great one with a little more experience and a little more leadership. That’s what we’re looking for from him.”

Lake Region got on the board first on a one-yard sneak by QB Nick Mullins late in the first quarter. Poland responded immediately as Smith connected with Polmerleau on a 33-yard completion to put the Knights in Laker territory before the senior QB hooked up with Callahan for a 21-yard pass that will go in the books as Poland’s first varsity touchdown.

“On that play, I just go and he throws a quick snap,” said Callahan. “The quick snap wasn’t there, so he just waited a second longer and it opened up.”

The Knights missed the extra point, but quickly seized the lead for good on their next possession as Smith found speedy Stevie Ray wide open down the right sideline for a 65-yard TD completion which, followed by Smith’s run for two, made it 14-7.

Poland’s defense, led by Smith, Callahan, Hunter Travers, Ian Beaule and Curt Haslip, buckled down from there. Lake Region had some success running the ball inside early with Kyle Gregory (11 carries, 63 yards) and Corey O’Connor (seven carries, 47 yards), but couldn’t get anything going outside of the tackles.

“We seemed to play like we didn’t know what we were doing,” said Lakers coach Chuck Hamaty. “We knew we’d make some mistakes because we have some young kids, but I guess the bottom line is that we did a very poor job preparing the kids to play.”

But for 130 yards in penalties, Poland did indeed look like the more experienced team. In the third quarter, Smith showed poise on a 4th-and-18 to elude the pass rush and step up in the pocket to throw a 27-yard TD pass to Polmerleau that made it 20-7.

Lake Region made it a one touchdown game when Frank Crosen scored on a 14-yard run late in the third quarter, but the Knights regained momentum on a 60-yard return by Ray on the ensuing kickoff. Poland went four and out on their next offensive series, but the shift in field position helped put them in Laker territory for the victory-clinching drive, which ended on a three-yard run up the middle by Smith with 5:40 to play.