GAINESVILLE — Matthew Gruhn remembers ordering the first batch of footballs for the inaugural Lakeview Academy squad.
"Now we've got kids talking about trying to make the playoffs and being a better program," said Gruhn chuckling while thinking back on his 11 years with the Lions. "It's been a wild ride."
And while the young program still faces questions of numbers and experience, the Lions believe they are slowly working their way toward something special.
"I really believe we can get there, that we can get consistently competitive in the region and compete for a playoff spot; that's the stated goal," Gruhn said. "It's taken longer than we wanted, but I believe it will happen."
Lakeview will start treading a new path toward that goal this season, as it opens up its offense, relying on new quarterback Alec Bornhorst to air it out to a talented group of receivers -- going away from the option-based run attack of recent seasons.
"We decided in the spring to go that direction; it was best for personnel, and it gets the kids excited," Gruhn said. "It's a process, but we feel we can get it done. We've had good leadership and kids working on it all summer."
On defense, however, the Lions will continue to try and stop the run first -- and, in fact, that should be the strength of the unit this season, as Lakeview returns a solid corps of linemen and linebackers.
"We've got some good chemistry with this group, and every year we've gotten better," Gruhn said. "We're excited about what we've got going."
LAKEVIEW ACADEMY: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Lions
- TEAM COLORS: Navy blue and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-A
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Matthew Gruhn, 11th season, 24-47
- 2015 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2-8
- KEY LOSSES: QB/Saf Thaddeus Webb, RB/DB Avonte Gober, OL/DL Connor Sosebee, OL Matthew Sartor, LB Ben Eades
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread -- After several seasons predicated on a ball control rushing attack, the Lions are shifting to an air-raid style of offense and will look to pass early and often.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Jr. QB Alec Bornhorst, Sr. WR Jarrod Abee, Sr. WR Brandon Browner, Sr. RB Joe Gradige
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-4/4-3 -- Lakeview will look to stop the run first -- a must in a Region 8-A full of strong rushing attacks.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Sr. DE Carter Reeves, Sr. LB Josh Henderson, Jr. DL Tyler Gerhart
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. PK/P Jack Perkins, kick return duties undecided as of publication time
- STRENGTH: Receivers -- The Lions have plenty of capable pass-catchers that could well become stars in Lakeview's new wide-open air attack.
- QUESTION: Depth -- With so few experienced players on the roster it is always a must for the Lions to stay as healthy as possible.
- KEY GAMES: The season opener against an East Jackson team that has won just three games in four seasons could be huge for a Lions team looking to get off to a fast start -- which has eluded Lakeview (the Lions have not won a season opener since 2012). Immediately following are region games against an Athens Academy team that won nine games last season and a Commerce team that reached the Class A Public semifinals. Game four against Providence Christian (Sept. 23) could give Lakeview a break (Providence was winless in 2015).
- TRENDING: The Lions have continued growing their program despite a small student body and no previous football tradition and are no longer a complete walkover, playing several teams tough and moving to a region slate full time. But after averaging just over two wins the last three seasons Lakeview knows it must work even harder to take that next step and begin to fight for postseason contention in a wickedly-tough Region 8-A.
2016 SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 at East Jackson
Sept. 2 vs. *Athens Academy
Sept. 9 vs. *Commerce
Sept. 23 at *Providence Christian
Sept. 30 vs. *Athens Christian
Oct. 7 at *Prince Avenue Christian
Oct. 14 at *George Walton Academy
Oct. 21 at *Hebron Christian Academy
Oct. 28 vs. *Towns County
Nov. 4 vs. *Riverside Military
*- Indicates region game
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
