GAINESVILLE — The breakout season that Lakeview Academy football so craved hung tantalizingly close to the Lions' grasp in 2017.
A ridiculously tough Region 8-A schedule and special teams setbacks helped keep ultimate success out of reach, however, as Lakeview racked up a near program record 23.7 points per game -- only to watch several big scores immediately answered by big kick returns going the other way.
Lions coach Matthew Gruhn says his team is working hard to find a solution to the kicking game for 2018, but he also knows that the 8-A slate remains as tough as ever -- perhaps its toughest ever: "the region is as good as I've ever seen," Gruhn said of a league that includes the State Class A Private runner-up and another semifinalist, as well as four other state playoff programs in public and private brackets.
That said Lakeview likes its roster in 2018 -- one that features a strong running back corps, led by Brandon Wilson and Sam Perry -- and if a new starting quarterback can find his comfort zone, the offense has a chance to pick right back up where it left off under the guidance of graduated signal caller Alec Bornhorst. Ben Puckett (sophomore) and Luke Bornhorst (freshman, Alec's younger brother) are competing for the position and have a star ready to catch passes in senior wideout KJ Millwood, who rolled up almost 1,000 yards receiving in 2017.
The duo also has former Gainesville coach and state champion Bruce Miller on hand to help impart the aspects of the spread offense that helped make the Red Elephants so successful over much of his 16-year tenure across town.
LAKEVIEW ACADEMY: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Lions
- TEAM COLORS: Navy blue and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-A
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Matthew Gruhn, 13th season, 29-62
- 2017 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2-8
- KEY LOSSES: QB Alec Bornhorst, OL Mason Barnes, OL/DL Tyler Gerhart, RB/LB Dillon Knepp, LB JD Roark, LB Will Drury
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread -- After several seasons predicated on a ball-control rushing attack, the Lions shifted to a more wide-open style of offense in 2016 and will continue with the same base this season. Yet with a brand new starting quarterback taking snaps fans should expect Lakeview to rely on a pair of athletic running backs early on to help shoulder the load. There is still big-play potential at receiver, and it will be interesting to see how that, along with the addition of spread guru Bruce Miller, following his retirement from Gainesville, develops through the campaign.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Sr. OL Bryce Blackwell, Sr. OL Palmer Ferguson, Sr. OL Ian Echols, Sr. WR K.J. Millwood, Jr. WR Jordan Thomas, Jr. RB Brandon Wilson, Fr. RB Sam Perry, 2 QBs battling to start
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 4-2-5 -- The Lions will present mulitple looks and attempt to put opposing offenses under pressure via stunts and blitzes. The shift to a more aggressive look should suit Lakeview's personnel under defensive coordinator Brian Smith.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 3 returning starters -- Sr. DL Palmer Ferguson, Sr. LB Ian Echols, Jr. DB Jordan Thomas, Sr. LB Campbell Melson, Jr. CB Brandon Wilson, So. Saf Bodie Blackwell
- SPECIAL TEAMS: So. PK/P Bodie Blackwell
- STRENGTH: Rushing attack -- Wilson and Perry should combine to give the Lions a potent ground game that will help their new starting quarterback ease into the position. (Sophomore Ben Puckett and freshman Luke Bornhorst are battling for the starting spot under center.) They will be aided by three senior linemen in Blackwell, Echols and Ferguson.
- QUESTION: Special teams -- The kicking game proved a bit of an Achilles heel last season for Lakeview, which saw a number of big drives and scores negated by big kickoff returns for the opposition. Gruhn's staff is looking for a solution to the issue and Blackwell may be leaned on for a lot of big kicks.
- KEY GAMES: The first three games of the season -- all non-region -- could give a Lions squad sprinkled with both experience and youth a chance to build some momentum. Not that any contest will be easy -- certainly not in an ever-improving and already rugged Region 8-A that sent six teams to the state playoffs in 2017, including a finalist (Athens Academy) and semifinalist (Prince Avenue Christian). The region opener against George Walton (Sept. 21, home) provides a stern early test against a team that the Lions moved the ball on last season -- only to see special teams miscues derail their efforts. The next week (Sept. 28) Lakeview travels to another 2017 playoff squad in Hebron Christian, facing what could be Hebron's best team yet. Find a way to win those two contests and Lakeview will find itself in the thick of the postseason race in Class A.
- TRENDING: The Lions missed out on the playoffs by mere percentage points in 2016 but took a step back in the standings in 2017. Yet the Lions played close in several of the losses last campaign and feel the program is still building momentum. The roster is now consistent and a number of sophomores are swelling the ranks -- though they will be asked for signifcant minutes in 2018, meaning there could be a learning curve. There is also veteran leadership, and Millwood is a potential star that can dominate games if given the chance.
2018 SCHEDULE
Aug. 24 vs. Strong Rock Christian
Aug. 31 at Georgia Force
Sept. 7 vs. St. Francis
Sept. 21 vs. George Walton Academy*
Sept. 28 at Hebron Christian Academy*
Oct. 5 at Commerce*
Oct. 12 vs. Riverside Military*
Oct. 19 at Prince Avenue Christian*
Oct. 26 vs. Towns County*
Nov. 2 vs. Region Crossover
*- Indicates region game
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
