BRASELTON — So, how do you follow up the most successful season in program history?
That’s what Lanier Christian Academy coach Blake Anderson and the Lightning are hoping to find out Friday night when they open their 2019 season against Notre Dame Academy at the Gainesville Middle School Field. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
The Lightning are coming off their first-ever winning season -- 6-5 in GICAA AA Region 2, and first-ever playoff appearance. But the GICAA has changed to GAPPS AA Region 2 with all new teams. And, more than half of the 2019 roster did not play a varsity down in 2018. They also lost more than 60 percent of their offense to graduation.
So, what to make of all that?
“That’s a good question,” Anderson said. “Last year it was our first year here as a staff and there was a feeling-out process. But we have more numbers this year and I think the kids this year, at least the ones that are still here, know what to expect. As a staff, we’re more knowledgeable of what we have.
“Honestly, we’ll be looking for just the overall effort in all four quarters. If they do that, I’ll be okay with whatever outcome we get. We can adjust to mistakes made but we have to have effort.”
Anderson and crew got off to a great start in 2018 with a 67-48 win over Johnson Ferry Christian Academy in their opener. He is hoping for a similar beginning to the 2019 campaign.
“The first game of any season can really set the tone,” he said. “That game gave us confidence that we could compete and I think was a huge factor in the kind of season we had. We’re hoping for something similar this year.
“We’ll know a lot more after (Friday). Hopefully, it’s more good than bad.”
NOTRE DAME ACADEMY at LANIER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Gainesville Middle School Field, Gainesville
-- NOTRE DAME ACADEMY (0-0): Season-opener; finished 0-10 in 2018
-- LANIER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (0-0): Season-opener; finished 6-5 in 2018, first-ever playoff appearance
-- NOTABLE: Lanier Christian won 48-28 in 2017 in only other meeting between the two schools. ... The Wolfhounds are playing just their second varsity season and are still looking for their first official win. They won one game in an abbreviated non-varsity schedule in 2017.
