HEAD COACH: Lee Coleman, first season, 23-20 ♦ 2022 SEASON: 6-5, 2-2, first round of GIAA Class 3A playoffs ♦ DISTRICT: 4-3A GIAA
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The Lions are making progress under new head coach Lee Coleman.
When the Hall County native and former Georgia Military head coach was hired to lead the program, he immediately went to work.
“The summer has gone well,” he said. “We’ve still got some stuff to clean up on offense and defense, but the guys are really working hard. We conditioned a lot over the summer, and I think our guys realize it wasn’t a punishment. We don’t have the numbers, so we need to be in shape.”
The Lions have 18 on the roster right now.
Coleman will run the spread offense, similar to the system the Lions have employed over the last three seasons. Finding a quarterback that can make Coleman’s passing game plan take-off has been a top priority this summer.
“I love to throw the ball,” Coleman said. “We’ll run spread, no-huddle. We’ll throw it a lot, but I also understand that to win a football game, we have to establish the run.”
Sophomore Kyari Burch, who transferred from Cherokee Bluff, has earned the starting spot at QB.
“He’s a leader,” Coleman said. “He can throw it and run it. He has a lot of great intangibles.”
Burch will have a pair of veteran receivers as his main targets this season. TJ Blackwell is the top returning wideout, and Junior Thompson is projected to have a breakout season in the new offense.
“TJ is back and is a solid receiver,” Coleman said, “and this could be the coming out party for Junior this year. I think both could have a really good year for us at receiver.”
Sophomores Wade Haynes and Eli Mayfield will also get reps at receiver.
Juniors Ricky Brown and Tristian Buffington are set to lead the rushing attack. Long New and Collin Waldrop will mix in as well.
Upfront, the Lions returned the most experience with senior Evan Yaskulka, juniors DJ Whitcomb and Drake Dobbs, Casen Haynes, Charlie Kersner, Palmer White and Jackson Kohler will all see time on the offensive line.
“I was actually able to put in the offense a little earlier because I got significantly great coaches,” he said. “We have been taking baby steps, but the guys are learning. The progression is getting better.”
Coleman has kept it simple on defense but wants the unit to play fast and physical.
“Because I’ve got more guys returning defensively that I can plug in and play,” he said. “Defensively, the concepts are not very new. Defense is defense. The guys have really progressed this summer.”
Yaskukla, Whitcomb, will start up front. Haynes also will see some time on the D-Line. Ricky Brown, Wade Haynes, Jr. Thompson, Collin Waldrop and Jack Kohler are set at linebacker, while Buffington, Blackwell, Burch and Long will play in the secondary.
THE SPREAD OFFENSE STAYS
New head coach Lee Coleman plans to pass the ball more times than not but also understands a rushing attack to key to the passing game. The Lions lost several key guys on offense to either graduation or transfers and will have a new quarterback at the helm. If freshman Koen Bryant develops into the player Coleman thinks he can be, the offense should be clicking by the time they reach district play. He’ll have TJ Blackwell and Junior Thompson to target downfield and a solid O-line for protection. Ultimately, however, it’ll all come down to how fast the unit jells.
“We’ll be a fast-paced, no-huddle team. I expect us to take care of the football, score points and be efficient. I love to throw the football, but I also understand that to win a football game, we have to establish the run. Being a no-huddle team gives us the ability to play fast as well as slow it down.”
A FAST AND PHYSICAL DEFENSE
The Lions rotate between a three and four-man front defensively. Coleman wants to play fast and physical.
“Defense is our biggest identity. We want to have a stingy, fast, swarming defense. I want us to play fast and physical. When people see us play defense, they’ll know that Lakeview came to play and that we are tough and physical.”
DEFENSIVE EXPERIENCE
The Lions return the most on defense, including some experience up front. They’ll lean on the defense to make stops and give a young, inexperienced offense decent field position.
BUT THERE ARE QUESTIONS
Depth is the biggest question right now. Upfront still need more. How I think we have a little more toughness.
THE SCHEDULE
Coleman believes the preseason scrimmage is the most important contest of the season. He says that game will show him how far the team has come over the summer. Still, though, defending district champ George Walton in Monroe late in the season. If the Lions are to be contenders for the district title, they’ll need to be clicking by Oct. 27.
“The scrimmage game against Lake Oconee will give me an idea of where we are,” he said. “It’ll give us a chance to see who’s tough, who’s going to back down and shy away, and who will step up. That will tell me a lot about the complexity of our team.”
