THIS is what Lee Coleman had in mind when he took over the Lakeview Academy program in 2023.
“Our goal has been to build this program and put ourselves in a position to win (a) region championship,” he said. “I feel like we’re moving in the right direction on both of those things.”
The Lions arguably will play the biggest game in program history on Friday when they travel to take on Bethlehem Christian in a monster GISA District 4A/3A showdown.
At stake is some program history and a first-ever victory over another recent nemesis. But maybe more important in the immediacy of the now, a chance to take control in the region for a first-ever region title.
“This is what we've been building for,” Coleman said this week as they try and chase down history.
Both teams come in unbeaten with high-powered offenses and stingy defenses. The Lions (6-0, 3-0 GISA District 4A/3A) are led by one of the more dynamic players in northeast Georgia in junior quarterback Kyari Burch. The Knights (7-0, 4-0 GISA District 4A/3A) are led by equally talented senior QB Coy Buckner (698 yards, 13 TD, 1 INT, 53% accuracy).
The Lions exorcized one demon early this season when they knocked off George Walton for the first time ever in another massive District 4A/3A battle. A win Friday would give them the tiebreakers over the top two teams challenging for a region crown with three games left in the regular season.
A win also would give the 2024 squad the program record for wins in a season (7) regardless of how the rest of the season plays out.
“Our goal this year was not to be undefeated but to win the region championship,” Coleman said. “Bethlehem Christian is the defending region champ and so we have the opportunity to put ourselves in the driver's seat by getting a win this week. It's a huge game for us. We’re not focused on any of that other stuff right now, although that would be nice as well.”
While Burch has stormed into the limelight in 2024, Buckner has been a quiet assassin for the Knights. He has connected on passes to 13 different receivers with 6 different players having at least one touchdown catch. Their most dangerous target may be senior Tristan Puckett, with 6 of his 10 catches going for TDs. Former Lanier Christian running back Zeke Clanton (996 yards rushing, 10 TD, 5 100-yard games; 3 rec., 88 yards, 2 TD receiving) gives them a potent threat out of the backfield.
No team has been able to solve Buckner and Bethlehem’s offense to this point, which is averaging 35.86 ppg and has scored 27 or more in 16 of their last 18 games going back to last season.
“Coy definitely understands the offense,” Bethlehem coach Rodrick Robinson said. “He understands the weaknesses in the defense and is able to manage the offense, and just takes what the defense gives him.”
Coleman was more than aware of what lies in store for his defense that is yielding just 9.5 points/game.
“Bethlehem spreads the ball around. They do a good job of getting the ball into their playmakers hands,” he said. “They run a lot of different formations to catch you off balance and finding those matchups where they get your guy on an island. Our defense will have to be sound, smart, and play fast.”
The bigger challenge, however, will be can the Lakeview offense, which is averaging a GIAA-best 37.7 ppg, crack a Knights defense that has allowed just 34 points on the season and completed a perfect September with four consecutive shutouts? They have not allowed a point since their 14-13 win over GHSA’s Mount Zion (Carroll) on August 30.
However, Coleman said he would be more than okay if it turned into a track meet.
“If it's a high scoring game, I think that matches us. It tells me that we will be having success scoring,” he said. “If we can score the football, I definitely love our chances. That's something last year we couldn't do against them.
“Also, putting them in a position where, now let's see how they respond, because obviously people haven't really been scoring a lot on them.”
That was the exact formula the Lions used in their 34-31 win over George Walton to snap an all-time 8-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. They dominated the game for the first 45 minutes before a series of wild plays allowed the Bulldogs to take a 31-27 lead with just over a minute left in the game.
But Burch and receiver Jr. Thompson (25 rec., 379 yards, 5 TD) connected on a game-winning score in the waning seconds. Coleman is also hoping that experience can be something his group can draw on if needed.
“We were resilient to score with less than a minute on the clock. And so that shows the character of this group,” Coleman said. “They don't quit. They continue to compete, and they trust themselves. That's going to help going into this game for them to know that if (Bethlehem) scores, it's not the end of the world.
“Our guys have been there already this year. Bethlehem has been dominating everyone. If we can get a lead, we’ll have to see how they respond.”
Robinson said they realize Lakeview may be the best team they’ve faced so far and will need to be ready.
“Lakeview, they're talented,” he said. “They have a good young coach and the quarterback is elusive. He can run, he can spin it pretty good, he’s smart. Their running backs are pretty good, they’re solid up front. We have got to be ready to play those guys because we know we're gonna get their best.”
