Lake View football making most of June workouts

Lake View – Head football coach Daryl King does things a little different in preparing his Lake View High Wild Gators for the upcoming season.

Lake View spent very little time on the field during the spring practice period in May as King feels it is more important that his team get consistent work during the summer, especially June. So, in effect, Lake View’s spring practice starts when school ends and goes hard, four days a week for three hours, throughout June.

“We feel like we can get more done, with all of our kids, doing it this way,” King said. “We can’t put on pads on June but weight lifting and the work we get in with fundamentals and stuff is better for us. I just didn’t see the sense in getting to put pads on for a few days in May and then not being able to do it again until August. We are able to get everything done that we need to get done in June.”

King also does not put much emphasis on passing leagues and 7-on-7 football during the summer. The Wild Gators have done passing leagues in the past but with a move to a wing-T run-oriented offense, the passing league does not serve a purpose.

King has been pleased with the players’ work ethic and attitude during the June workouts. He says numbers have been strong and consistent with more than 70 players regularly attending.

“They’ve been getting after it pretty good so I have been pleased,” the coach said. “We have a lot of holes to fill so we’re working some new guys in and making sure they understand what we need from them. The veterans have been showing a lot of leadership as well.”

Among the key returners offensively for 2024 are senior quarterback Kason Herlong, senior offensive linemen Chris McGill, Lance Floyd and Tyree Ford, and running back Tyrell Foxworth.

Herlong will be in his third year as the starter under center and has a firm grasp of the offense.

“He’s like having a coach on the field,” King said.

Floyd, the center, is the anchor up front with McGill and Ford returning as starters as well. Foxworth was Lake View’s leading rusher last season, totaling more than 1,300 yards.

There are more holes defensively as the Wild Gators look to replace four starters in the secondary. However, the strength of the defense will be at linebacker with three returning starters – Landon King, Seth Deese and Dawson Hunt. The trio combined for more than 200 tackles last season.

“Piecing together the back end has been the focus,” King said. “We had a lot of experienced guys back there last year.”

Lake View will open the 2024 season on Thursday, Aug. 22 at home against Marion.