Lake View football opens 2024 with win over Marion

By David Shelton

Senior Writer

Lake View – Despite having two scrimmages cancelled and only getting one-half of action in a jamboree, the Lake View football team looked pretty good in their 2024 season opener against Marion.

The Wild Gators posted a convincing 42-0 win over Marion, a team that has given Lake View problems in past meetings. Coach Daryl King realizes it was only game one but admits to being impressed with how his team performed.

“It was one of the better opening game performances in a long time,” the coach said. “Typically, first games come with a lot of mistakes and penalties. We weren’t perfect by any means but we did play better than maybe I expected. We only had those two quarters in the jamboree so I really wasn’t sure how ready we were to play. Our kids showed up ready and played with great effort.”

The Wild Gators hope to be a contender for the Class A state championship and the pieces are in place for a good run. As important as talent and experience is, King says attitude and effort are just as important when it comes to challenging for a championship.

“From what I’ve seen, this team will work. They don’t mind putting in the hard work,” the coach said. “Certainly if we can maintain that effort and continue to improve in every area, we can be a good football team.”

A staple of successful Lake View teams has been a consistent and productive running game. While the 2024 Wild Gators will have the ability to throw the football well enough to keep team’s honest, the running game is still a major part of the offense.

That running game produced about 300 yards in the season opener with senior Tyrell Foxworth rushing for 201 yards and four touchdowns on just 21 carries.

“That’s what we would expect from a three-year varsity guy,” King said.

Kiwi Jackson added 35 yards and quarterback Kason Herlong rushed for 47 yards on three carries. Herlong also completed four-of-five passes for 55 yards.

Lake View will have several receivers contributing with Caleb Myers and JT Atkinson working as the starters.

Solid blocking up front is the key to a successful offense and Lake View’s offensive line has the potential to be a consistent unit.

“They did a good job,” King said of the first game performance. “It’s no secret that we need them to play well. Everything starts up front.”

Starting at the tackles early on are Timothy Waters and Farrion Seymour. Waters, a senior, was a guard last season while Seymour is a junior who saw considerable playing time as a sophomore.

Last year’s starting center, Lance Floyd, has moved to guard this season, while fourth-year starter Chris McGill is the other guard. Moving in at center is junior Chase Price with Kendall Brey also getting work.

Price (6-1, 200) also is the team’s backup quarterback, believe it or not.

Brey will also be a starter at a defensive tackle. The other tackle is Connor Abraham. The starting noseguard is Zy Inman, who had six tackles and three sacks in the season opener.

The linebacking corps is a solid, veteran unit. On the inside are Seth Deese and Dawson Hunt, while working on the outside are Ashton Locklear and Landon King. Locklear had six tackles and two sacks in the opener while King had four tackles and a sack.

In the secondary, Myers is starting at one corner with Atkinson sharing time with Jamari Wison at the other corner. Senior Jayden Bethea and sophomore Jaylen Clark are the safeties. Bethea had four tackles in the opener and Clark had an interception.

“We have been stressing hard the importance of getting a lot of hats to the ball, running to the ball and playing to the whistle,” King said. “We showed that in the first game. It was good to see them running to the ball as a unit, not just one or two guys.”

Lucas Schamp is handling the placekicking duties this season and made all six of his extra point attempts in the win over Marion.

The Wild Gators are preparing for game two of the season, at Mullins on Aug. 30. The Auctioneers are a much-improved team, according to King, but says his team should expect stiff competition every Friday night.

“Being 1-0 is great but it’s just one win,” he said. “We have to keep improving and expect to be in a battle every time we step on the field. We can’t, and won’t, look past any team on our schedule.”