FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Young Lake View Football Team Hopeful About Upcoming Season

The Lake View Wild Gators football team lost 15 players to graduation. In fact, the offensive line has only one starter back this football season.
Although the Wild Gators are young in a lot of positions, the seniors do a great job of leading.
The defensive line is small but hopefully quick.
Lake View has a few receivers with some experience.
Coach King stated, “we hope our running backs will hold onto the football and run downhill.” It will be difficult to replace Tyrell Foxworth who had over 1,500 yards his junior year and over 1,900 yards his senior year.
Still early, but we have some questions about our field goal kicker, our kick-off specialist, and our punter. Lake View is not certain about our special teams at this point.
The Wild Gators return only 3 to the offense.
“Last year our quarterback was our center,” remarked Coach King. Some of the players will play offense and defense this year. Overall, Lake View had a good summer at practice.
Lake View will travel to Marion on Thursday, August 21, for a 7:30 p.m. matchup. The Wild Gators will host Mullins on Friday, August 29. Both of these games will be tough to begin a new season of play.
As usual, the spectators are expecting another great season from the Wild Gators as the team won 11 games last year and lost only 2 games.
The Wild Gators are led by Head Coach Daryl King who be entering his 27th season on the coaching staff of which this will be his 18th year as head coach. The Wild Gators have added 2 new coaches this year. Coach Will Celmer who is also the head baseball coach for Lake View, will also be on the football coaching staff. Keith Ford is a new addition who will be in charge of the receivers and defensive backs. Of course, Lake View has some returning coaches such as Cloy Ford who will be in his 38th year. He works with offensive line and inside linebackers. Andy Ford works with the linemen on defense and offense. He has been with the program for more than a decade. Larry Inman is in charge of the defensive and offensive ends while Jeffrey Ceasar is in charge of the cornerbacks and receivers. Kevin Hamilton is in charge of the quarterbacks and safeties while Will Arnette is in charge of the running backs. Mac Brey takes care of the special teams. And don’t forget Darius Leonard, former NFL star, he will assist with the linebackers. Many of these coaches were former members of the Lake View Wild Gators.
After beginning the season in Marion on Thursday, August 21, Lake View will host Mullins on August 29. Lake View will be off on September 5 but will host Scott’s Branch on September 12 for Homecoming. On September 19, Lake View will host Johnsonville on Senior Night. September 26 finds Lake View on the road to Hemingway. Lake View will travel to Hannah-Pamplico on October 3. Carvers Bay will be in Lake View on October 10. Lake View will travel to in-county rival Latta on October 17. Lake View will be off on October 24. The Wild Gators will host Green Sea Floyds on October 31 to close-out the regular season.
The Lake View Wild Gators have won 10 state championships in football: 1938, 1961, 1970, 1071, 1981, 1989, 1991 1997, 2006, and 2016.
Attend the games and cheer on your team.