Panthers put their heart into better 2003
Considering the Lakeside High School football team suffered through a miserable season in 2002, you might think the Panthers' enthusiasm for the game would be fading away.
Back
Think again, says Lakeside coach Randy Hill.
"We've got a group of about 20 or 30 guys that are just passionate about football," Hill said. "To my knowledge, no one has quit because they didn't want to be on a losing team."
Losing is one thing - going 0-10 is another.
//
But before any Lakeside fan even thought about going to a Friday-night football game this fall, the Panthers were putting their hearts into summer workouts and preseason practices.
"We're playing for the past, present and future. We're playing for Lakeside in general," senior David Szerlip said. "We want to make amends for the players that came before us, and for the kids that haven't come along yet. We want Lakeside to be a program they will want to be a part of."
Lakeside's Blake Goolsby charges downfield behind defenders in a recent scrimmage. The Panthers have installed a triple-option offense this year.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Last year Hill inherited a team that had lost almost every starter, but the first-year head coach didn't expect to lose every game.
"It was a situation where if things could go wrong, they did go wrong," he said. "That just makes us want to work harder this year, but we need to win games. That's the bottom line."
This season will be Lakeside's first year of real stability since coach Steve Crislip retired after leading the team to back-to-back state playoff berths in 1999 and 2000.
Ed Koester's one-year stint as coach was marked by controversy, and Hill was called in the put the puzzle back together.
Still, there may be a few pieces missing.
Lakeside enters this season without much depth or size. That combination puts the Panthers at a disadvantage in Region 3-AAAA, which boasts the past two Class AAAA state champions, Statesboro and Thomson.
Desire will serve as Lakeside's secret weapon.
"If we have to double up and play on both sides of the ball, we'll do whatever it takes," said Szerlip, who plays on the offensive and defensive lines. "We have 70 players. All we need is 22."
The Panthers have adopted a triple-option offense this year, which Hill thinks is the best way to take advantage of Lakeside's team speed.
Richard Flake returns at quarterback to spearhead the option. Jimmy Johnson, meanwhile, is a throwing QB and is expected to contribute to the air attack. Philip Sadler (wide receiver) and Alex Bragg (tight end) will be the primary targets.
Running backs Blake Goolsby and Tosin Fawibe will have to ground out the tough yards, as Lakeside lost most of its offensive linemen from last year. Tom Beckenhauer, Cal Reynolds, Bragg and Szerlip are now anchoring the line.
After a winless 2002, Lakeside head coach Randy Hill says winning is the bottom line this year.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
At defensive end, Bragg will be one of Lakeside's best pass rushers. B.B. Brandenburg, J.P. Dixon and Dixon Revell also will play key roles on defense.
Sam Jasinski, meanwhile, has to do it all. The senior will be expected to carry the load at fullback, and is Lakeside's leading linebacker.
But for Jasinski and his teammates, the season opener against Westside on Aug. 30 at ARC Stadium isn't just about hard work - it's going to be a test of will, and an opportunity for redemption.
"It's been almost two years since Lakeside won a football game, so I think the Westside game will be the most important game of the season," Jasinski said. "That's going to set the tone. We want to let everyone know that we're not the same team from last year. We may not be the biggest and fastest, but we'll have the most heart."
2003 game results
Overall record: 0-10
L vs. Westside, 20-0
L at Evans, 28-14
L vs. Greenbrier, 36-24
L at Thomson, 44-7
L vs. Glenn Hills, 14-6
L at Baldwin, 31-6
L at Butler, 36-21
L at Hephzibah, 40-6
L vs. Cross Creek, 15-8
L vs. Burke County, 29-0
2003 schedule
Aug. 30 - at Westside (ARC Stadium)
Sept. 5 - open
Sept. 12 - vs. Evans
Sept. 19 - at Greenbrier
Sept. 26 - vs. Thomson
Oct. 3 - at Glenn Hills
Oct. 10 - vs. Baldwin
Oct. 17 - open
Oct. 24 - vs. Butler
Oct. 31 - vs. Hephzibah
Nov. 7 - at Cross Creek
Nov. 14 - at Burke County
Lakeside High School 2003 Football Roster
# Player, Grade (Position)
1 Travis Azar, 10
2 B.B. Brandenburg, 11
4 Tosin Fawibe, 12
5 Chris Norwood, 12
6 Philip Sadler, 12
7 Frederick Tyson, 12
9 Keith Lee, 10
10 Richard Flake, 12
12 Dixon Revell, 11
14 Jimmy Johnson, 11
15 Chris Johnson, 11
16 Carl Burrow, 11
17 Brandon Golden, 10
18 Zach Slone, 10
19 Brandon Hicks, 11
20 Jay Krenz, 10
21 Chris Drayton, 10
22 Damien Conrad-Davis, 11
24 Dennis Miller, 10
26 J.P. Dixon, 12
27 Rushton Metzler, 10
29 Josh Ramp, 12
31 Jason McCall, 10
32 Kyle Hill, 10
33 Carlton Jackson, 10
35 Brian Gross-Bias, 10
36 Blake Goodsby, 11
37 Reggie Porter, 11
38 Trey Morris, 10
40 Rhett Carter, 11
47 Trey Dove, 10
48 Sam Jasinski, 12
50 Henry McElmurray, 10
52 David Szerlip, 12
54 Cal Reynolds, 12
56 Michael Holmes, 12
58 Paul Miller, 10
59 Chris Kruscavage, 10
60 Josh Padgett, 11
62 DeSean McAlpin, 12
65 Tom Beckenhauer, 12
66 Tyler Dart, 11
70 Matt Brown, 11
71 Ben Reynolds, 10
73 Spencer Dunn, 10
74 Philip Webb, 11
75 Zach Ferguson, 11
76 Donovan Lowe, 11
77 Jonathan Lord, 12
78 Sangley George, 11
79 Jonathan London, 12
80 Phillip Shackleford, 10
82 Rudy Rosado, 11
83 Alex Bragg, 12
84 Andrew Hedman, 10
85 Ryan Shuler, 10
87 David Thornton, 12
88 Brian Gardner, 11