LIONS HAVE HIGH HOPES WITH LOTS OF RETURNING TALENT

BY BILL MURPHY bmurphy@gainesvilletimes.com

Lakeview Academy has ample reason for optimism in 2022.

The Lions are filled with returning starters on both sides of the ball, off an injuryriddled 2021 campaign that ended with a 1-8 record. Now, Lakeview Academy has adequate depth, especially at the skill positions, with the return of senior running back Landon Hanes and the arrival of 6-foot-3 senior quarterback Logan Stanley, who previously played at Cherokee Bluff.

The Lions are just two seasons removed from its first playoff appearance in school history, the first with Lee Shaw as its head coach in 2019.

Many of Lakeview Academy’s players have playoff experience.

In 2022, Lakeview Academy will transition into the Georgia Independent Athletic Association (previously the GISA), a move becoming common with private schools in Northern Georgia.

“We’ve buried what happened last season and we’re excited about this season,” Shaw said at Times Football Media Day. “We’re excited about the players we have coming back and the new players who moved in. Our motto this year is ‘no excuses.’”

And with the new league, Shaw feels like Lakeview Academy can be extremely competitive as it will play in the same division with Riverside Military Academy, George Walton Academy, Bethlehem Christian and Loganville Christian.

“We’re chomping at the bit to get the season started,” Shaw added.

Along the line of scrimmage, the Lions will have good experience back in the fold, led by two-way starters Stuart Daniel and Evan Yaskulka, both juniors.

Before the end of the summer, Lakeview Academy got considerably bigger on the line of scrimmage, adding 300-pound freshmen Shelton and Kendrick Kelley from Stephens County, while 275 pound-sophomore DJ Whitcomb has enrolled from Banks County.

“I’m smiling right now,” Shaw said about his bigger linemen.

Also from Banks County, sophomore Clay Smith has enrolled at Lakeview Academy. He will have a chance to play at quarterback, as well as other skill positions.

Lakeview Academy has also benefitted from adding running back Antonio Cantrell, a 190-pound sophomore, who last played at Habersham Central. Leading the Lions on the outside, Kastian Haynes is a returner at wide receiver and defensive back, who Shaw speaks highly of his production.

In special teams, the Lions have Liam Weidner, a senior, to handle punting duties. Bryan Ramsey will do the kicking.

Clyde Jones, Junior Thompson and Armand Long are also some younger skill players who have moved into the Lions’ program and will have a chance to contribute right away.

Even after one down season, it stands to reason that Lakeview Academy will have a resurgence under Shaw, who has produced many top-tier winning programs at Flowery Branch and then Rabun County.

At both of his previous coaching positions before retiring, Lakeview Academy’s coach took programs to the state finals. In 2017, Shaw led Rabun County to the Class 2A state finals, with four straight trips to the state quarterfinals. Before that, Shaw guided Flowery Branch to the state finals for the only time in school history (2008).