By Betsy Finklea
Having played and now coaching for the Lake View Wild Gators, Coach Daryl King knows the importance of football to the Lake View community.
King is in his eighth year as head coach and has a total of 16 years of coaching experience.
Though last year’s team went 10-4 on the season and were the state title runners-up, this year’s team will have to step up as the team lost 13 players from last year’s team and only have three returning seniors. They are returning six players on offense and seven players on defense. King feels that depth all-around is an issue. He will be looking to his players to see who will step up and fill the void.
The Wild Gators will have their first chance to prove themselves on Thursday, August 13, at the Battle of the Carolina’s at Lumberton High School. Lake View is set to take on Fairmont, North Carolina, at 7:00 p.m.
King said they have a tough conference this year, and he expects every Friday to be tough. Lake View’s opening game will be on Friday, August 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Scott’s Branch.
Their schedule includes non-conference games against Class 2A’s Dillon on August 28 and Aynor on September 25, and Class A games against St. John’s on September 11 and Lamar on September 18.
Lake View will open conference play at home against Green Sea-Floyds on October 2, then face local rival Latta on October 9, and host Carvers Bay on October 16. The Wild Gators will play their last two regular season games on the road against Hemingway on October 23 and Creek Bridge on October 30.
King has the same coaching staff returning to assist him. He and his staff plan to implement the same offense and defense as last year.
While King declines to say they will play for a state title again this year, he did share his expectation for his team this season – to be the best they can possibly be.
