Lanphier Lions Pigskin Preview

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Pigskin Preview Team Capsule

Lanphier Lions 

COACH: Jason Nikson (8-39, 5th season at Lanphier)

2014 RECORD: 4-5 (4-5 in CS8)
Postseason:  No Playoffs

TOP RETURNEES: DB-RB Andrew Powell (114 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 61 tackles), Line Justin Wright, RB Reggie Dickerson (321 rushing yards, 2 TDs), WR-DB JackAnthony Childress (8 catches, 56 yards; 33 tackles), LB Davonta Mitchell (20 tackles), WR Matt Blakey (19 catches, 1 TD), DE Davon Harris (39 tackles), LB Shane Conkrite (60 tackles), WR-DB Chase Hampson (13 catches, 195 yards, 2 TDs; 16 tackles)

BIGGEST LOSSES: Jared Griffin, Ezee Nwagbaraji, Kalvin Ceasar, Devante Hall, Detric Mitchell, 

WHAT THE LIONS DO WELL: Run the ball. Four of the five starting offensive linemen return, so coach Jason Nikson feels good about the Lions’ ability to move the ball on the ground. There was a two-way battle between senior Andrew Powell and junior Joe Varela for the starting quarterback job early in the camp. Powell is a four-year varsity player who has battled injuries throughout his career, and he’s the better runner of the two. Varela has a strong arm, and the Lions have able targets in Matt Blakey, JacAnthony Childress and Chase Hamoson. The defense will be very athletic if a little undersized led by Powell and Shane Conkrite, the sixth- and seventh-leading returning tacklers in the CS8.

LANPHIER QUESTION MARKS:  Quarterback Jared Griffin passed for 967 yards and ran for 988 yards last season, so he will be missed. The secondary will be inexperienced, and that can be a big problem since the Lions open with pass-happy Jacksonville in Week 1 and then take on Rochester in Week 3. The linemen are not very big, but Nikson says they are “physically talented.” Lanphier has finished over .500 since the 2001 team went 7-3.

WORTH NOTING: Lanphier last qualified for the postseason in 2004 under coach Don Goff when the Lions finished 5-5. . . . The Lions’ senior core led by returning All-CS8 lineman Justin Wright and three-year starting guard Davonta Mitchell has had great expectations since many of them performed on the varsity level as freshmen. . . . Lanphier finished with two straight wins last season, and the Lions won three of their last four. The difference between ending a 10-year playoff drought and finishing 4-5 was a 12-6 Week 2 loss to Decatur MacArthur when the Lions had three turnovers in the red zone.

COACH JASON NIKSON SAYS: “With the experience we have coming back, expectations are higher. Some juniors will have to contribute and do some things. Come October we’re hoping to be playing some extra games. If you look up and down the roster they’re tough, they’re athletic. Since I’ve been at Lanphier I don’t know if I can say we put better offense or defense on the field. If you talk to our parents and administration and community, I’m pretty sure they expect us to make the playoffs. The staff will try to approach things the way we do every year. Our primary goal is Jacksonville in Week 1. If we take advantage of things early, get some wins, the sky could be the limit."