Righting the Lakewood football ship takes collective leadership
HEBRON — Keegan Jacks is still just a junior, but the Lakewood football program is hoping his voice is as powerful as his play on the field.
Jacks already will be a three-year starter on the offensive and defensive lines and is a standout wrestler. The Lancers have a small but experienced nucleus tasked with starting the program on an uphill climb.
"We've trained harder, but I feel like it's been more of a positive culture. We've been stronger together as a team as opposed to the last couple years," Jacks said. "Since we have a young team, anyone can step up. I am willing to step up for that."
What Lakewood has kept is the idea leadership can come from anywhere. The Lancers enter the season with 14 primary varsity players, and they all our responsible for leading the about 40 total players in the high school program in the right direction.
"Leaders aren't necessarily seniors and juniors," said Poulnott, who was the head coach at East Wake High School in Wendell, North Carolina, from 2010-16.
"If we have a kid that we feel like is doing the right things in the weight room and off-season training — even a freshman who comes in and warrants that title — we will put them in that position," he added. "We want the kids know what exemplifies being a leader. It's not by classification."
Poulnott’s security blanket is the offensive line, which aside from Jacks (6-foot-1, 270 pounds) is undersized but veteran. Seniors Stewart Poulnott (6-0, 170), Jacob Ellinger (6-1, 205) and Cohen Rine (6-0, 195) form the core with sophomore Brayden Shull slotted to start at left guard and junior Jonah Hunt also expected to figure into the mix at some point.
"We have our team leadership council, but when we come onto the field, the guys that are in the front of the line are our offensive linemen," John Poulnott said. "If we don't have an offensive line that can get things done, it doesn't matter what are skill guys do."
Junior quarterback Adam Crawford, who threw for nearly 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns, is beginning his second full season as starter, and his job is to put the ball in the hands of senior Josh Hicks and junior Isaiah Mitchell, who are explosive in space. Mitchell totaled 399 receiving yards and 327 rushing yards, scoring seven TDs.
"If we have Josh or Isaiah, if we get them in space, they are just pure athletes," Crawford said. "They are going to go get some yards for us and have the potential on any given play to take it to the house."
Junior tight end Nate Lee (6-3, 195) was difficult to handle on intermediate routes in a scrimmage against Millersport, and he has been tabbed as an impact performer on defense, too, by his teammates. Senior Austin Romine, juniors Randall Adkins and Xander Angle and sophomore Austin Crawford comprise a green receiving corps.
That aforementioned offensive line will turn around and also be expected to set the tone on the defensive side of the ball.
"We all have nicknames and stuff, and it's pretty awesome we have a core group that I have grown up and played with," Jacks said.
Junior Tyler Christman, the backup quarterback, will start at linebacker. Adam Crawford and Hicks were ball hawks in the secondary during the passing scrimmages in July.
John Poulnott acknowledges Lakewood will resemble ironman football when kicking off against visiting West Muskingum in the season opener. The Lancers must get a few underclassmen up to speed before Licking County League-Cardinal Division play begins.
"Our rush right now is to get some of those kids to transition from the JV and put themselves into a position to where they can be a viable option on our varsity," Poulnott said. "We have three, four, five of those kids that are almost there, but we would rather them be in a backup role on varsity and get primary reps on JV at this point."
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At a Glance
Coach: John Poulnott
State Classification: Division IV, Region 15
In 2021: 0-10, 0-5
Key players: Josh Hicks, Sr., RB/DB; Adam Crawford, Jr., QB/DB; Keegan Jacks, Jr., OL/DL; Isaiah Mitchell, Jr., WR/DB. Stewart Poulnott, Sr., OL/DL. Jacob Ellinger, Sr., OL/DL. Nate Lee, Jr., TE/DL.
What to expect: The Lancers will ask an experienced line anchored by Keegan Jacks to give Adam Crawford time to deliver the ball in space to Josh Hicks and Isaiah Mitchell. Those in the program raved about the offseason for Nate Lee, who is expected to he a breakout performer on both sides of the ball.
Game to watch: Week 3 at Fairfield Union — The Lancers beat Fairfield Union in 2019, but the Falcons have gotten the best of them the last two seasons, including a competitive 26-12 battle last fall. Non-league success could set the Lancers on the right course as John Poulnott steps into the head coach slot.
Postseason outlook: West Muskingum used a Week 1 win against the Lancers to springboard the Tornadoes to a 6-4 season in 2021, and the Lancers could use a similar jolt. Non-league success against Liberty Union and Fairfield Union would put the Lancers in the postseason race when they begin LCL-Cardinal play.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Righting the Lakewood football ship takes collective leadership
