Lakeside - Rams

Head coach: Jared McBride Record at school: 51-37 2017 finish: 6-5 (6-1), 2nd in 5A-South conference

Lakeside will look to continue its run among the top teams in the 5A-South in 2018 with a hefty group of experienced players.

“Good senior leadership is the key to a winning season,” said head coach Jared McBride. “We expect a lot from our seniors.”

“I feel like we have a good base,” McBride added. “We consistently compete in conference.”

The Rams bring back one of the most experienced teams in Class 5A, but the losses from last season are significant. The offense must replace more than 2,700 yards and 41 touchdowns from graduated All-State running backs Dupree Swanson and Michael James.

Senior Taylor Gillham returns to quarterback the offense after throwing for more than 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns a season ago.

“He will run the ball a little bit more this year than he has in the past,” McBride said. “He will definitely have to pass and throw the ball down the field.”

The Rams have seven offensive linemen with extensive varsity experience. McBride said the success of the offense will be based on the play of the line.

“I think all offenses are kind of built that way,” McBride said. “We have a good group of linemen, seven guys, who have played and can play. They just have to stay healthy. We will definitely lean on those guys to get it started for us.”

Lakeside graduated its top three tacklers from 2017 and will lean on a new group of seniors to lead the defense. The Rams begin the season with local rivalry games against Lake Hamilton, Fountain Lake and Malvern before opening 5A-South play against Camden Fairview.

Watson Chapel and White Hall shifted into the 5A-South central in the 201820 reclassification cycle. They were replaced by new conference favorite Texarkana, dropping down from Class

6A, and Little Rock McClellan.