Lakeview Academy football coach Lee Coleman joined TNQ to discuss his team's huge matchup at Bethlehem Christian this week. If the Lions can get out of Bethlehem with a win, they'll be in the driver's seat for the program's first region title.
Also, Lamar Daniels from RecruitGA joined the show to give insight on the Buford-Collins Hill and Rabun County-Commerce matchups.
To listen, press play above.
LAKEVIEW ACADEMY at BETHLEHEM CHRISTIAN
Records: Lions (6-0, 3-0 GISA District 4A/3A); Knights (7-0, 4-0 GISA District 4A/3A)
Last week: Lakeview beat Riverside Prep, 49-0; Bethlehem beat Athens Christian, 33-0
Where: Knights Stadium, Bethlehem
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: Bethlehem leads series 2-0. The Knights won 41-8 in 2023 in Gainesville. The Lions' quest for a first-ever region title is on the line in this one. After finishing 3rd in 2023, they already knocked off one long-time nemesis in George Walton earlier in the season. Now they get a shot at the Knights, who have outscored them 65-15 in the previous two meetings. The Knights are explosive, balanced, and deep on offense. They’re averaging 35.86 ppg behind Sr. QB Coy Buckner (698 yards, 13 TD, 1 INT, but just 53% accuracy) and Sr. RB Zeke Clanton (996 yards, 10 TD, 5 100-yard games). Buckner has spread the ball around all season as 13 different receivers have caught passes, and 6 different players have at least 1 TD catch. They have lost 6 fumbles, however. Lakeview is giving up just 9.5 ppg on defense.
What to watch for: The Lakeview offense vs. the Knights defense. Something will have to give here. Lakeview leads the GIAA in scoring at 37.7 ppg and comes in with arguably the best player in District 4A/3A in QB Kyari Burch (1,000 yards, 12 TD, 3 INT, 67% completion; 198 yards, 1 TD rushing). Jr. Thompson (25 rec., 379 yards, 5 TD) and NeSean Dorsey (20 rec., 258 yards, 3 TD) have been a nearly unstoppable duo receiving. But the Knights lead GIAA in defense, having yielded just 34 points (4.86 ppg), and come in on the heels of 4 consecutive shutouts.
