LAKEVILLE, IN. – It’s GAMEDAY! After all the preseason preparation, including scrimmages a week ago, the 2022 high school football season is finally here! Every one of the 22 starters return for LaVille head football coach Will Hostrawser and the Lancer Football team has set some pretty lofty goals for the coming season. “With all starters returning on both sides of the ball, expectations are elevated heading into the 2022 season,” explained Hostrawser. “Offensively, we have the ability to diversify our scheme week to week. Defensively we are working on developing our communication, team speed and physicality. As a whole, developing depth will be priority #1.” LaVille’s Week One opponent is no stranger to Lancer Nation. The Bremen Lions are a short 10-mile drive east on Highway 6. They were long-time rivals in the old Northern State Conference, then after a short hiatus as LaVille joined the Hoosier North Athletic Conference and Bremen settled into the Northern Indiana Conference, the two neighbors were able to find a spot on the regular season schedule to continue what will be the 53rd addition of LaVille-Bremen Football. Class 2A #12 LaVille will open the season against neighborhood rival Bremen. Kick is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Lancer Field, Lakeville, IN. In 2021, LaVille and Bremen met twice during the season.  A week one regular season tussle at Don J. Bunge Field in Bremen went to LHS, 14-12. Then, in the second round of the Indiana High School Athletic Association Sectional, Hostrawser's crew sidelined the Lions, 14-6, as part of the Class 2A Sectional 33 state tournament. That was then! Now both teams are anxious for the Friday Night Lights! Heading into Friday's clash, we had the chance to get a few comments from Bremen head football coach Jordan Leeper and Coach Hostrawser. "We felt the scrimmage was a success," said Leeper of the Lions. "We had a lot of players competing every play. We made mistakes that need to be cleaned up, but there were a lot of really good things that came out of the scrimmage. Our players enjoyed getting the feeling of a Friday night. "Offensively we will need to be more consistent with our communication on the offensive line," continued Leeper. "Defensively, we will need to continue to adjust to the speed of Friday nights. It is difficult at the smaller schools to see varsity level speed during practices. Our attack angles need to continue to get better." Hostrawser said, "I thought the scrimmage went well. We really focused on the development of our 2s and 3s as well as crisp execution from our first unit. It was also nice to see a full JV squad playing together - and playing well. Offensively, I thought for the most part our communication and execution was where it should be. We showed we have a solid base from which to work. Defensively, it was nice to see our guys really get after it. We found a few things to work on this week - but overall, I thought we played well." Bremen leads the all-time series, 39-13. LaVille, however, has won the last five straight. "Sharing a border with an opponent makes this a special game," Leeper said of the series. "The players grow up knowing each other. Some have family on the other side of the ball. These are two communities that are built around the school." LaVille is 5-1 during Hostrawser's time as the Lancer head football coach but it's not the records that the 10th-year skipper looks at. "Bremen has a tremendously rich football history - that coupled with the proximity of the schools as well as the first game of the season for us both is a really good mix for a great football game," explained Hostrawser. "Personally, I don't look at past football records in a series - the only one that counts is the one this coming Friday night. The opportunity to play Bremen is something we all look forward to every year." With the entire defensive unit returning for LaVille, Leeper knows the Lancers represent challenges. "The discipline that their defense shows is impressive," said the seventh-year Bremen coach. "They are well coached in their positions and fly to the ball well. Their D-line does a great job slanting and causing havoc in the backfield. Their linebackers flow to the ball extremely well. The DBs do a great job of limiting the big play and tackling in space." On the flip side, Hostrawser acknowledges the Lions have a dual threat on offense. "They have two solid running backs (Austin Mckenzie and Lance Moser) and a QB (Silas Laidig) with a good arm - they can sting you running the ball as well as passing the ball. Traditionally they throw a really good deep ball a couple times a game - we must not be suprised by that when they do." In 2021, Moser rushed for 1,059 yards on 179 carries, and 13 touchdowns. Mckenzie, meanwhile, netted 485 yards and four TDs. Laidig steps in at quarterback following the graduation of Ethan Nunemaker, who passed for 931 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions. When asked what he felt keys to a victory would be, Hostrawser said, "Early in the season, special teams play a large factor in the outcome of games. As offenses start off the season, consistency is still in its developmental stages - so field position will be paramount." Game on . . . G A M E D A Y BREMEN (0-0) AT CLASS 2A #12 LAVILLE (0-0) GAME TIME: 7 p.m., Lancer Field COACHES: Jordan Leeper (42-28 in seventh year at Bremen). Will Hostrawser (70-31 in 10th year at LaVille) ALL-TIME SERIES: Bremen leads LaVille, 39-13 LAST MEETING: LaVille def. Bremen, 14-6, Oct. 29, 2021, IHSAA Sectional BROADCAST/LIVE STREAM: Max 98.3, LVH1, IHSAAtv Network (https://www.ihsaatv.org/?B=404646)