LAKEVILLE - Team chemistry is important when it comes to the success of any team. As the LaVille football team transitions from a Class 2A sectional championship and 11-2 overall record a year ago, LHS head coach Jeff Kaiser is looking for the 2024 team to build the chemistry necessary. "In order for us to find success," said second-year coach Jeff Kaiser. "We will need some new guys to step into and accept their roles in order for us to build the chemistry needed to be successful in 2024." The 2024 season will be the 60th edition of LaVille Lancer football. LaVille opened play in the 1965 season and finished with a 2-4 overall record, including two wins over 'B' teams.  The first official varsity win came in a 12-6 triumph over Rolling Prairie on September 16, 1966. Dick Besinger was the first LaVille football coach and is among 13 head coaches to lead the Lancers. With the 2024 campaign headed for the August 16 scrimmages, LaVille has several key spots to fill moving forward. Gone to graduation are Michael Good (TE/DL), Brandon Nettrouer (OL/LB), Kaide Sanchez (OL/DL), Jonah Skiles (RB/DB), Lucas Plummer (QB/DB/PK/P), and all-state lineman Erik Bedock (OL/DL), who signed to continue his academic and athletic career at Indiana Wesleyan University. All six grads played a crucial role in the success of LaVille football.  Now it is time for the next player to step up. LHS welcomes back 14 players - seven on defense and seven on offense. Key returnees for the offense include senior running backs Cody Allen and Jonathan Neese. A pair of wide outs back are senior Xzavian Lafave and sophomore Konnor Amor. On the offensive line, junior tackle Braedyn Foster, senior Eli Platz, and junior Nehemiah Stanley. According to Kaiser, there are also several players in the mix on the offensive side. "We will be returning 7 guys to our offense this season with some new guys fighting for position.  Some of those in the mix are Kaid Hernandez  11  - OL, Brayden Schwitz  11 - QB, Konnor Amor  10 -  WR, Dylan Miller  10  - WR, Noah Menis  10 - TE, Keenan Richhart 9 - OL, Curtis Smith   9 - OL." With the loss of Lucas Plummer, the all-everything quarterback, defensive back, place kicker, and punter, the QB competition has been between senior Collin Czarnecki and junior Brayden Schwitz. "This QB battle we have has been really solid," Kaiser said as the coaches put the duo through the paces.  "Senior Collin Czarnecki and Junior Brayden Schwitz have put a lot of time in and have been supportive of each other through this process.  The satisfying thing is they both want to win and want what is best for our team to put us in a position to be successful.  Both are athletic, intelligent and very coachable which is a blessing for our staff to work with.  If one isn't on the field directing the offensive unit, you can look for them at another spot on the field helping us win. "You could see us using 2 QB's in some games that present it and again they will understand in situations we might be in where we have a backup QB on the sidelines or they could be at another spot and even at times we rotate some during the game.   The reason this is possible though is because as I mentioned before, they are very coachable, know what it takes to win and have athletic ability." Czarnecki has been the signal-caller for a handful of games over the last two seasons in addition to being a receiver for the Lancers.  In 2023 he hauled in 19 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns. Schwitz does have some experience taking snaps, but has not started a varsity game. As for the backfield, Allen is coming off a solid season of 1,515 yards and 21 touchdowns. Neese contributes 234 yards on 40 carries and six TDs. "Cody Allen is a workhorse and anyone that knows him and his work ethic along with his desire to be successful would agree." said Kaiser of Allen.  "He works hard on and off the field to mentally and physically allow himself to perform consistently day in and day out.  He leads by example and his numbers from last season speak to that.  He has worked hard behind the scenes to be at his best physically for this upcoming season and we are looking to him to help solidify our team's success on Friday nights." The top target in 2023 - Michael Good - has picked up his diploma, leaving the receiver room open to new talent. "Looking to lead our receiving core this season will be a mixture of guys to this point," noted Kaiser.  "Leading the way we feel will be Xzavian Lafave, Konnor Amor and Dylan Miller.  Others will be counted on to step up when their number is called but we need these three to be consistent for us." On the defensive side, LaVille has been known to play solid, being one of the best defenses in the state.  Last season, Kaiser's crew allowed 13.69 points per game to put them in the top 25 regardless of class. The '3-4' defense also greets seven starters to a unit that held seven opponents to 14 or less points with several two-way players. Expected up front is Foster and junio Brock Gest.  The headliners may very well be Neese, LaFave, and senior Josiah Ciesielski.  The secondary will start with Allen, Mitchell, and Czarnecki.Foster was the top tackler with 98 stops, including 19 for loss.  Neese had 82 tackles, 11 for loss, three sacks, and three fumble recoveries. LaFave added 73 stops, Czarnecki 54, Mitchell 41, Allen 38, and Ciesielski 29. "The DLine and LB's are the heart of this defense, if they are successful defending the box we will be in solid positions to win ball games," explained Kaiser.  "Some key returning experienced guys that will make this happen are Brock Gest DL, Jonathan Neese MLB,  Braedyn Foster MLB, Xzavian LaFave OLB, and Cole Stafford OLB. "Our secondary returns a healthy core of guys with experience which will allow us to play multiple covers and be aggressive with our blitz packages ... Some guys returning with solid experience are Cody Allen CB, David Mitchell  CB, Collin Czarnecki S, and then add into the mix sophomores Konnor Amor and Dylan Miller so we have a mixture of guys to help ensure our defense is solid." Kaiser also expects for several other players to battle for Friday night action on the defensive side of the ball. "Defensively we have seven returning this season," said Kaiser.  "Some new guys looking to be in the hunt for playing time at this point include Eli Platz 12  - DL, Keenan Richhart - 9  DL, Konnor Amor - 10  DB, Dylan Miller  - 10  DB, Noah Menis 10 - OLB, Riley Filley  11  - OLB, Brayden Schwitz  11 - DB, Nehemiah Stanley 11 - LB." When asked about the key to the Lancer defense, Kaiser said, "We have had success with our defense for several years now and although we mix things up from week to week our expectation remains the same - Hustle to the ball, Do your job, Don't be a hero and trust your brothers next to you.  If we do this consistently for 4 quarters, our defense will put us in a good position to win ball games!" With the graduation of Plymmer, the hunt is on for a new punter, kick offs, and place kicking.  "Right now filling our kicking duties we are looking to Cole Stafford for punting duties," said Kaiser.  "As far as kicking duties go, KO and PK looks like Collin Cazrnecki and Caleb Skiles will continue battling for either of those spots." The Lancers will use the remaining time to work on the team chemistry to start the season.   LHS will scrimmage at Prairie Heights on August 17 at 7 p.m. Kaiser's squad will open the regular season August 23 at Triton, before the season-opener against regional champion North Judson-San Pierre on August 30. Finally, with the Indiana High School Athletic Association realignment, LaVille will spend the next two years in Class 1A.  The Lancers join Bowman Academy, Culver Community, North Judson-San Pierre, North Newton, South Central (Union Mills), South Newton, and West Central in Sectional #41.  The IHSAA football draw will be on October 13 and the first round of the sectional is set for October 25. Game on . . .  * * * * * LAVILLE LANCERS Head Coach: Jeff Kaiser (11-2 in 2nd season) Assistant Coaches: AJ Bedock, Justin Bogunia, Tim Davis, Isaac Eash, Bob Harvey. David Higley, Nick Roseland 2023 Overall Record: 11-2 (6-1 HNAC) Opener: August 23 at Triton, 7pm Players Lost: Erik Bedock (Indiana Wesleyan) OL/DL, Michael Good TE/DL, Brandon Nettrouer OL/LB, Lucas Plummer QB/DB/K/P, Kaide Sanchez OL/DL, Jonah Skiles RB/DB Returning Players: 14 - 7 defense, 7 defense Season Opener: August 23, LaVille at Triton, 7pm ET