LAKE BLUE STREAKS
- HEAD COACH: Dan DeGeorge, 12th year, 68-51
- LAST YEAR: 9-4, 4-2
- POSTSEASON: Division II, Region 5
Lake football’s returning lettermen (21)
- Charlie Christopher, RB-LB, 6-1, 230, Sr.
- Korey Datsko-Miller, FB-LB, 5-9, 190, Sr.
- Brody Dutton, OL-DL, 6-0, 205, Jr.
- Joe Esposito, RB-LB, 5-10, 205, Sr.
- Karter Fouty, OL-DL, 5-8, 240, So.
- Troy Glasgo, OL-DL, 5-11, 220, Sr.
- Max Gullace, RB-LB, 5-10, 180, Sr.
- Gavin Hall, TE-DE, 6-0, 210, Sr.
- Kyle Hammer, FB-LB, 6-0, 220, Jr.
- Ethan Hunt, WR-CB, 5-8, 150, Sr.
- Ryan Lippe, T-DE, 6-4, 245, Sr.
- Tommy Lombardi, G-DL, 5-9, 215, Sr.
- Davis Matson, RB-SS, 6-0, 205, Jr.
- Brayden Mitchell, TE-DL, 6-3, 205, Sr.
- Hunter Patterson, FB-DL, 6-2, 240, Sr.
- Alex Quior, QB-DB, 6-0, 175, Jr.
- Braeden Shrock, WR-CB, 6-1, 185, Sr.
- Owen Snyder, OL-DL, 6-4, 270, Jr.
- Dylan Sponseller, WR-SS, 6-1, 190, Sr.
- Cohen Stull, T-DL, 6-5, 310, Sr.
- Grady Widner, RB-LB, 5-10, 200, Jr.
Lake football’s impact players
The Federal League must deal with Charlie Christopher for one more year. The inside linebacker and Ohio University recruit has led Lake's rugged defense in tackles each of the last two seasons, including 128 stops (90 solo), 13 TFLs and three sacks in 2023 as he earned second-team All-Ohio . He also picked off two passes. ... DE Ryan Lippe blossomed into a star as a junior. The Air Force recruit totaled 63 tackles, 11 sacks and 20 tackles for loss last season. He also forced four fumbles. ... Christopher and Lippe probably will not come off the field defensively, but they also will be factors as part-time players on offense. Christopher scored four touchdowns as a short-yardage back last season and will no doubt see his workload increase this season. Lippe will make an impact at guard or tackle on the offensive line. "Their Friday nights are going to get a little tougher, but I think they're up for it," head coach Dan DeGeorge said. ... Tackle Cohen Stull anchors an offensive line that needs to work in three new starters but will boast plenty of size once again. ... Ethan Hunt will be a third-year starter at receiver. He also will be a weapon in Lake's return game. "He's as fast as they come," DeGeorge said. ... DTs Hunter Patterson and Tommy Lombardi join Lippe on an experienced Lake D-line. Patterson and Lombardi combined for nine sacks and 18 TFLs last year.
Watch Ohio High School Football Live on the NFHS Network all season
What's new with Lake football in 2024
The Blue Streaks will have a new starting quarterback. Noah Kubasky split time at QB last year as a junior with the now graduated Cale Jarvis, but the Kansas State baseball recruit is not playing football as a senior. Juniors Alex Quior and Luke Whitaker and sophomore Ty DeGeorge, the head coach's son, are in the running for the job. Dan DeGeorge plans to pick a starter and stick with him after rotating quarterbacks the previous two seasons. ... If Ty DeGeorge isn't at quarterback, he'll likely be making an impact at receiver or in the secondary. He leads a promising sophomore class that his dad is excited about. ... Lake also must replace Nate Baker , last season's Federal League Player of the Year, at running back after he rushed for 1,664 yards and 15 TDs in 2023. Christopher will get some of the carries, while junior Davis Matson and seniors Joe Esposito and Max Skalish also are part of the committee getting carries. ... Grady Widner, who played some linebacker last year when Christopher was banged up, joins Esposito and Skalish in the competition to play alongside Christopher at middle linebacker this season. ... Junior Owen Snyder is in the mix to play the tackle opposite Stull.
Lake football’s outlook
Lake is 21-6 the last two years, with four of those losses coming to Massillon and McKinley. The Blue Streaks have been led by one of the best defenses in the area and veteran coordinator Ron Viscounte, and that unit once again will be expected to set the tone. "We're going to put the best guys on the field defensively, and then whatever is left over we'll score some points with," DeGeorge said. ... DeGeorge believes the program is coming off its best offseason in the weight room during his 26-year tenure with Lake. The Blue Streaks shattered multiple lifting records. "Sometimes that means a lot, sometimes it doesn't," DeGeorge said. "But the kids are working hard and you've got to be excited about that. How much it translates to wins on the field, we'll find out down the road." ... Lake has an interesting Week 1 experience. The Blue Streaks are playing McKeesport (Pa.) at " The Wolvarena ," home of the Woodland Hills Wolverines football team in Pittsburgh. Built in 1942, the stadium is considered one of the best high school football stadiums in the nation. McKeesport was the WPIAL 4A runner-up last year and boasts sophomore RB-S Kemon Spell, who holds college offers ranging from Florida State to Penn State. The Tigers run the triple-option wishbone, an offense Lake does not normally see. Joked DeGeorge, "I think Coach Viscounte wanted to punch me when I scheduled that Week 1."
Lake football schedule for 2024
- Aug. 23 McKeesport (Pa.)*, 5 p.m.
- Aug. 30 BOARDMAN
- Sept. 6 at Brecksville
- Sept. 13 at Perry
- Sept. 20 GLENOAK
- Sept. 27 CLEVELAND JFK
- Oct. 4 at Jackson
- Oct. 11 MCKINLEY
- Oct. 18 at Hoover
- Oct. 25 GREEN
- * Game at Woodland Hills High School (Pa.)
Home games in all CAPS. All games at 7 p.m., unless noted.
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Lake Blue Streaks 2024 high school football schedule, preview
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