Veteran LaVille football team ready to make another deep tournament run

LAKEVILLE — LaVille football has quietly built itself into one of the best small-school programs in the South Bend area the past decade.

The Lancers have not had a losing season since 2013, winning sectional titles in 2017, 2021 and 2023 . The recent senior class graduated as the winningest class in program history, going a combined 36-8 in four years.

With 14 starters returning from a team that went 11-2 and won a Class 2A sectional title in 2023, expectations are once again high for LaVille.

“Everybody wants to be better and think they’re going to be solid, but the culture is here,” LaVille head coach Jeff Kaiser said. “You can have a culture, but if you have guys that haven’t been a part of that, it’s harder to truly extend that. … we can keep our expectations high, and it’s really helped develop some of the younger kids.”

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Handful of position battles

While several key players have returned, three important ones that graduated are Lucas Plummer, Eric Bedock and Michael Good. Plummer was a four-year starter at quarterback, along with playing defense handling kicking duties. Bedock anchored an offensive line that rushed for nearly 2,500 yards, and Good caught nine touchdown passes as a tight end while also recording a team-high six sacks on defense.

Battling to replace Plummer at quarterback are senior Colin Czarnecki and junior Brayden Schwitz. Czarnecki, who played wide receiver and defensive back last year, has some starting quarterback experience, playing a handful of games in 2022 when Plummer was injured. While Schwitz doesn’t have as much past playing time as Czarnecki, he’s been the JV quarterback the last two seasons.

“It’s been a really good competition,” Kaiser said. “It makes it better when both kids are coachable, intelligent and know what we want to get done.”

Kaiser mentioned a slew of players who are battling for the openings along the offensive and defensive lines, while senior Xzavian Lafave is likely to start at tight end.

Allen ready to lead high-powered offense

Cody Allen made sure there wasn’t a dip in production from the rushing attack last year, accumulating 1,515 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground as a junior. It was a breakout season after sitting behind a trio of talented running backs his first two years.

“I try to focus on winning every day,” Allen said. “That’s what coach Kaiser tells us: win today, don’t waste a day. I’m focused on winning more than any stats.”

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Allen also plays defense, finishing with 38 tackles and two interceptions in 2023. Other high-impact platers back for LaVille include seniors Jon Neese and Josiah Ciesielski and junior Braedyn Foster.

“We know how to win, and we have a good group together,” Allen said. “We have a lot of guys back. We, obviously, lost Lucas Plummer, Michael Good and Eric Bedock — they were all key parts of our team, but we’ve had other guys step up.”

New conference, Class for LaVille

A couple changes for LaVille from last year come in the way of its schedule. The Lancers departed the HNAC for the new Indiana Northern State Conference, joining Bremen, Knox, Glenn, Tippecanoe Valley and Jimtown.

“I’m really excited,” said Allen of the INSC. “We get to play some new teams this year and some better teams. I’m looking forward to that.”

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LaVille also has moved down from Class 2A to 1A again. They’re in a sectional now with North Judson, which has reached the Class 1A semistate the past three years. The Lancers and Bluejays play week two, which could be a preview of what could happen come late October/early November.

“It’s a challenge no matter which Class you’re in,” Kaiser said. “I’ve told people: the only thing it changes is a number next to our name. LaVille football is going to prepare the same as if we were playing 1A, 2A, 3A, whatever.”

LaVille High School football 2024 schedule

All times Eastern

Aug. 23: @ Triton, 7

Aug. 30: vs. NORTH JUDSON, 7:30

Sept. 6: @ Central Noble, 7

Sept. 13: @ Bremen, 7 (INSC)

Sept. 20: vs. TIPPECANOE VALLEY, 7 (INSC)

Sept. 27: @ Knox, 7:30 (INSC)

Oct. 4: vs. JOHN GLENN, 7 (INSC)

Oct. 11: vs. JIMTOWN, 7 (INSC)

Oct. 18: @ Whiting, 7:30

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Veteran LaVille football team ready to make another deep tournament run