Published: August 16, 2008 09:45 pm         

Lakers missing key player

Any coach will say keeping players healthy is a big part of having a successful season.

Just ask Lakeland High School football coach Keith Thompson as 6-3 (210) senior Aaron Baker, who was slated to start at tight end and defensive end, is out with an injury to his right knee.

“We are not sure yet if it is going to be six weeks or the entire season,” the coach said. “He is a difference maker. The problem with losing him is you are having to replace two starters.”

Six-foot (222) senior Aron Miller is the likely candidate to replace Baker.

“Miller split time with Baker a year ago,” Thompson said. “He can catch the ball and block, but is not as fast.

“Baker’s injury will not cause us to change anything on offense other than we might have created a few more opportunities to get him the ball. On defense, we were looking at having both starting ends back. Now we are going to be playing someone without much experience.”

Baker is also the backup quarterback and long snapper, further hampering Laker plans.

The Lakers have 21 letterwinners back from a squad which finished 7-3 a year ago.

Lakeland begins the current season by hosting Prairie Heights on Friday, Aug. 22.

Dakatoh Baldridge, 6-2 (205) junior, is the projected starter at quarterback.

“He has the possibility of being very good,” Thompson said. “He is a big kid who can run the option. He has a good arm and can make all the throws.

“We went 9-1 with him in a 7-on-7 tournament this summer. We beat some good teams.”

Leaders at running back are 5-10 (194) senior Nic Brown and 5-9 (185) senior Josh Fuller.

“Brown is probably the fastest player on the team. He is a definite breakaway threat,” Thompson said. “Fuller is a three-year starter.”

Top candidates at receiver are 6-1 (167) senior Kaleb Bontrager, 5-11 (180) senior Benjamin Kelly, 5-11 (150) senior Michael Kinney, 6-2 (177) junior Kole Heller and 5-11 (160) junior Cameron Moore.

Expected starters in the offensive line are 5-9 (199) junior Chris Smith and either 6-1 (190) senior Tyler Young or 6-3 (250) junior Robin Bates at tackles, 6-1 (191) junior Adam Schrock and 5-10 (265) junior Jacob Hoover at guards and 5-11 (232) junior Josh Kohne at center.

Josh Avery, 5-11 (169) senior, is the leading kicker. He also plays on the school’s soccer team.

“He never kicked a football until last spring. The first time he kicked off the ball went in the end zone,” Thompson said. “He kicked a 30-yard field goal the other day in a scrimmage.”

Schrock is the leading candidate as punter.

Seven starters return on defense, led by Smith at middle linebacker.

“He was third on the team last season in tackles,” Thompson said. “In all my years of being associated with this program, Smith just might be one of the better linebackers we have had. He is all over the field and he hits hard.”

The two starting outside linebackers — Kelly and 5-6 (166) junior Brock Bateman — are back. Bateman was an all-Northeast Corner Conference selection in 2007. Heller, who led the team in interceptions last season, could figure in the mixture.

Baldridge, Brown, Young, 5-8 (180) junior Chris Curtis, 6-1 (186) junior Damon James and 6-0 (237) junior Cody Olds could see some playing time as well.

Hoover, Kohne, Miller and 6-2 (212) junior Ryne Krock are the leaders at defensive end. Schrock, 5-9 (186) senior Jacob Jacoby and 5-7 (165) senior Cory Wilson are competing at nose guard.

Candidates in the secondary are Bontrager, Fuller, Moore, 6-0 (179) junior John McKinney and 5-7 (150) sophomore Bryce Bates.