Previewing: Lake Park

It's an enviable situation, having three-year starters at the two key spots on the football field.

It's the deal at Lake Park. Quarterback Larry Nawrot and linebacker Ryan Gerts look to win an Upstate Eight Conference title and return this once-perennial playoff squad to the postseason for the first time since 2006.

"Your two signalcallers have the trust and the confidence of the entire team," said coach Andy Livingston, who enters the penultimate season of his career with other returning starters such as Christian Bartnicki, Artie Monaco, Pat Proctor, Justin Kang and ex-Driscollite Clay Cooper.

"You've got some kids who played last year and they're not just allowing the juniors some positions, they're encouraging them. They want the best team," Livingston said.

Nawrot and Gerts could be among the best at their positions. Nawrot completed 121 of 208 passes last season for 1,404 yards and 12 touchdowns, while in two seasons Gerts has 178 tackles, including last year's team-high 88 stops, 10.5 for loss.

At 54 players depth is an issue, but up front Lake Park has some beef and toughness. Matt Kaiser and 280-pounders Charlie Perrecone and Phil Robles will protect Nawrot and Lake Park's usual lot of scampering backs like Cooper, Jake McNamara and Monaco, the team's leader in all-purpose yardage last season.

On defense the secondary is experienced and what Livingston called "a nice group of hitters" in Jake Szymula, Alex Fischer, Mike Kreiser and Bartnicki, the team's fifth-leading tackler last season with 50.

The makeup of this year's Lancers team is a positive after a curious 4-5 record in 2008 despite leading opponents in nearly every statistical category.

"They're a pretty tight-knit group," Livingston said. "They have a lot of team feeling, a lot of care for each other. That's one of those things that you're always looking for."