Preseason Blitz: John Ware ready for year two as Lakeside head coach

Sibley, LA (KTAL/KMSS) — Lakeside football is coming off one of its best seasons in recent history. Led by second-year head coach John Ware, the Warriors are looking to build on that winning mentality heading into 2025.

“I’m excited about year two and how much we’re going to progress with all that too and you know people coming to the games and being excited about it and talking about it,” Ware said.

In just his first season as head football coach of Lakeside, Ware led the Warriors to a 9-3 season, its first winning season since 2018. That winning culture is something his team understands heading into this year.

“Going into practice for this fall it’s easier. They know what to do, what to expect, how to practice and all that,” Ware said. “So that certainly helps out and I think that’s the main thing going off a season last year is all the expectations that they already understand they’re there. There’s no learning curve to that kind of stuff and that’s a big part.”

Those expectations have influenced a positive attitude heading into the season.

“They expect to win. They expect certain things certain ways and that’s the main thing. This is year 27 for me so you know I’ve been around a long time and seen a lot of different teams and this and that,” Ware stated. “They are a bunch of good kids and that helps too, you know you push them, we can push them along and certainly that’ll help.”

Despite losing some key players, the Warriors still return some skill offensively including senior quarterback Brock Case.

“I just try to bring in some energy with them most of the time and even sometimes I lack it and I get them to bring me up. When I’m in the huddle they rely on me to give them the play and give it to them right,” Case said. “Just focus and read something and let them know what’s going on and make the play happen. So it’s my responsibility, but I like it.”

Taking that leadership role will help the offense flow.

“The most important thing for us is like I said, figuring out personnel going into it. We’ve got skill people and we’ve got a little speed and we’ve got some guys that were big parts of our team last year coming back,” Ware said. “The offensive part will definitely be a strong suit to begin with especially knowing what to do on the skill part.”

Lakeside opens the 2025 season at home versus Arcadia on September 5.