PRZNY Team Previews: Lake Shore Eagles

<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Last Season (6-4)</strong></h2>   <p>After alternating wins & losses for the first six weeks of the season, Lake Shore would close out the year with back-to-back victories finishing with a 5-3 regular season record. Despite breaking the .500 mark for the first time since 2006. the Eagles would miss the sectional playoffs for the 19th straight season. There were, however, several high points that make the future look bright for this program.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Top Prospect</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1345221' first='Rey' last='Cruz'] is a physical Offensive Guard that pulls extremely well. He has good footwork and hits with aggression. Cruz is a raw prospect that will need more experience in his junior season to hone his craft. You can't teach size and at 6'4 275 lbs., Rey can be one of the dominant forces in Section VI and has the tools to be in the Trench Trophy conversation.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Three X-Factors</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='807022' first='Rob' last='Gillette'] is a dynamic playmaker whose senior season should be watched closely. He is an incredible athlete that catapulted the Eagles offense a season ago but a broken leg this past spring will keep him on the shelf for most of 2024. With that being said, Gillette does plan on making a comeback at some point. Lake Shore is looking to ease him back in to the game plan but when he is 100%, he is often times the best player on the field.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Last season's breakout player for Lake Shore was LB [player_tooltip player_id='1743118' first='Parker' last='Klepfer']. Klepfer started the season on JV then came up to varsity the third week of the season and had an immediate impact. After allowing 93 points in their first two games, Lake Shore would post 3 shutouts in their following 6 contests. He has amazing instincts and possesses a knack for always being around the football. He will be a player to watch for this coming season.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Benjamin Maurer is somewhat of an unsung hero on the Lake Shore football team. He is an athlete in every sense of the word. He can be used as a RB, out wide like a receiver and he is a versatile OLB with a long reach that can shed blocks. As a WR, he is big & physical and has soft hands. The Eagles are losing several playmakers on both sides of the ball so they will need Maurer to have a big senior year.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Breakout Player</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">With Gillette sidelined, Lake Shore will be handing the reins to strong arm QB [player_tooltip player_id='1742287' first='Cooper' last='Hazard']. Not the runner that Gillette is, Hazard is more of a pocket passer with solid accuracy that can stretch the field. He is efficient with the ball as he threw 11 touchdowns to just 2 interception in 7 JV contests last season. Whether his skills translate to the varsity platform is yet to be seen but the stage is set for Cooper to have a breakout season.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Names to Know</strong></h2>   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Position</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Class</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Notes</span></strong></td></tr><tr><td>OL</td><td>Bryson Renzo</td><td>2025</td><td>2023 Class B Lineman of the Year</td></tr><tr><td>LB</td><td>Josh Irrgang</td><td>2026</td><td>A two-year JV product that will be looking to make his varsity debut this season</td></tr><tr><td>DB</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1814181' first='Tommy' last='Smaldino']</td><td>2027</td><td>An effective CB that is expected to have a big impact on varsity as a sophomore</td></tr><tr><td>QB</td><td>Bryson Reid</td><td>2028</td><td>Will be starting the season as JV's QB but a player worth monitoring has he has been putting in good work this offseason.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Key Losses</strong></h2>   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>OL/DL</td><td>Gavin Witkor</td><td>Mercyhurst</td></tr><tr><td>TE/DE</td><td>Troy Kennedy</td><td>Brockport</td></tr><tr><td>WR/DB</td><td>Xander Maurer</td><td>Brockport</td></tr><tr><td>RB/LB</td><td>Jake Hopkins</td><td>Erie Community College</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2024 Schedule</strong></h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Lake-Shore-Football-Schedule.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1417011" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Twitter</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2024 Outlook</strong></h2>   <p><strong>Current Head Coach:</strong> <strong>Sean Kunkel (Entering his 1st season)</strong></p>   <p>After the season opener against Springville, Lake Shore will go on the road to avenge their 2023 week 6 defeat against Iroquois. The Eagles will then take on Amherst & Cheektowaga. But three of their final four games is where they are going to be tested the most. Lake Shore will play host to Class B favorites, South Park & Pioneer and as if their division isn't tough enough, the Eagles will also go on the road to play the Class D favorite, CSP Wolfpack.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>3 Things Going For The</strong> Eagles</h2>   <p>They have a young team filled with Class of '26 & '27 standout players</p>   <p>An opportunistic defense led be junior LB [player_tooltip player_id='1743118' first='Parker' last='Klepfer']</p>   <p>A stout Offensive Line line with senior Bryson Renzo and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1345221' first='Rey' last='Cruz']</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>1 Area of Concern</strong></h2>   <p>How will Lake Shore control the game? Last season, Lake Shore was so effective on the ground. The way their team is built and the competition they are set to face, the Eagles will need a steady run game and be able to depend on it.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Last Word</strong></h2>   <p>Lake Shore's future looks bright. They have several promising up-and-comers that will bring them notoriety. That, coupled with a hungry 1st year head coach in Sean Kunkel should give Lake Shore a good boost and will not be a team other programs can roll over. They will be competitive and build off their success from last season. Like every young team, they will have their growing pains this year but expect them to take it one game at a time and get better as the season goes along.</p>