Livingston Academy Head Coach Bruce Lamb Feeling Confident With This Year’s Team
The willingness to do whatever it takes to win is a recurring theme for Livingston Academy head coach Bruce Lamb and his football team this season.
Lamb and his staff feel blessed to have a group of young men that put the team before any individual accolades. That team-first mentality is unmistakably evident in senior quarterback Will McDonald.
“(McDonald) has been a starter since day one when he was out here as a freshman,” Lamb said. “(McDonald) is the type of young man that you love to have. Whether is throwing the ball or handing the ball off, it doesn’t matter to him as long as we win. He is on his way to breaking a lot of records here at Livingston Academy, but that’s not what matters to him. It’s the wins and losses.”
Having a good offensive line is key to winning games, regardless of how good the skill players are. Preseason all-state selection Cole Spears is one of four senior starters up front for the Wildcats.
“It’s (Spears) fourth year starting. He plays left tackle and protects (McDonald) really well,” Lamb said. “We also have Donny Phillips who plays center. He calls everything, and he makes sure we are all doing the right blocking scheme.”
Lamb is also pleased with the way the skill players around McDonald are progressing.
“Nate Neely, who’s a senior, really came on towards the end of last year at running back,” Lamb said. “Then you go out to your wide receivers and Wesley Smith, who’s a preseason all-state selection, had right at a thousand yards receiving last year and 17 touchdowns. From him, you have Aubrey Hollars, Raven Carpenter, Bryer Mosley and Ayden Coffee. All those guys are doing a great job right now. We have surrounded (McDonald) pretty well.”
The defense is playing really well right now, according to Lamb. Much like on the offensive side of the ball, it all starts with their front seven.
“We have two big tackles with (Spears) and Austin Reeder,” Lamb said. “We have some super linebackers with Dusty Parrish and Nathan Carwile. Our (defensive backs) are all veterans, they have all played back there before.”
“If we can keep everybody healthy, we have a good shot at being pretty good this year,” Lamb said.
