Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Lakeview first-year head coach Derrick Bush oversees his team during a 7-on-7 passing scrimmage against Grand Valley at Lakeview High School.

CORTLAND — For the third time in four seasons, Lakeview is under new management.

After Sam Bellino stepped down from the helm of the Bulldogs’ program after two seasons, two-year assistant Derrick Bush was unanimously approved in January to take the reins.

The task for the first-time head coach: Put Lakeview back on track after going 3-7 a season ago and 0-10 the year before.

So far, Bush has tried to ensure a smooth transition, keeping much of Lakeview’s staff intact while also instilling his values as a coach.

Bush says the Bulldogs are off to a good start after a strong offseason.

“I was very fortunate. I’ve been around the program the last two years, and we were able to hit the ground running in the weight room,” he said. “We have a lot of kids that play various sports, but my main thing with our football players is keeping everybody active and in shape, and we really hit the weights hard this offseason. It’s shown.”

Now, with the season approaching, Bush added he’s starting to see the competitive juices flow as the pads have gone on and hitting has begun.

“Our kids aren’t afraid to hit, and they’re not afraid to make contact,” he said.

“We’re building that mental toughness. They’ve been building on the acclimation and coming out here every day cracking pads. Physicality is very important to me, and I think that’s something that we’re going to continue to build as we work through camp.”

All of that is to lay the foundation to get Lakeview where it wants to be again.

“A lot of it is the progress — where we’ve been, where we’re at, where we’re going,” he said. “It’s a challenge when you’ve had three coaches in the last four years while trying to build a program. Luckily for me, a lot of these kids know me. They understand the relationship we have and what it’s going to take to be successful. I think we have to get better every day, continue to be a team and progress, and then change will come.”

OFFENSE

Improving Lakeview’s record and trajectory begins with improving the Bulldogs’ offense.

After averaging 20.75 points per game during its 3-1 start to the year, Lakeview scored just 16 points across its final six games, and was shut out three times in the 0-6 finish.

Rectifying that begins with building chemistry, Bush notes.

“I think first and foremost, we’re starting to gel, which is a big key,” he said. “Offensively, we’re usually the last ones to gel. We’re starting to see our offense come together with a sense of urgency, really focusing on execution, and continuing to stay on track with the play so by Week 1, we’re ready to roll.”

Bush says the Bulldogs will be run-first, falling in line with much of the Northeast-8 Conference.

“It’s no secret that this is a run-first league. We’re going to establish the run to set up the pass,” he said.

Boom Gillis returns at quarterback after breaking his hand during the 2022 preseason, an injury which forced him to play only defense.

“He’s been a tremendous leader, one that’s been bought in from the beginning,” Bush said. “He’s delivering the ball well, and I think he’s going to do a lot of great things on his feet.”

At running back, the Bulldogs will have a committee between Thomas Easton, Nolan Toth and Oniah Russo. Toth ran for 277 yards and three touchdowns last season, while Easton is a transfer from Warren JFK and Russo a transfer from McDonald.

“With those three guys, we think that we can hit every gap possible and get the ball outside and inside with those guys,” Bush said.

At receiver, Hayden Bartram, Andrew Brown, Sam Harper and Leo Parise will all get snaps.

“We have four guys out there that we think we can get the ball in their hands, and they do a great job catching and running routes and doing what we’re asking them to do,” Bush said.

Up front, three-year letterman Tyler Hovance and two-year letterman Sam Balest will anchor the line.

Xander Nicholas is repping at center, while Aidan O’Rourke, Kyle Somich and Carter Doran are vying for time at guard. Behind them, younger Bulldogs are battling it out to serve as depth pieces.

“We have a solid offensive line, we just need to stay healthy and keep working hard,” Bush said.

Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes
Lakeview quarterback Boom GIllis throws a pass during a recent 7-on-7 passing scrimmage at Lakeview High School. Gillis returns under center after breaking his hand in last year’s preseason.

DEFENSE

Defensively, Bush wants to “set the tone early” with Lakeview’s physicality. That, he hopes, will lead to some momentum-changing plays.

“I think defenses can really change things in a ball game by creating turnovers and winning the turnover margin,” he said. “So our identity defensively is going to be playing gap sound and smacking people in the face. I think that’s No. 1. I think you can throw some teams off with physicality, and it’s something we need to bring back here. We’re getting there.”

In the trenches, Bush points to a “good rotation” that will play in both three-man and four-man fronts. Hovance, Doran, O’Rourke and Somich will be at the forefront, while players such as Nicholas and Gage Woofter will factor in as reserves. Just as it was offensively, younger players are fighting to fill in the depth.

At linebacker, Toth and Jake Nicholas will start in the inside spots. Toth recorded 46 tackles and two TFLs last season. Nicholas had 24 tackles in six games played.

Landon Hall and Gabe Bott will be critical depth pieces behind Toth and Nicholas, Bush added, while Gillis, Easton, Hayden Newton, Caleb Hnat and the Grossman twins — Justin and Jacob — will rotate on the outside.

Harper and Parise will serve in the secondary, while Jason Campana is back at safety. Some of the aforementioned outside linebackers could fill in at safety, as well, while Jadon Warner will see time at corner.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Bush says the Bulldogs will use their “best athletes” in the return game. Expect to see Easton, Russo, Warner and Parise sharing the bulk of those duties.

At punter, Harper is the leader in the clubhouse, but nothing is set.

“He does a good job. He’s got a good foot, but we’ll see how camp goes,” Bush noted.

At placekicker, Easton Bradley, a freshman, is double dipping between the soccer and football teams.

2023 Schedule

Aug. 18 at LaBrae 7 p.m.

Aug. 25 at Jefferson 7 p.m.

Sept. 1 Liberty 7 p.m.

Sept. 8 South Range* 7 p.m.

Sept. 15 Niles* 7 p.m.

Sept. 22 at Girard* 7 p.m.

Sept. 29 Struthers* 7 p.m.

Oct. 6 Hubbard* 7 p.m.

Oct. 13 Poland* 7 p.m.

Oct. 20 Beaver Local 7 p.m.

*Conference game

2022 Results (3-7)

LaBrae (1-9) W 34-7

Garfield (9-3) L 17-7

at Liberty (4-6) W 21-8

at Niles* (2-8) W 21-13

Girard* (8-4) L 49-0

at Struthers* (7-5) L 41-3

at Hubbard* (6-5) L 22-0

Poland* (5-6) L 9-0

at South Range* (16-0) L 66-6

Jefferson* (11-4) L 27-7

*Northeast-8 Conference

Coaching staff

Head coach: Derrick Bush, 1st season

Staff: Ron Dejulio Sr. (Assistant head coach), Chris Romano (defensive coordinator), Cameron Carson (offensive coordinator), Marcus Coonce (pass game coordinator), Mark Swinning (special teams coordinator), Mike Yannnucci (defensive line), Christian Bello (quarterback coach)

Team facts

Division V, Region 17

Northeast-8 Conference

Players on roster: 52

Returning letterwinners (13): Boom Gillis, Hayden Bartram, Thomas Easton, Sam Harper, Andrew Brown, Jake Nicholas, Nolan Toth, Hayden Newton, Kyle Somich, Tyler Hovance, Aidan O’Rourke, Gunner Derr, Sam Balest

2022 season: Lakeview stormed out to a 3-1 start, including a victory in its Northeast-8 opener, but lost its final six games, a losing streak during which the Bulldogs scored only 16 points.