'We got a lot of talent'. Why Lake Gibson coach Richard Pringle believes stability is key
Second-year Lake Gibson head football coach Richard Pringle is looking for one trait heading into the 2023-24 season: stability.
There’ve been four head coaches in six years despite program rattling off two straight seasons of eight wins or more in recent years. But now it’s time for the Preseason Kickoff Classic against Plant City High School — a team Lake Gibson beat a year ago in the same game — which is slated for Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Lake Gibson High School. Pringle is ecstatic about the process being a lot smoother after going through the second straight training camp ahead of the FHSAA football season.
“I think it’s a lot easier because a lot of the guys, they know the routine now, (and) they know the expectations, and they don’t have to be forced as much to take care of stuff the way they do things — the way that we operate,” Pringle said.
Pringle said his guys have been in a groove all summer.
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“I think the biggest thing is all of the guys knowing the playbook a lot better,” Pringle said. “Defensively, we’re returning a lot of starters and it’s just the same defense we ran for the most part last year. They’re a lot more comfortable in it. And then our offensive guys have a strong grasp of what we’re doing.”
Watch for Lake Gibson sophomore quarterback Joel Morris, who took the time to learn last year behind the tutelage of last year’s quarterback in Jackson Akins.
Morris will be throwing to senior wide receiver Josh Henderson, who in the past has been a basketball player. Guarding the whole scheme is senior Tristian Black who is a big 6-6, 268-pounder who is only getting stronger.
Defensively, Lake Gibson boasts the best line that Pringle has ever coached. Quarterbacking the defense will be all-state linebacker Wade Tyer and Division I talent Quinton Moore.
“We got a lot of talent on both sides of the ball,” Pringle said. “We’re looking forward to seeing what they do. …(We’ve been doing the) same as everybody else: practicing, game planning and getting everyone into the swing of having practice and school again the same day.”
This routine will be tested against a Plant City team who operates in a two-quarterback system, as Lake Gibson will have to expect a read option, too. They also have receiver Judah Bendorf, who was second on the team last year in receiving yards a reception at 23.5.
Defensively the 2022 team that went Plant City runs a 4-3.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lake Gibson coach Richard Pringle believes stability is key
