Despite having similar mascots, the Lakeview and Poland Bulldogs have had very different seasons leading up to their Week 4 matchup. The Poland Bulldogs entered the game at an honorable 2-1, while Lakeview entered winless on the season. What got these teams to this point in the season has been quite different as well.

Coming off of a state final 4 appearance last season, Poland has their sights set higher in hopes of a state championship. These hopes were put on hold because of a few positive COVID-19 tests throughout the course of their pre-season camps. The Poland Bulldogs were forced to sit out two weeks before only having a week to prepare for their Week 1 matchup with South Range, who the Poland lost to in a thriller. 

Lakeview, on the other hand, came into this game 0-3 and down a few key players due to injury. Junior 2-year letterman and last season’s offensive MVP, Gavin Mauger, would be sidelined along with Senior Tackle and team captain Kyle Roberts. The Lakeview Bulldog’s losses came against formidable foes, however, as they lost to Girard, Struthers, and Hubbard. 

On another note, cousins Evan and Will Davies would line up across from each other for the final time. Will, a senior fullback/guard for Poland, would be getting his first varsity experience this year while Evan is in his second year of varsity play. 

“It means just a little more this year,” explained Evan. “It’s always something you look forward to when the schedule comes out. You always want to circle that game. Knowing that this will be the last time for Will and I to suit up across from each other is exciting.”

Junior safety Nate Fox entered the game as Lakeview’s leading tackler, racking up 29 through 3 games thus far. If they wanted to compete with Poland, they would need to look towards Fox to make some splash plays in the secondary.

Lakeview would score their first points of the season in the form of an 80-yard touchdown strike to Junior Glenn Tolliver from senior QB Stephen Pavlansky to make the score 13-6 in the first quarter. This, however, would not be enough to keep Poland’s stout rushing attack on its toes as Lakeview would end up losing the contest by a final score of 44-6. Both teams will move on and set their own goals for the rest of the 2020 season.