By Chris Parker
Lighthouse Christian’s end of season goal is a bit different than most of the other area’s football teams. While MSHSAA schools dream of a district and state titles, Lighthouse Christian chases national championships.
The Chargers, who are comprised of area players that are homeschooled, are poised to make a run to that title behind one of the area’s top returning statistical quarterbacks.
Senior Colby Fields threw for 3,840 yards and 46 touchdowns in leading the Chargers to a 9-3 overall record last year. The 6-foot-4 quarterback added in 151 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
“He is coachable and has a quick release. In our offense it helps to, one, have a kid that will listen but, two, have a kid that can see what we are trying to get done and execute,” Chargers head coach Rian Bess said.
His top returning receiving target is junior Gavin Bess. He is a strong possession receiver that led the Chargers in receptions (85), receiving yards (1,013) and touchdowns (17) as a sophomore.
“It starts with throwing him those quick screens in the middle of the field,” Coach Bess said. “He is probably more of our running back type kid, so we want to get the ball in his hands and let him run around people.”
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William Jackson, Tyler Vermillion, Parker Aguilera and Noah Miller will all see time at wide receiver as well.
The offensive line will be anchored by Zach Tillman, Mark Taylor, James Robinson and Ethan Cliburn.
Defensively, Miller is the team’s top returning defensive back. He returns to the secondary after accruing 63 tackles last season from his safety position. Joe Fleetwood will man the other safety spot. Vermillion and Aguilera will hold down the cornerback spots.
At linebacker, the Chargers will have to replace Ryan Jones and his 167 total tackles. Jackson is the team’s top returning tackler after pulling down 71 total tackles last season. He will be joined at linebacker by Bess.
Up front, Robinson, Cliburn and Parker Ray will be the key players on the offensive line.
Lighthouse Christian is not a MSHSAA school, but the Chargers will play plenty of area teams who are a part of MSHSAA.
“We love playing the MSHSAA schools. It keeps us closer to home. We used to go to Oklahoma just about every weekend,” Bess said. “Our goal is always set on that National Championship down in Florida. We love playing the MSHSAA teams because they do a really good job of giving us different looks every week and getting us ready for that tournament down in Florida.”
For Bess, he wants his Chargers to win a national championship, but that is far from the only goal for him and his coaching staff.
“Seeing all these boys grow closer to the Lord. If we do that then we have had a successful year in my book,” Bess said. “We love to win, don’t get me wrong, but we also know it is more than just that. When we play anybody we are going to play hard and we are going to play fierce, but at the end of the game we want to be sure they understand we appreciate them and love them in Christ.”
Lighthouse Christian opens the season on Aug. 30 at California.
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