There are questions about who will start at quarterback, when the team’s first practice will take place and exactly when their stadium will be ready to host games, but there is no question the Lewisville Lions are ready to get the 2024 season started.

“We had very good turnout all summer. We had 55 to 60 kids every day. We did some 7-on-7 stuff but there is only so much you can do in shorts and helmets,” said Coach Trent Usher.

With Chester County Schools adopting a new calendar, school will actually have started on Friday when football practice can begin. So the plan is to have the first practice of the year after school but the forecast is for temperatures to be in the upper 90s. There are heat protocols in place, so Usher isn’t sure when temperatures will drop enough for the team to hit the field, conceding it may be in the early evening. They will then practice early Saturday morning and after that, the Lions can go in full pads. They will have the first scrimmage of the year on Thursday, going to Fort Mill. Usher said he knows what most of his players are capable of, so that encounter will be used in part to get a look at some younger players.

“We need some young guys to show they are ready to step up and play at the varsity level,” Usher said.

It will also be a chance to try to settle the signal-caller spot. Last year’s starter has transferred out and Usher has three good candidates to work with in Zack Rogers, Jordan Strong and Matt Cousar. Rogers actually played quarterback at one point and both he and Strong were used in the team’s goal line, run-heavy “Wildcat” packages.

“We’ve got a three-way rotation there,” Usher said. “All bring something to the table. We want to see them in live action to see what they can do.”

The scheme of the offense won’t change regardless, with the team being an “Air Raid” attack. The play calling might change a little, with Strong and Rogers both bringing big-time running ability to the position.

Lewisville’s stadium will soon be the site of Chester’s County’s first district track and field facility. That will present great opportunities for all three local schools to host track meets for the first time, but for right now it will limit the team’s access to the facility, particularly with several days of rain last week setting things back a bit. The team is supposed to host York for a scrimmage the following Monday but Usher said the location may have to be moved. He said that isn’t something he or the team can control, so they’ll just make whatever adjustments are necessary and keep preparing.

This will be Usher’s first season as head coach at Lewisville. He served on the staff the last two years, though, as the team won two region titles, three playoff games and posted a 23-4 record. When former Coach Leon Boulware left for Lugoff-Elgin, he was first named interim head coach, then had the interim tag taken off. He has head coaching experience, but said everyone around the team and school has made for an easy transition.

“It’s a lot easier when you are promoted after you’ve already been on a staff. I’ve gotten so much support from the school, the administration and the community. It’s been great,” Usher said.

And all of that has the team ready to answer any questions and get things started.