NEW BREMEN, OH — The Indian Lake Lakers will get their first taste of football action Friday night when they travel to New Bremen for a preseason scrimmage against the Cardinals. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The scrimmage will be the Lakers' first competition of the 2026 season following weeks of offseason workouts and preseason practices. While the result will not count toward the regular-season record, Friday will give Indian Lake an opportunity to evaluate its players and work out some of the early-season details before the games begin to count.

Indian Lake enters the season coming off an impressive 2025 campaign. The Lakers finished 11-3 overall and 5-0 in Central Buckeye Conference play, earning a spot in the postseason. Indian Lake picked up playoff wins over Preble Shawnee and Mariemont before its season came to an end.

That success has helped create high expectations heading into 2026, but the Lakers will have plenty of work to do with a new season and new group of players.

Friday's scrimmage will give returning players an opportunity to step into expanded roles while also allowing younger players to compete for playing time. Coaches will get their first chance to evaluate the team in a live-game environment and identify areas that need attention before the regular-season opener.

“I like the momentum we have gained this summer. We have a really fun group,” Said Head Coach John Rapp. “Some guys get to play in some roles they did not have to last year, and it exciting.”

New Bremen will provide the opposition as both programs continue preparing for the start of their respective seasons.

For Indian Lake, the focus will be on execution, fundamentals and getting game-ready, and improving upon the summer work from the past 2 months.

Indian Lake at New Bremen
Friday, August 7 — 7 p.m.

The Lakers' 11-win season is in the past. Friday night marks the beginning of a new season and the first opportunity for Indian Lake to start building on last year's success.