Wilson’s first game since winning the state championship last season had an ugly ending as the Tigers and Lake City brawled on the field as soon as the clock ran out Thursday night at Memorial Stadium.

The Wilson Tigers have spent the past seven months reaping the benefits of last year’s state championship — media coverage, ring ceremonies and more congratulatory phone calls than they can count.

No team might benefit more from realignment than Lake City. The Panthers go from having to play foes like Wilson and Marlboro County to playing team from the Grand Strand, which doesn’t have a dominant team except for Myrtle Beach.

Scotty Cooper was thrust into a starting role for Clemson last year in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. The Lake City native rose to the occasion, making 10 tackles in the Tigers loss to Auburn.  Coming into 2008, Cooper will be relied on for more than just one game. The sophomore is tops on the depth chart at Sam linebacker. 

The Lake City High School Panthers spent their afternoons this past week preparing for their upcoming fall season with practice at Ward Memorial Stadium.