Pilots Football Squad Soars Into Lake Shore This Season

This season, local football fans will have more than just , and to root for from the bleachers.

Thanks to an agreement that seems like a perfect fit, Warren De La Salle's football squad is slated to play its home games at Lake Shore in 2011.

"Last spring we got together with De La Salle and they came out and visited the facility," Lake Shore athletic director John Hartley said. "They really liked it and are renting the facility from us. It's a great fit, and we're really happy to have them."

The Shorians didn't have to alter any of their sports teams schedules to accommodate the Pilots, Hartely says, and DLS simply fit their schedule into Lake Shore's calendar.

"They worked their football schedule into ours," Hartley said. 

To this point, the deal between the two schools is for 2011 only, but if things go well, which Hartley anticipates, it could reach well beyond this season.

"I think its a win-win for both schools," Hartley said. "We're getting to rent our facility, as well as getting some very good exposure and they have a great facility to play football in."

De La Salle athletic director Brian Kelly agreed.

"We're thrilled, our kids are thrilled, it's really something we're very excited about," Kelly said. "John (Hartley) and everyone at Lake Shore have been really great and we're looking forward to the season. We know it's not our place, but we want Lake Shore to be able to say that they have two great football programs at their facility."

Kelly says the DLS family is proud to be joining the St. Clair Shores community.

"Our intention is to create a lasting relationship with Lake Shore and the community," Kelly said. "We think this is such a perfect fit with the school being less than 15 minutes from us, and the facility being so great. We're just thrilled about it."

De La Salle kicks off the home football season at Lake Shore on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. against Pioneer High School.