Fair warning to all the offenses that Gainesville High has yet to face: Chris Lyles is watching. 

The senior safety has his routine down pat during each down when the Red Elephants’ defense is on the field.

And that means bad news for quarterbacks trying to thread passes through the self-proclaimed “ball hawk.”

“First off, I’ll start looking at the receiver, because the quarterbacks almost always gives the route away every time,” said Lyles (VIDEO). “He’ll look away and then starts staring down his receiver, so I’ll stare at his eyes and watch him close. Wherever I roam on the field, I’m going to make a play on the ball.”

Lyles made four interceptions in the second half of a 28-0 shutout win over Heritage Friday night, beating the previous school record set by Kendrick Lewis, who currently plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

Da’meon Williams of Norcross High is the only other player who has picked off four passes in a game this year, according to Gainesville coach Bruce Miller. Miller said Lyles had “a good knack for the ball,” and believed that he has college potential.

“You can see it in the film, that even if he’s not involved in the play, he’s around there,” said Miller. “He smells it out and sees it and goes to it ... He’s probably one of the better safeties in the state right now.”

Gainesville’s defense has caused headaches for passing offenses so far this year. The Red Elephants (3-1, 3-0 Region 8-AAAAA) now have nine interceptions on the year and have shut out their last two region opponents.

On Friday, Gainesville will travel to face the Salem Seminoles (4-1, 3-1), who lost a heartbreaker in overtime last week at Winder-Barrow.

Lyles’ partner in the secondary, Hunter Sims, recently snagged a pick himself to stop a late Winder-Barrow drive in the fourth quarter of Gainesville’s win over the Bulldoggs. Sims said trust is key to being able to read offenses and make quick decisions.

“Depending on the coverage you’re in, you’ve got to watch the quarterback, see where he’s going to,” he said. “You’ve got to go for it and make no regrets about that.”

Lyles was first thrust into action in his sophomore year when former teammate Lewis Cousins went down with an injury during a first-round game against Martin Luther King High School. From then on, Lyles said Miller has trusted his ability being the Red Elephants’ last line of defense.

Lyles said he often goes out for extra workouts on Saturdays with Mike Malone, a former Gainesville High alum who had a strong career at Western Carolina University. Typically, they’ll work on man-to-man coverage or zone drills, working to make sure the senior’s technique is honed.

“(Miller) gives me a lot of trust,” said Lyles. “He’s been on my side since freshman year. I’ve come a long way. I’ve been progressively getting better ever since then ... When I’m out there, I’m hungry. I just want to make plays.”

And Miller is more than happy to let him roam free, wherever the play might be.

“Having him back there gives you a sense of security,” said Miller. “He has a real understanding of what’s going on.”