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IMG_9305BY JEFF FALK

SOUTH LEBANON – Preseason camps afford us an opportunity to take a step back, take stock of an athletic program and honestly assess exactly how it’s doing. So can we cast some judgments upon the Cedar Crest football program’s current progress or is three years too small of a sample size?

The Falcons aren’t where they set out to go, but they are very much on the right path.

This 2017 season will be the fourth of one-time new head coach Rob Wildasin’s tenure. The Falcons have gone 14-17 overall under Wildasin’s guidance, but that’s just part of the story.

Over the last three seasons, Cedar Crest has gotten progressively better, culminating in a 6-4 year last season. Two years ago, the Falcons qualified for the District Three postseason for the first time in two decades,

IMG_9370There have also been moves to Section Two of the Lancaster-Lebanon League and to a new classification – AAAAAA – for the Falcons.

Before Wildasin was hired, Cedar Crest went a combined 27-73 over the previous decade. All things considered, the future appears bright, as viewed from the foundation that’s been constructed.

“I think the program has made huge strides in four years,” said Wildasin. “We are a team in our section that I don’t think anyone is looking past. We are not the team to beat. But we’re capable of beating anyone, and I think everyone knows that. We are in the mix. If you look at the players and staff we have, we have good things going on. I’m proud of my staff and I’m proud of my kids.

“Last year was a success,” continued Wildasin. “That group of kids competed. They were always up for a challenge. But that absolutely, 100 percent doesn’t have anything to do with this year.”

The Falcons concluded 6-4, after starting 2016 4-1. Cedar Crest finished 11th in the final Class AAAAAA power rankings, out of 29 schools.

“Every team knows where some holes are, maybe holes created by the loss of seniors,” said Wildasin. “What voids need to be filled. For two weeks you just focus on yourself, because the next ten weeks you focus on opponents. Training camp is a great chance to get better.

IMG_9315“It’s going good,” Wildasin continued. “We have great kids. They work hard. They’re physical. It’s something we continue to build off of.”

Cedar Crest has some dangerous pieces form which to forge an explosive offense. Experienced junior quarterback Logan Horn will pull the strings, but he won’t go it alone.

The combination of seniors A. J. Apple and Kendell Shand will form a potent rushing attack. And Wildasin really likes his receiving corp, one that is headed by senior Brandon Showers, junior Brody Dunlop, senior Nate French and first-year senior Cole Laney.

“I think he’s still growing and changing,” said Wildasin of Horn. “He’s still a 16-year-old kid. But he’s absolutely our leader on offense and the driver of the bus. He’s put in a lot of work this summer, which has impressed me.

“I don’t want any of our kids thinking about playing one sport,” added Wildasin. “One of the things wrong on the high school level is there are men who are trying to get kids to focus on one sport or another for their financial gain. I don’t want them focusing on one sport. I want them doing one thing after the other.”

The Falcons are also well stocked along both the offensive and defensive lines. Junior Nick Stout, senior Nate Cavic and sophomore Eric Wawrzyniak are just a few of the Cedar Crest men who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.

Senior Tanner Miller is the unquestioned leader of Cedar Crest’s defense.

IMG_9288“Our attitude is very positive,” said Wildasin. “They (his players) seem to handle adversity very well. They’re fighters. They’re not going to get too high or too low. I think that can be a real strength.

“We need to get better everywhere,” Wildasin added. “We just have to keep cleaning up the little mistakes, because they can compound and become big mistakes. That’s our focus this week.”

Cedar Crest’s main objective this season is quite simple, and very predictable. One more win than last year would represent continued improvement and could propel the Falcons into the District Three Class AAAAAA playoffs.

“Seven wins,” said Wildasin. “You approach every game the same way. If you do, that will take care of itself. We had a couple of games last year that got away from us. If you’re on a good balanced playing field, that’s where sports are fun.

“Yeah (seven wins should get the Falcons to the playoffs), absolutely,” continued Wildasin. “That’s why it’s our goal. If it’s six, you’re hoping and praying, like we were last year.”

IMG_9250To this point of the preseason, the only thing on Cedar Crest’s 2017 slate is a scrimmage with powerful Bishop McDevitt.

“They’re loaded,” said Wildasin of the Crusaders. “They’re going to be very, very good. They expose all your weaknesses. So they showed what needed to be fixed. We did OK. We got better as the scrimmage went on, which I liked.

“When you go live, it’s put up or shut up,” added Wildasin. “Some guys really rise to the occasion.”

Cedar Crest will open its 53rd season of competing in scholastic football on Friday, September 1st, at home against Lebanon High, in the annual Cedar Bowl game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_9313To purchase images in this article email jkfalk2005@yahoo.com, or to view more go to https://lebanonsportsbuzz.com/photo-gallery/.

 

 

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2017 Cedar Crest Football Roster

 

# Name Positions Gr. Ht Wt  
1 Neisso Dorvil RB, CB Jr. 5-2 130
2 Tony Brewer CB, WR Jr.
3 Cole Laney WR Sr. 6-6 210
4 Logan Horn QB Jr. 5-11 155
6 Trey Kalbach FS, WR Jr.
7 Alonzo Apple RB, OLB Sr.
8 Cameron Davis QB, DT So. 6-0 198
9 Alex Miller WR, FS So. 5-11 145
10 Tanner Miller OLB, QB Sr. 6-0 185
11 Kendell Shand CB, RB Sr.
12 Nate French WR, FS Sr. 6-0 183
13 Dylan Walborn WR, CB Sr.
13 Chris X rios WR, CB So. 5-9 167
14 Sam Sierra WR, CB Sr. 6-0 160
16 Jack Beasley K So. 5-10 145
16 Parker Little QB Jr.
17 Chad Ryland K, P Sr. 5-11 160
18 Zak Kinard Sr.
20 Tyler Eisenhauer DE, T, G Sr.
22 Cole Miller WR, SS So.
23 Brandon Showers FS, WR Sr. 6-1 190
24 Michael Cole MLB, RB Sr. 5-5 150
25 Chris Byler CB, WR So. 5-8 128
26 Nate Trovinger MLB, FB Sr. 5-10 190
26 Zach Garrett QB, OLB Jr. 5-11 180
27 Travis Zang TE, OLB Jr.
28 Essay Santos RB, CB Jr.
30 Dary Diaz WR, CB Jr.
31 Eli Ritter WR, OLB Jr. 5-10 160
31 Jepel Gibbs jr. WR, CB Jr.
32 Julius Gonzalez RB, FS So. 5-6 138
33 Brody Dunlop WR, SS Jr. 5-11 175
36 Eric Wawrzyniak TE, OLB So.
40 Gage Ebersole RB, SS Jr. 5-10 175
45 Robert Twardowski So.
50 Isaac Vera OLB, T Sr. 5-8 170
51 Andrew Foltz G, DT So. 5-7 205
52 Ethan Beare G, MLB Jr.
53 Frank Honey MLB, T Sr. 6-1 210
55 Owen Kreider DT, G So.
56 Billy Eddy So. 6-0 220
57 Noah Spang Jr.
58 Austin Bohr C, MLB Jr. 5-10 160
59 Tommy Mee-say DT, G Sr. 5-7 228
59 Gabe Roman
60 Brock Eisenhauer DT, T, G Sr.
62 Trevor Kline G, DT Sr. 5-10 230
63 Brody Arnick DE, T Sr. 6-4 233
64 Cade Rambler TE, DE, DT So. 5-11 180
66 Nate Shaeffer C Jr. 5-10 230
67 Derrick Via Jr.
68 Omar Espinosa T, G, DT Jr.
70 Nick Stout Jr.
71 Jaydon Showers Jr.
73 Tj Moore T, DE So. 6-0 195
74 Darren Garcia T, DT So.
76 Austin Long T, G, DT Sr.
81 Zach Dove WR, CB So.
81 Devin Shay WR, DE Jr.
83 Zach Dishong WR, CB Sr.
84 Adam Loehr TE, OLB Sr. 6-2 170
85 Nathan Cavic TE, DE Sr.
87 Austin Klunk
88 Alex Progin CB, WR Sr. 6-0 155
Blake Hoke MLB, WR So.
Brandon Walker C, DT So.
Derek Kern WR, CB So.
Ethan Stevey G, T So. 5-2 175
Jake Arnold Fr.
Lawson Seyfert RB, WR, CB So. 5-8 136
Miguel Ramirez T, DT So.
Nate Bell G, DE So.
Noah Iceman So.
Rylee Weaver So.
Tyler Cruz RB, MLB So.

 

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2017 Cedar Crest Football Schedule

DATE OPPONENT TIME LOCATION
09/01
Lebanon
7:00 PM Cedar Crest High School
09/08
Northern Lebanon
7:00 PM Northern Lebanon High School
09/15
@Lower Dauphin
7:00 PM Cedar Crest High School
09/22 *
Ephrata
7:00 PM Ephrata High School
09/29 *
Garden Spot
7:00 PM Garden Spot High School
10/06 *
Cocalico
7:00 PM Cedar Crest High School
10/13 *
Solanco
7:00 PM Cedar Crest High School
10/20 *
Manheim Central
7:00 PM Manheim Central High School
10/27 *
Elizabethtown
7:00 PM Elizabethtown High School
11/03 *
Lampeter-Strasburg
7:00 PM Lampeter-Strasburg High School

 

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Cedar Crest Football Coaching History

2014-2017 – Rob Wildasin

2009-2013 – Tom Waranavage

2004-2008 – Mike Robinson

1996-2003 – Gene ‘Spike’ Fuhrman

1986-1995 – Norbie Danz

1983-1985 – Barry Heckard

1976-1982 – Dennis Tulli

1969-1975 – Norbie Danz

1965-1968 – Tom Auman

 

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