BY 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,
There 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.
“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.
“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.”
To 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.
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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. |
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 |
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