Falcons Eyeing Next Rung on Ladder of Success

9 years ago
Falcons Eyeing Next Rung on Ladder of Success

Aug 27, 2015
Jeff Falk
No comments yet
FEATURE STORIES
1869 Views

BY JEFF FALK

SOUTH LEBANON – When it’s a process, all one is really looking for is a little progress.

Last season, the first under new head coach Rob Wildasin, the Cedar Crest football team won two of its last three games to complete a 3-7 campaign. Perhaps not what the Falcons were looking for, but pretty much what was to be expected given the circumstances.

But here’s the question: Can the Falcons build off of that late-season momentum? Can Cedar Crest carry that 2014 finish over into the start of 2015? Can it single out what worked then and replicate it now?

Can the Falcons generate more progress for the process?

“Absolutely, we were playing better football at the end of the season,” said Wildasin. “And we were young. We were playing young guys and it wasn’t like I was firing seniors. It was new. I don’t know if it will carry over to this season. We’ll find out next week (in the season opener against Lebanon).

“Any time you have transition, it’s a transition year,” Wildasin. “You don’t want it to be, but there’s not a lot you can do about it. It takes time for kids to learn new things, to know things. It could’ve been 5-5, and it could’ve been 1-9. So we probably finished right where we belonged.”

Much of the attention surrounding the Falcons this season will be directed towards Division One safety/receiver Evan Horn, and deservedly so. But the success of the season could hinge more on the development of the Cedar Crest line, both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

Heading the Falcons’ men in the trenches is all-Lancaster-Lebanon Section One performer Alex Flocken, junior center Garrett DeBien, senior tackle Joe Radakovitz, senior tackle Brett Bawiec, and tight-end Raymie Ferriera. But perhaps just as important to the Falcons’ fortunes will be the development of their younger linemen.

“I think most high school teams want to run the ball,” said Wildasin. “Some of it depends on the opponent and how much you’re able to establish. I’d love to not have to throw the ball. If an offense can gain five or ten yards every time they carry the ball, they’re not going to stop.

“I think our defensive line needed to improve, and it has improved,” added Wildasin. “I don’t think it’s a weakness. But we need to be better up-front.”

The guys who may benefit most from the line’s overall improvement will be senior quarterback Stevie Roda and junior tailback Justice Belleman. With Horn, Ferriera, senior Kobe Bolanos, Iziah Trimble and junior Greyson Williams, Cedar Crest boasts a fleet of fleet skill personnel.

“You have to look at who you are,” said Wildasin. “We know from our off-season workouts, and when we come into training camp we can say, ‘Here’s who we are’. That’ll morph and change as the season goes on. You end up focusing on the areas that will benefit you most. You’re playing to your strengths.

“This is a great group of kids,” Wildasin continued. “I know every coach says that and it’s not always true. But it’s true with these guys. They are grinders. They’re hard workers. We practice very hard. They’re very receptive to coaching, and that makes my job very enjoyable.”

Anchoring a Falcon defense which is always looking for ways to get better will be senior tackling machine Matty Mitchell and junior safety Zach Keffer.

“Our goal is the district playoffs,” said Wildasin. “That pushes us. But it’s also not unrealistic. We’ll have to be clean to attain it. If we limit our mistakes, we’ll be alright. For us to take the next step we can’t shoot ourselves in the foot.

“This is an important year for us,” continued Wildasin. “I have zero concern with pressure from anybody else. That’s how I operate. I don’t think an ounce of outside pressure can affect me more than I can put on myself. I’m running at max capacity. There’s no, ‘I need to step my game up’. I think the kids have bought in. Now it’s our job as coaches to show the way. Oh, and one other thing, ‘Go Falcons!'”

In an attempt to maximize his talents and free him up, Cedar Crest will move Horn all over the field, on both sides of the ball.

The Falcons will try to get him the ball in the slot, in the backfield and out wide. On defense, Horn will play a hybrid linebacker/safety position that is designed to keep blockers off of him and allow him to run and make plays.

“He’s a great kid. Everybody knows that,” said Wildasin of Horn, who’s being looked at hard by schools like Temple, Bucknell and the Naval Academy. “I think he’s the best athlete in central Pennsylvania. There might be kids stronger, and there might be kids faster. But what makes Evan so good is his instincts, knowing the game, his ball skills. Temple said his instincts are off the chart. Those are the things that set him apart.

“Evan can do whatever he wants,” added Wildasin. “My job is to get him as many opportunities in football as I can, just as Coach (Tom) Smith is doing in basketball and Coach (Rob) Bare is doing in track and field. Then whatever he picks, I want to go and watch him perform.”

To purchase images in this article email jkfalk2005@yahoo.com, or to see more go to www.http://lebanonsportsbuzz.com/gallery-nine/.

2015 Cedar Crest Football Roster

NO	NAME	POS	GRAD YEAR

72	Sam Alvarez	DE, OL	2016
24	A.J. Apple	LB, RB	2018
69	Brett Bawiec	DL, OL	2016
25	Justice Belleman	LB, RB	2017
30	Devon Bernard	LB, TE	2017
12	Davis Boland	CB, WR	2016
6	Kobe Bolanos	CB, WR	2016
65	Austyn Brandt	LB, OL	2016
18	Jordan Brown	LB, RB	2018
54	Jared Bybee	DT, OG	2016
85	Nathan Cavic	DE, TE	2018
55	Shjon Daub	DL, OL	2016
74	Devante Davis	DL, OL	2016
76	Terrell Davis	OG	2017
51	Garrett DeBien	DT, OL	2017
–	Zach Dishong	LB, TE	2018
–	Stefan Dissinger	–	2017
84	David Donmoyer	FS, WR	2016
–	Felton Durant	CB, RB	2016
68	Mikael Eckhart	–	2016
–	Luke Edwards	–	2017
59	Brad Eisenhauer	DE, OL	2016
60	Brock Eisenhauer	DL, OL	2018
82	Tyler Eisenhauer	FS, WR	2018
67	Austin Eisenhour	DL, OL	2016
68	Mike Ekhart	DL, OL	2016
–	Megan Espada	CB, WR	2016
56	Andrew Etter	DL, OL	2017
81	Raymie Ferreira	DE, TE	2016
49	Blake Fischer	K, WR	2017
61	Ross Fisher	DL, OL	2017
52	Alex Flocken	DL, OL	2016
80	Nate French	LB, WR	2018
44	Austin Garrison	LB, TE	2016
39	Hezekiah Gonzalez	–	2017
–	Austin Graby	–	2018
82	Neuman Grant	–	2017
4	Mitch Harsh	DE, RB	2016
40	Brandon Heist	LB, RB	2016
86	Frank Honey	LB, WR	2018
33	Evan Horn	SS, WR	2016
21	Logan Horn	CB, QB	2019
5	Jabin Joseph	CB, WR	2017
50	Jake Kalbach	LB, OL	2016
27	Zach Keffer	FS, WR	2017
–	Kevin Kiscadden	–	2017
62	Trevor Kline	DL, OL	2018
–	Matt Kramer	–	2017
87	Zeb Lasta	CB, WR	2017
42	Adam Loehr	SS, WR	2018
76	Austin Long	DL, OL	2018
63	David Maciel	DL, OL	2016
55	Brayden Martinez	LB, OL	2017
39	Roland Martinez	CB, WR	2016
–	Wyatt McNalley	–	2017
–	Tommy Mee-say	–	2018
58	Granite Miller	DL, OL	2016
1	Matt Miller	CB, RB	2016
17	Tanner Miller	CB, QB	2018
71	Tyler Miller	DL, OL	2016
4	Luis Minaya	DE, WR	2017
20	Matt Mitchell	LB, RB	2016
2	Greg Munnion	DE, QB	2017
11	Grant Neuman	CB, WR	2017
88	Damien Palm	DE, TE	2016
–	Joshua Peffley	K	2016
64	Donovan Pfleiger	DL, OL	2016
88	Alex Progin	CB, WR	2018
54	Trevor Quarry	DL, OL	2018
73	Joe Radakovitz	DL, OL	2016
32	Victor Ramos	LB, RB	2017
82	Jesse Riegel	DB, WR	2016
10	Stevie Roda	FS, QB	2016
26	Tyler Roth	LB, RB	2016
–	Michael Rubinstein	K	2017
–	Ricardo Salgado	–	2016
28	David Santos	MLB, TE	2016
71	Nick Seiple	DL, OL	2017
22	Tate Seyfert	–	2017
45	Kendell Shand	CB, RB	2018
99	Zabby Sharifi	K	2016
31	Dylan Shellenhamer	LB, RB	2016
23	Brandon Showers	FS, WR	2018
22	Sam Sierra	CB, WR	2018
36	Jon Simpson	LB, QB	2016
75	Gavin Singh	DL, OL	2017
70	Alex Smith	DL, OL	2018
78	Andrew Tarsa	DL, OL	2016
–			–
–	Blake Thomson	–	2018
83	Logan Tiffany	DB, WR	2016
8	Iziah Trimble	CB, WR	2016
26	Nate Trovinger	LB, WR	2018
3	Kristian Urban	CB, WR	2016
77	Isaac Viera	LB, OL	2018
83	Dylan Walborn	CB, WR	2018
66	Tyler Whary	DL, OL	2016
9	Greyson Williams	CB, WR	2017
12	Andrew Zoumas	–	2016
17	Dean Zoumas	–	2016

2015 Cedar Crest Football Schedule

DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION
09/04	Lebanon	7:00 PM	Cedar Crest High School
09/11	@Lower Dauphin	7:00 PM	Lower Dauphin High School


09/18	Manheim Central	7:00 PM	Cedar Crest High School

09/25 *	Warwick	7:00 PM	Cedar Crest High School

10/02 *	@Wilson West Lawn	7:00 PM	Wilson West Lawn High School

10/09 *	@Manheim Twp.	7:00 PM	Manheim Twp. High School

10/16 *	@Hempfield	7:00 PM	Hempfield High School

10/23 *	@McCaskey	7:00 PM	McCaskey High School
10/30 *	Conestoga Valley	7:00 PM	Cedar Crest High School
11/06 *	Penn Manor	7:00 PM	Cedar Crest High School