For a while, Cedar Park was looking like the team to beat in 5A. They breezed through their regular season, shutting out four opponents and not letting anyone score over 20.
Then, the Timberwolves met Manvel in the playoffs, and the Mavericks broke the spell of the dominating Cedar Park defense. Manvel put up 47, which was ultimately too much for Cedar Park to overcome. The defense of their title died in a hard fought game.
Cedar Park was lead by a group of senior that performed excellently in their last campaigns. Now, with all those stars gone, who will take up the mantle for the Timberwolves?
Key Losses
FB/RB/MLB Tyler Lavine, DB Obinna Udoye, NG Nathan Sloey, DE Will Harris
The vast majority of Cedar Park’s 2016 scoring is gone with the departure of Tyler Lavine, who scored 30 total touchdowns in his senior year. On the defensive side of the ball, big, tough Nathan Sloey will be missed, as well as Obinna Udoye and Will Harris. That defensive front that was so good will be mostly gone.
Key Returners
QB Mak Sexton, T Mason Brooks, WR Carson Neel, DB Gunnar Chriswisser
Mak Sexton is the obvious headliner here, the quarterback will have to become even more of a leader for the Timberwolves as he moves into his senior year. Mason Brooks will offer solid protection. Young Carson Neel has some speed to him, he’s a guy that could potentially break out in a huge way next year.
For these previews, we watch a lot of Hudl films and go off essentially whatever information is available to us. Through this process, we see a lot of dominating players who make unbelievable plays. To date, I have not seen anything as impressive, at least effort-wise, as a series of plays in Gunnar Chriswisser’s highlight film that feature him chasing down guys that seem to have touchdowns all but locked up. Chase-downs start at :40.
The Verdict
It’s tough to say for sure, but I think Cedar Park will find themselves leaning more on the offensive side of the ball as opposed to the defense this year. Mak Sexton has the tools to have a very good senior year, and if the weapons alongside him mature, it could get explosive for the Timberwolves. As for the defense, losing that many stars is never easy, but there is some continuity there to ensure that their defense doesn’t go completely off the rails.
I forsee a season very similar to the past for Cedar Park. Of course, anything could happen, but barring some insane young maturation or emergence of multiple superstars on the defensive line, it’s likely that Cedar Park has another 12-1 or 11-2 season.
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