Cedar Park was a snarling animal in Texas high school football – the Timberwolves mauling their opponents throughout the regular season and the playoffs, only to get hunted down in the regional semifinals against an offensive predator in Manvel.
The loss snapped a 28-game winning streak. After defensive coordinator coach Brent Brittain yielded 110 points in 12 previous games, Cedar Park sacrificed 40 in the first half, clawing desperately to get back into the game within the waning quarters, but falling short. Coach Carl Abseck never lost before the Mavericks defeat; his record now stands at 28-1 in two seasons as head coach.
Junior quarterback Mak Sexton finished the year with 2,266 passing yard and orchestrated a run-and-pass combination that averaged 40 points per contest. The offense was anchored by tailback Tyler Lavine, who had 12 consecutive games with a touchdown before twisting his ankle against Manvel, finishing the final game of his high school career with 22 yards on 10 carries.
“I’m going to remember the blood, sweat and tears that we gave every day and the fellowship I have with the guys,” said Lavine to the Austin American-Statesman.
Key Losses
RB Tyler Lavine, DL Nathan Sloey, DB Hunter Valk, DB Obinna Udoye, DE John Sacco, DB Nico Greenwell
Lavine was the focal point of a Timberwolves high-scoring offense that totaled 520 points. After running for 1,000 yards in Cedar Park’s championship bid last season, the Army commit surpassed his career best, scrambling for 1,265 yards and 29 total touchdowns. Lavine’s season peak came against Georgetown, accounting for four total touchdowns.
The “Black Reign” defense posted six shutouts on the season – a school record – and never allowed more than 20 points prior to the Manvel defeat.
Key Returners
QB Mak Sexton, OL Torey Crozier, OL Mason Brooks, WR Drew McDaniel
Quarterback Sexton averaged 188.8 passing yards a game; his total yardage was three times the output of his sophomore campaign. In the only loss of his high school career, the junior still threw for 415 yards and four touchdowns, hurling a career-high 55 pass attempts. Another year within coach Abseck’s system could make Sexton one of the best quarterbacks in the Austin area.
The 2016 team saw inexperience at the offensive line that quickly developed into a chief advantage, allowing ample time for Sexton to account for 2,452 yards of total offense. The line’s ability to block and open up running lanes were crucial for a team that accumulated 218.5 rushing yards per game. The standout lineman competing up front includes Jonathan Kelly, Mason Brooks and Trajaan Chase – who were responsible for 46 of the Timberwolves 76 pancake blocks. Keep an eye out for incoming sophomore Torey Crozier; at 6’2” and 320 lbs., the underclassmen will likely start at center next season.
Outside of graduating running back and receiving leader Hayden Craig (428 yards), the receiving corps will remain mostly intact; Drew McDaniel, Carson Neel, Payden Sawicki and upcoming sophomore Braeden Lilly will provide a healthy arsenal of weapons for Sexton to choose from.
Verdict
The Timberwolves defensive unit was a historic bunch, allowing a mere 11.38 points per game – the lowest in school history. Coach Brittain has built a reliable defensive scheme since 2012, giving up 15.2 points per game in that span; Cedar Park has sacrificed 16.9 points since the program’s conception in 2004. A strong staff lead by coach Abseck will always carry an advantage in the postseason and the return of critical starters compensate for graduation vacancies on the defensive side of the ball – in particular the secondary.
The team has only missed the playoffs twice in fourteen years and are riding a nine year postseason run. There’s no question that the storied team will make the playoffs. How far the Timberwolves go will depend on the cohesion of a young defense and filling voids in previously loaded offensive backfield.
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