THREE RIVERS AREA — In 2008, Cedar Ridge played its first year of varsity football, skipping the usual transition year in junior varsity in which some schools choose to participate. The young squad finished 0-9, but head coach Todd Lovell said the 2009 Timberwolves will be a much stronger team.
"Everyone has been through an offseason program now," he said.
"The strength will be better. The speed will be faster. And they are
more ."Last year's team featured sophomore
and junior classes that were good in ju
nior high, but a senior class of eight that
had never played until last season.
A major impact player who Lovell is expecting to add some experience to the lineup is Brandon Webster (5-11, 160), a transfer from Batesville. The senior halfback and defensive back will have more experience than anyone on the team.
"The guy is super fast," Lovell said. "He's a good kid and works hard. I've never seen him play a down of football, but I'm expecting a lot from him." The addition of Webster combined with the offseason program and experience the young team got from last year's season give the head coach hope that 2009 will yield a little better results.
"I may be a year away, but we're hoping we can be competitive, he said. "Our goal is to have a winning season and next year be a lot better.
I'll be disappointed if we don't win some ball games this year." On offense, the Timberwolves return all of their starters from last season.
"I've got everybody back," Lovell said. "I've got my quarterback from an undefeated junior high team, a good halfback and fullback. And all of my lineman, except one or two, played on that undefeated team." Defensively, Lovell is adding three sophomores to the group of starters from last season that he expects to make the group a lot better.
"I have a lot of extra kids now," he said. "Whereas last season we didn't have much depth and had to deal with injuries." A few of Cedar Ridge's key players are linebacker/halfback Cody Weathers (5-11, 180) who Lovell described as "the toughest kids out there." Junior quarterback Tuff Murphy (6-1), who played on the undefeated junior high squad, will lead the offense.
"He's a solid player," Lovell said. "He has a good arm, and he's a solid leader." These players will surely have an impact on the Timberwolves' season, but Lovell still looks to the increased strength of the team as the big difference from last year.
CEDAR RIDGE
TIMBERWOLVES
Sept. 4 .....Palestine-Wheatley
Sept. 11 ........ Walnut Ridge*
Sept. 18 ...... at Marked Tree*
Sept. 25 ............... at Salem*
Oct. 2 ...................... Rector*
Oct. 9 .............. at McCrory*
Oct. 16 ..........Cross County*
Oct. 23 ..............at Augusta*
Oct. 30 ......................OPEN
Nov. 6 . East Poinsett County*
Special, Pages 184 on 08/23/2009