The dark clouds in the sky were ominous on Wednesday, Oct. 27,

but there was no rain or thunder at the start of the Cedarcrest freshman

football game against Skyline. However, as it turned out, it was two lightning

strikes in the form of Tom “Crazy Legs” Harding that caused the crowd to

roar, as the mighty Cedarcrest frosh notched a 20-0 win over the Spartans.

The teams were fairly matched and it resulted in a scoreless first

quarter. More of the same followed in the second stanza, with both teams

threatening but neither able to convert. Finally, the lightning struck: on a toss

around the end, Harding took the ball 60 yards for a touchdown. The extra

point missed, but the score electrified the team.

The rain and the mud made the pigskin hard to handle. A

Cody Pettersen tackle cause one fumble which Skyline recovered, and just

before the half Kyle Pierce sacked the Skyline quarterback, causing

another loose ball. The second half opened the same way, with yet another fumble

by the Spartans on their first offensive series.

Cedarcrest failed to move the ball on its first possession, but the

Spartan receiver mishandled Garrett Wolf’s punt and his fellow Wolves

recovered on the opposition’s 25-yard line. The offense pounded the defense for

a couple of plays and then Dan “The Man” Merrick took a reverse in for

the score. Casey Frey’s extra point made it 13-0 in favor of the Red Wolves.

A few more plays in the muck resulted in little yardage, and then

lightning struck a second time. Harding took the ball 62 yards for the

score; Frey’s extra point boosted the margin to 20-0. On the ensuing kickoff

Skyline lost the ball, and the third quarter ended with Cedarcrest holding the

ball and the upper hand.

The fourth quarter was a series of defensive stands and mishandled

balls. Josh Testerman threw an interception while a subsequent Wolf fumble

put Skyline on the 20-yard line. Fortunately, Kyle Eldred intercepted in

the end zone, squashing the Spartans’ attempt. Another Cedarcrest punt

and three Skyline plays ended the game.

Personal note: After the game I reflected on the wins, the losses,

and the close one that I had just coached on Howard Miller Field. The last

home win of at least this chapter in my coaching life was indeed sweet,

and the fact that the defense gave up not one point against a potent

offense made it that much sweeter. A rainy evening (my birthday wish) with

a couple of lightning strikes were the icing on my 36th birthday cake,

even if it was a couple days early.

Congratulations to all of the freshmen players on another great

win. They all did their part in securing the victory:

Offense: center Russell Knight; guards Coy Chittenden and

Garrett Wolf; tackles Andrew Rafferty and Tony Smith; fullback Rob

Westerman; tailback Tom Harding; running back/wide receiver Dan Merrick; and

wide receiver/kicker Casey Frey.

Defense: nose tackle Josh Rosen; defensive tackle Vong Ly;

defensive ends Cody Pettersen, Kyle Pierce and Joe Scott; linebacker/defensive

ends Adam Greenstreet, Alan Shults and Adam Speir; and defensive

backs Brent Sharp, Dan Benson, Tyler Connelly, Darren DeBoer and

Kyle Eldred.

Special thanks goes to Chris Wilson, who kept the ball dry and the

tees ready all season long