Since head coach Dan Hernandez’s arrival on campus, the Cedar Creek football program’s motto has been, “building a foundation, brick by brick.”
Anyone who has ever built anything with bricks will tell you, it’s a tedious and labor intensive process. For Hernandez and the Eagle football program, it’s a labor of love that is starting to pay off.
“We’ve come a long way since last year,” Hernandez said. “We have been focused in the weight room and in offseason and we are physically better than we were at this time last May.”
All-County tight end and linebacker Devin Tuggle is probably the team’s most talented player pound-for-pound. He was voted MVP by his coaching staff at last year’s banquet, and is expected to be even better this year.
“He’s bigger, stronger and faster than he was last season,” Hernandez said. “He could have a really special senior year.”
Team offensive MVP Jose Vasquez was another player Hernandez was quick to mention.
“Jose has another full year in the offense, and he has been running it like we are all expecting him to,” Hernandez said.
Chase Smith and Garrett Garza are both back as solid weapons for Vasquez, and along with Tuggle, will form a core of skill position players that should be able to put some points on the board.
On defense, the coaching staff is expecting big things out of Curtis Smith on the line.
“He’s going to be a force for us,” Hernandez said.
His pressure should take a little bit off safety and reigning defensive MVP Connor Hamilton, who coaches expect to have an all-district type season.
“He’s going to be the anchor of a much-improved secondary,” Hernandez said.
Those players form the core of the squad, and have been a huge asset to Hernandez as he has built the program from the ground up.
“As coaches, we are very appreciative of what those were able to do last year on the field in the midst of a very tough season,” Hernandez said.
The staff hopes to have lots of reinforcements for the those standouts this year. Several returning varsity players are looking to make more of an impact on the field this season, and Hernandez also pointed to a group of JV guys from last year that could be a factor in the depth chart.
“It’s still very early, but there are several young guys who are pushing in practice to get on to the field,” he said.
The players aren’t the only ones who have benefited with another year in the system. Hernandez believes his coaching staff has found a groove and is functioning as a cohesive unit.
“That extra year under our belt as a staff has really helped us out,” he said. “Everyone knows what their part is, and as a group we have been much more productive.”
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