2024 Team Preview: Cedar Cliff Colts (3)

Written by: David Mika on Thursday, August 1st, 2024. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: Colin Gillen

Assistant Coaches:
Mike Spagnuolo
Chandler Heiple
Cory Rowe
Dylan Farrow
Randy Yeager
Scott Weyant
Evan Shiley
Geoff Boblick
Chris Thompson

Team Name: Cedar Cliff Colts

District: 3

Class: AAAAAA

League: Mid-Penn Conference, Commonwealth Division

2023 Record: 10-2

8/25 @ Shippensburg Area (AAAAA) 7:00 pm W 29-13
8/31 Mechanicsburg (AAAAA) 7:00 pm W 27-9
9/08 J.P. McCaskey (AAAAAA) 7:00 pm W 43-6
9/14 @ Hershey* (AAAAA) 7:00 pm W 41-21
9/22 Bishop McDevitt* (AAAA) 7:00 pm L 7-48
9/29 @ Mifflin County* (AAAAAA) 7:00 pm W 48-6
10/06 Lower Dauphin* (AAAAA) 7:00 pm W 21-16
10/13 @ Palmyra* (AAAAA) 7:00 pm W 55-18
10/20 Red Land* (AAAAA) 7:00 pm W 41-7
10/27 @ Milton Hershey* (AAAA) 7:00 pm W 54-18
11/10 South Western (AAAAA) 7:00 pm W 31-7
11/17 Cocalico (AAAAA) 7:00 pm L 13-31

Key Starters lost:
LB/RB Michael Jones 6-2. 205
LB/WR Nathan Lusk 6-1, 190
WR Alex Kohr 5-9, 170
OL Cooper Hambright 5-11, 220
OL Bo Hiller 5-10, 260
OL/DL Matthew Eisenhower 6-1, 230
LB Evan Ziegler, 5-9, 170
CB Elijah Wilbourn 5-11, 175
RB Erik Shriver 5-10, 170

Offensive Starters Returning: (6)
Sr QB Bennett Secrest 6-0, 200
Sr FB Kade Finkboner 5-11, 205
Sr WR Julius Tirado 6-0, 170
Sr OL Guner Hiller 6-3, 310
JR WR Owen Anastasi 6-0, 180
JR OL/DL Josh Gillen 6-1, 235

Defensive Starters Returning: (7)
Sr DL Hezikyah Latini 6-6, 305
Sr DL Guner Hiller 6-3, 310
Sr CB Julius Tirado 6-0, 170
Sr LB Kade Finkboner 5-11, 205
JR FS Owen Anastasi 6-0, 180
JR LB Will Kocher 6-1, 225
So DE Blake Secrest 6-3, 225

Special Team Starters Returning: (0)
None

Key Newcomers:
SR DB/WR Payton Schaffner 6’ 1” 205
JR DB/WR Isaiah Jones 6’ 0” 165
JR OL/DE Tommy Calderone 6’ 3” 225
JR OL/DL Chase Miller 5’ 10” 240
JR OL/DL Tyler Zarra 5’ 11” 240
JR RB/DE Aiden Arias 5’ 10” 215
JR CB/WR Jaden Heckard 5’ 7” 150
SO TE/LB Amarion Autry
SO RB/CB Princeton Dent

2024 Returning Player Stats:
Offense:
Sr QB Bennett Secrest 6-0, 200: 99/170 1370 yds, 16 TD, 3 INT
Sr FB Kade Finkboner 5-11, 205: 17 Car 107 yds, 4 TD
Sr WR Julius Tirado 6-0, 170: 15 Rec 147 yds, 1 TD
JR WR Owen Anastasi 6-0, 180: 13 Rec 119 yds, 1 TD

Defense:
Sr DL Hezikyah Latini 6-6, 305: 40 TCKL, 4 TFL, 3 Sacks, 2 FB REC
Sr DL Guner Hiller 6-3, 310: 16 TCKL, 2 TFL
Sr CB Julius Tirado 6-0, 170: 27 TCKL, 3 INT, 2 FB REC, 1 Pick 6
Sr LB Kade Finkboner 5-11, 205: 24 TCKL, 3 TFL, 1 INT
JR FS Owen Anastasi 6-0, 180: 17 TCKL, 1 INT, 1 FB REC
JR LB Will Kocher 6-1, 225: 48 TCKL, 7 TFL, 3 Sacks
So DE Blake Secrest 6-3, 225: 37 TCKL, 9 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 INT

2024 Outlook:
Offense: The Colts offense will look to remain balanced and threaten defenses with the run and pass. The passing game will feature senior quarterback Bennett Secrest along with two talented wide receivers Julius Tirado and Owen Anastasi. The rushing attack will need some time to develop as the offensive line will lean on returning starters Guner Hiller and Josh Gillen.

Defense: Cedar Cliff will return a solid nucleus of their defensive unit from last season. The front seven will be stout against the run with returning defensive lineman Hezikyah Latini, Guner Hiller and Blake Secrest. The linebacking core will be lead by Kade Finkboner and Will Kocher. The secondary will feature returning starters Julius Tirado and Owen Anastasi.

Special Team: The Colts lost kicker Carter Enders and punter Evan Zeigler to graduation. The special teams will be looking to remain solid as new kickers Wyatt Easton and Grant Enders battle for the kicking duties.

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