When youโ€™re coming off another winless football season, like the Lebanon Cedars are, the first order of business is simply to get off the mat.

And that is what fourth-year head coach Frank Isenberg and his squad are trying to do. Grab one, then build from there. Not much more to it. Actually lends itself to a sort of hyperfocus, a singular task at hand. No talk of schedules or Lancaster-Lebanon Section 2. Just. Win. One.  

Lebanon’s Cedars are ready to go to work. The Cedars open their 2023 season on Friday at home against Palmyra. (Will Trostel)

โ€œThe message for this year is that we have to come together,โ€ Isenberg said. โ€œWe have to ride through adversity and battle back through it all.โ€

Lebanonโ€™s winless skid is at 23 games. The Cedarsโ€™ last victory came at home against Garden Spot, 35-23, on Oct. 9, 2020.

Lebanon returns nine players on offense and eight on defense, so there is a nucleus back on which to build.

A pair of Cedars run a drill at a recent preseason practice. Lebanon has been working hard since preseason camp opened on Aug. 7. (Will Trostel)

Isenberg was encouraged by what he saw when the Cedars faced Mid-Penn conference opponent Boiling Springs in a preseason scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 19.

โ€œWe battled, we competed, our kids were very excited and feeling confident,โ€ he said. โ€œHeading into this first week, there is definitely a different feeling than in 2022.โ€ 

The Cedars open the season at Alumni, against Palmyra, on Friday night.

In an effort to forge a different path, the Cedars have scrapped the high-tempo, hurry-up Air Raid offense, in favor of huddling. Itโ€™s as much about giving the defense a blow as it is about schematics.

โ€œFor the first time in 16 or 17 years, weโ€™ll be huddling,โ€ Isenberg said. โ€œItโ€™ll definitely be something different for our kids. The thing is, with our numbers (42 players listed on the current roster), sometimes theyโ€™re playing so fast, throwing the ball all over the yard, three incompletions, now youโ€™re putting your defense in a hole.

โ€œSchematically, weโ€™re trying for balance. As an old offensive lineman, I love running the football.โ€ 

The Spread attack returns, minus that frenetic tempo. 

Juniors Brandyn Castro and Kareem Stoner are battling at the quarterback positon. Stoner is coming off a broken leg suffered in last seasonโ€™s first game. Castro helmed the offense.

โ€œItโ€™s been a battle all camp,โ€ Isenberg said. โ€œWeโ€™ll probably go with a package for each in Week 1. Brandyn is more of a drop-back passer, a big arm. Kareem is more mobile.โ€

Lebanon head coach Frank Isenberg puts his charges through their tasks. Isenberg is in his fourth season as the Cedars’ head man. (Will Trostel)

Derek Infante, Braylon Beaver, Derrick Briddell and Paul Trace return as weapons on offense, at receiver and running back. Aidan Fernandez is listed at tight end.

A beefy offensive line returns Corbett Brickle and Mahkye Cortes at the tackle spots.

โ€œPhysical, strong kids. Weโ€™re pretty big up front,โ€™ Isenberg said. โ€œCorbettโ€™s 6-3, 300. Mahkye is 6-4, around 265.โ€

Cayden Clentimack returns from a shoulder injury suffered last year. He tips the scales at 6-5, 325.

The defensive line within Lebanonโ€™s 3-3 scheme is a strength. Brickell is at nose. Josiah Wright, a four-year starter, is back, as is Colin Johnsen.

The linebacking corps will see Fernandez and Kai Rivera return, in rotation, as well as Jack Herr, who was safety last year and moves down, given strong mobility. Freshman Camron Buckmoyer brings speed to the outside.

Briddell, a three-year starter, quarterbacks the defense from the secondary. โ€œA high football IQ, a downhill player,โ€ Isenberg said.

Infante will man one corner, while newcomer Richie Estevez draws duty at the other corner.

Lebanon Cedars always put their best feet forward. Lebanon is seeking early success upon which to build some momentum. (Will Trostel)

Isenberg was asked about the seasonโ€™s prospects.

โ€œThe simple answer is getting a win,โ€ he replied. โ€œItโ€™s a clichรฉ, but our goal will be to get better every day. Get 1 percent better every day when youโ€™re out there. And thatโ€™s what I try to look at.

โ€œOur section is what it is. I would argue itโ€™s one of the toughest in the L-L league. But we canโ€™t control any of that and I donโ€™t worry about it. We have to play who we have to play, and weโ€™re gonna do the best that we can.โ€

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Jeff Dewees has written about sports for more than 30 years, with local stops including the Patriot-News, York Daily Record, Hummelstown Sun and Carlisle Sentinel. He resides in North Lebanon Township.

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