Edenfield pouring heart and soul into LH
Ian Edenfield looked completely exhausted, mentally and physically spent, as he sat down after Friday night无毛视频檚 football game.
The Laurel Highlands graduate had just finished his first game as the head football coach of the Mustangs.
Mount Pleasant pulled out a 24-17 overtime win at Mustang Field in a tight, physical battle that went down to the final play.
Although he was disappointed, it was evident that Edenfield无毛视频檚 tremendous passion for football, and his alma mater, was already rubbing off on his players.
The Mustangs showed resiliency and determination against coach Jason Fazekas无毛视频� always tough and gritty Vikings, whom they lost to a year ago, 49-0.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 very proud of these guys,无毛视频� Edenfield said, his voice still cracking with emotion following the game. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 not even the football side of it. These kids have been knocked down with everything that无毛视频檚 gone on (in the offseason).
无毛视频淭hey showed some good school spirit tonight.无毛视频�
How could a player not, watching Edenfield pour his heart and soul into their team?
Edenfield, a football, wrestling and baseball star when he attended LH, went on to play football as a tight end at California University of Pa. under Gary Dunn and at Oklahoma State under Mike Gundy. He was a graduate assistant under IUP head coach Paul Tortorella before jumping at the opportunity when the Mustangs job came open and was hired on May 12.
无毛视频淣ot a lot of time to get ready, really,无毛视频� Edenfield said.
He put together his staff and did his best to get his team prepared for the season, a task he enjoyed diving into.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 just glad to be back, honestly,无毛视频� Edenfield said. 无毛视频淭his is home to me. I don无毛视频檛 know if there无毛视频檚 a person that loves this place more than me.无毛视频�
Edenfield has implemented much that he learned under his former coaches and made sure to work particularly with sophomore quarterback Gabe Centofanti.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檇 watch my old IUP films from last year, we无毛视频檇 watch those plays and he无毛视频檇 be, 无毛视频極h, that无毛视频檚 our play,'无毛视频� Edenfield said. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 like, 无毛视频榊eah, that无毛视频檚 what we无毛视频檙e trying to do.'无毛视频�
He无毛视频檚 used some of what he learned under Gundy as well.
无毛视频淭here are things we try to do to simulate some of it,无毛视频� Edenfield explained. 无毛视频淚 run the lifting like a Division-1 program like we did out there. I run practices like it. We无毛视频檙e maximum effort, that无毛视频檚 what I was taught out there.无毛视频�
When game day finally rolled around for his Mustangs coaching debut on Friday, Edenfield admitted he was amped up and a bundle of nerves.
无毛视频淚 didn无毛视频檛 eat all day today,无毛视频� Edenfield said. 无毛视频淚 was teary-eyed listening to the national anthem.无毛视频�
Edenfield looked in control once he got into the flow of the game, roaming the sideline and yelling instructions.
The Mustangs held advantages of 7-0 and 10-7 before an exhilarating 80-yard run by Mount Pleasant无毛视频檚 Kaden Hudec in the third quarter gave the Vikings their first lead, 14-10.
This was the first true test of the Mustangs无毛视频� mettle under Edenfield, who kept his offense无毛视频檚 spirits up.
无毛视频淭hey broke that run, they scored, and I got the offense together and said, 无毛视频楪uys, it无毛视频檚 not over. We无毛视频檝e got a chance to go down and take the lead again,'无毛视频� Edenfield said.
His players responded with a nine-play drive that ended with Centofanti无毛视频檚 13-yard touchdown pass to Jonah Coleman in the corner of the end zone on a rollout. Suddenly LH was back in front, 17-14.
The Vikings showed their heart as well in driving for a game-tying field goal and eventually winning in overtime after scoring on a fourth-down touchdown run and then breaking up Centofanti无毛视频檚 final three passes.
The draining first game behind him, Edenfield was ready to turn the page.
无毛视频淚 told the kids in there, 无毛视频楳onday I无毛视频檓 going to come back and we无毛视频檙e going to get to work and move on to Derry,'无毛视频� Edenfield said. 无毛视频淲e无毛视频檝e just got to keep working.无毛视频�
The Mustangs showed plenty of positive signs in their opener. They ran a balanced offense that produced 111 yards on the ground and 115 through the air, and their defense came up with two fumbles and an interception.
How many games Laurel Highlands will win this year is hard to determine, but one thing is for sure. The effort will be there.
Edenfield无毛视频檚 desire to have the football program succeed is off the charts. His goal is to get the best out of his players and himself.
And he believes in his team.
无毛视频淚 do,无毛视频� Edenfield said. 无毛视频淚 can无毛视频檛 ask for a better group of guys.无毛视频�
No matter what their record ends up being, Laurel Highlands made the right hire and the Mustangs are on the right track under Edenfield.
Rob Burchianti is sports editor of the 无毛视频-Standard and can be reached at rburchianti@heraldstandard.com.