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Lancaster Lebanon League – Section 1 (AAAAAA)
Head Coach: Nick Lambros – 3rd season
Key Returning Players: Eli Beard (Sr., DB), Jackson Chernich (Sr., DE), Kasen Dudek (Sr., LB), Skyler Sherman (Sr., CB), Kai Speaks (Sr., WR), Garrett Starry (Sr., ILB), Antonio Tirado (Sr., WR/FS), Isaiah Zimmerman (Sr., RB), Mason Cevette (Jr., TE), Damyen Derr (Jr., DE), Steven Reyes (Jr., QB), Jackson Smith (Jr., WR/DB), Griffin Schomp (So., OT)
Emerging Game Changers: Keenon Hopple (Sr., OL), Cole Shanaman (Sr., OL), TJ Wilson (Sr., WR), Ben Garland (Jr., WR/DB), CJ Hallman (Jr., WR/OLB), Axel Roman (Jr., OL), Jordan Pfaff (So., OL/DL)
Collegiate Competitors: Aiden Schomp (Lehigh), Kaleab Fees (Susquehanna), Jay Huber (Lycoming), Ethan Heisey (Lebanon Valley College), Roman Brummel (Lebanon Valley College), Owen Chernich (Lebanon Valley College), Cristian Viveros (Lebanon Valley College), Jack Waranavage (Muhlenberg), Landyn Kline (Misericordia)
Cedar Crest Football Season Outlook
There was a learning curve for Cedar Crest in 2025.
Now comes the opportunity to see what the Falcons learned from it.
Cedar Crest finished 5-6 and qualified for the District 3 Class 6A playoffs, but the final record tells only part of the story. A 1-2 start forced a relatively young group to find its identity on the fly, with Head Coach Nick Lambros and his staff putting a significant number of underclassmen into important varsity roles.
Those growing pains could pay dividends now.
Combine that experience with what Lambros describes as one of the best offseasons the program has had, and the Falcons enter 2026 believing they have the pieces to take another step forward.
There is no bigger piece than Isaiah Zimmerman.
The senior Army commit has established himself as one of the premier running backs in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Zimmerman led Section 1 in rushing for the second consecutive season last fall, piling up more than 1,100 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns while also making an impact as a receiver. He was named the Section 1 Offensive Back of the Year and later earned both LebCoSports.com MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors.
This year, Zimmerman will operate in an offense that returns considerable experience around him.
Junior Steven Reyes returns at quarterback after gaining valuable varsity experience last season. Seniors Kai Speaks and Antonio Tirado are back at receiver, while junior Jackson Smith returns after earning First Team All-County recognition as an all-purpose player. Junior Mason Cevette provides another experienced target at tight end.
Speaks caught 14 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns last season on his way to Second Team Section 1 honors.
Perhaps the most intriguing returning piece up front is sophomore Griffin Schomp.
Schomp was thrown directly into Section 1 football as a freshman and responded by earning Second Team All-Section and First Team All-County honors along the offensive line. The 6-foot-6, 260-pound tackle has since attracted Division I attention, with scholarship offers from Virginia Tech, Maryland and Syracuse.
The rest of the offensive line will look different.
Peyton Witmer, Jimmy Trump, and Jayden Storm have moved on, creating opportunities for players such as seniors Keenon Hopple and Cole Shanaman, junior Axel Roman, and sophomore Jordan Pfaff.
That group will be important to an offense that already knows where much of its production can come from.
Defensively, Cedar Crest has another proven centerpiece in Garrett Starry.
The senior inside linebacker has surpassed 125 tackles in each of the past two seasons and has scored three defensive touchdowns during that span. Starry earned First Team All-County honors and Second Team Section 1 recognition last fall.
There is experience surrounding him at every level.
Senior Jackson Chernich returns at defensive end after earning Second Team Section 1 honors, while junior Damyen Derr gives the Falcons another experienced edge presence. Kasen Dudek returns at linebacker, with Smith, Skyler Sherman, Tirado and Eli Beard providing a veteran group in the secondary.
The largest hole is the one left by Landyn Kline.
Kline capped his Cedar Crest career as the Section 1 Outstanding Linebacker of the Year and a First Team All-Section and All-County selection. He is now continuing his career at Misericordia. Cedar Crest must also replace Luke Oriel, a standout defensive back and return specialist, along with Conner McCracken on the defensive line.
Replacing those players won’t fall to one person.
That’s part of the larger message surrounding this year’s Falcons.
Lambros’ goals aren’t framed around a specific win total. Cedar Crest wants its players to become more coachable and accountable while developing greater trust in one another. The belief is that the results will follow when everyone is willing to work and struggle toward the same goals.
The schedule will test that trust.
Cedar Crest opens with three non-league games, traveling to Central Dauphin East before hosting Lebanon in the Cedar Bowl and heading to Warwick. From there comes another demanding Section 1 slate featuring Hempfield, Manheim Township, Wilson, McCaskey, Dallastown, Penn Manor and Reading.
It’s the type of schedule that provides little room for a team still trying to figure out who it is.
That’s why last year’s experience could matter so much.
The Falcons already went through that process. Many of the underclassmen who were learning under Friday night lights in 2025 return older, stronger and considerably more experienced.
Now they’ll find out what they can do with it.
Cedar Crest begins the 2026 season Friday, August 28, on the road against Central Dauphin East.
2026 Cedar Crest Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Aug. 28 | Central Dauphin East | A | 7:00 PM |
| Thurs., Sept. 3 | Lebanon | H | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Sept. 11 | Warwick | A | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Sept. 18 | Hempfield | H | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Sept. 25 | Manheim Township | A | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Oct. 2 | Wilson | A | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Oct. 9 | McCaskey | H | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Oct. 16 | Dallastown | H | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Oct. 23 | Penn Manor | A | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | Reading | A | 7:00 PM |
2026 Cedar Crest Football Roster
| # | Player | Year | Position | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Garrett Starry | Sr. | FB/LB | 6’1″ | 225 |
| 1 | Isaiah Zimmerman | Sr. | RB/LB | 5’10” | 210 |
| 2 | Kai Speaks | Sr. | WR/DB | 6’1″ | 195 |
| 3 | Skyler Sherman | Sr. | WR/DB | 5’9″ | 175 |
| 4 | CJ Hallman | Jr. | WR/LB | 6’3″ | 190 |
| 5 | Terrance Wilson | Sr. | WR/DB | 5’11” | 180 |
| 6 | Eli Beard | Sr. | RB/DB | 5’8″ | 185 |
| 7 | Antonio Tirado | Sr. | WR/DB | 6’2″ | 165 |
| 8 | Steven Reyes | Jr. | QB | 5’11” | 175 |
| 9 | Calvin Dash | Sr. | WR/DB | 6’5″ | 165 |
| 10 | Damyen Derr | Jr. | TE/DL | 6’2″ | 195 |
| 11 | Kasen Dudek | Sr. | TE/LB | 6’0″ | 200 |
| 12 | Ben Danz | Jr. | QB/EDGE | 6’0″ | 195 |
| 13 | Wesley Leach | Jr. | WR/LB | 5’11” | 180 |
| 14 | Carlo Woellner-Davis | Jr. | WR/DB | 5’10” | 170 |
| 15 | Cayden Cruz | Jr. | WR/DB | 5’8″ | 165 |
| 16 | Tyler Carroll | Jr. | RB/DB | 5’8″ | 160 |
| 17 | Rayland Hoy | So. | WR/DB | 6’0″ | 155 |
| 18 | Chase Boger | So. | WR/DB | 5’7″ | 160 |
| 19 | Rocky Mercado | So. | QB/LB | 6’0″ | 200 |
| 20 | Jordan Reedy | Jr. | TE/LB | 6’1″ | 185 |
| 21 | Jackson Smith | Jr. | WR/DB | 5’9″ | 175 |
| 22 | Eddiel Nunez | Sr. | RB/DB | 5’5″ | 150 |
| 23 | Ben Garland | Jr. | WR/DB | 6’1″ | 185 |
| 24 | Jewelz Hernandez | So. | RB/DB | 5’6″ | 150 |
| 25 | Max Funderburk | Jr. | FB/LB | 5’10” | 180 |
| 26 | Miguel Pena | So. | WR/DB | 6’1″ | 170 |
| 27 | Adam Mathana | So. | WR/LB | 6’1″ | 180 |
| 28 | Tyler Kohr | So. | WR/DB | 5’11” | 170 |
| 29 | James Smith | Jr. | RB/LB | 6’0″ | 155 |
| 30 | Blake Clements | Jr. | WR/DB | 5’11” | 155 |
| 31 | Jordan Anderson | Jr. | WR/DB | 5’7″ | 160 |
| 32 | Dominic Cuthie | So. | WR/DB | 5’4″ | 140 |
| 40 | Jesiah Kunhardt | Jr. | FB/DL | 5’7″ | 185 |
| 41 | Chase Kemberling | Jr. | TE/DL | 6’2″ | 170 |
| 43 | Brennen Fisher | So. | TE/LB | 6’2″ | 185 |
| 44 | John Sherk | Jr. | FB/DL | 5’8″ | 175 |
| 45 | Caleb Stehman | Sr. | TE/LB | 5’8″ | 185 |
| 48 | Brody Olson | Jr. | FB/LB | 5’8″ | 160 |
| 50 | Grey Shaffer | So. | OL/DL | 6’0″ | 215 |
| 51 | Matt Szajda | Jr. | OL/DL | 6’2″ | 210 |
| 52 | Fernando Chavez-Ramirez | So. | OL/DL | 5’8″ | 220 |
| 53 | Hunter Kirby | So. | OL/DL | 5’11” | 185 |
| 54 | Jackson Chernich | Sr. | OL/DL | 6’2″ | 195 |
| 55 | Brandon Grose | Jr. | OL/DL | 5’9″ | 200 |
| 56 | Austin Eckert | Jr. | OL/DL | 5’11” | 185 |
| 60 | Jazier Hernandez | So. | OL/DL | 5’6″ | 220 |
| 61 | Nick Bomgardner | So. | OL/DL | 5’5″ | 190 |
| 62 | Jordan Pfaff | So. | OL/DL | 6’0″ | 240 |
| 63 | Andrew Bolanos | So. | OL/DL | 5’10” | 210 |
| 64 | Keenon Hopple | Sr. | OL/DL | 6’4″ | 250 |
| 65 | Noah Kleinfelter | So. | OL/DL | 5’11” | 220 |
| 66 | Eli Jimenez | Jr. | OL/DL | 5’7″ | 220 |
| 67 | Jaylen Padilla | So. | OL/DL | 5’7″ | 200 |
| 68 | Hayden Moore | Jr. | OL/DL | 5’10” | 235 |
| 69 | Graeme Gingrich | So. | OL/DL | 5’10” | 280 |
| 71 | Cole Shanaman | Sr. | OL/DL | 5’11” | 280 |
| 72 | Elijah Torres | Jr. | OL/DL | 5’8″ | 235 |
| 73 | Rijing Zheng | So. | OL/DL | 6’2″ | 220 |
| 75 | Wainder Torres-Rodriguez | So. | OL/DL | 5’8″ | 235 |
| 77 | Axel Roman | Jr. | OL/DL | 6’5″ | 300 |
| 78 | Eric Weiser | Sr. | OL/DL | 5’11” | 295 |
| 79 | Griffin Schomp | So. | OL/DL | 6’6″ | 260 |
| 81 | Gabe Kaighn | Jr. | K/P | 5’8″ | 175 |
| 87 | Mason Cevette | Jr. | TE/LB | 6’4″ | 220 |
| 88 | Jackson Martel | So. | WR/DB | 5’11” | 185 |
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