Young Riders are eager to get new season started

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CAMDEN — If there’s strength in numbers, Caesar Rodney High’s football team is in pretty good shape.

The Riders had as many as 120 players come out for the program in preseason.

Coach Dan Candeloro’s problem right now, though, is that not enough of those players have varsity experience.

So with CR hosting Hodgson in its season opener on Thursday at 7 p.m., Candeloro knows that the Riders’ success this fall will depend on how quickly those new players develop.

The good thing for CR is that it’s already guaranteed a DIAA state tournament berth in the new Class 3A. All 11 teams in the division will make the playoffs this season.

For the Riders, it will be the program’s first tourney appearance since 2017 and only the second since 2013.

“They’re very excited, very eager to get going,” said Candeloro. “We’ve been in camp since August 6 so they’re just really eager to start the season. Obviously with this new alignment, it’s going to be a battle every week. There’s no down weeks.

“We’ve got some great leadership on the team. They’ve really come together. For as young as they are, they’ve gelled well and have worked hard all summer.”

CR went 5-2 last fall behind a senior class of 20 players that included four All-Henlopen North players. One of the Riders’ victories was over eventual Division I state champion Sussex Central.

With a senior class of about 23 this fall, CR does return a pair of All-North players in fullback Brock Conner and outside linebacker Nate Waite, who both made second team.

At quarterback, junior Andre Moore is slated to step into the starting role. A 6-foot-3, 190-pounder, he moves up from the junior varsity.

Moore beat out senior Clay Friend, who will start at safety.

“He’s a quiet leader,” Candeloro said about Moore. “He’s got really good running ability. The kids respond to him. He’s really just a quality kid.”

Moore will be joined in the backfield by Conner and senior halfbacks Julian Harris and Noah Thompson.

Other experienced players back for the Riders are Kevin Takizala (TE/DL, Jr.), Jensen Reed (WR/DB, Jr.), Kyle Pounds (K/P, Sr.), Jeremiah McDonald (TE/LB, Sr.) and Xavier Mera (TE/DL, Sr.).

“And we have some key kids that are stepping up for sure,” said Candeloro.

As a member of Class 3A’s District II, CR will still face familiar Henlopen North foes Cape Henlopen, Dover, Smyrna and Sussex Central. But the Riders face only one non-Class 3A team when they take on Class 2A opponent Archmere, which reached the Division II state finals a year ago.

The fact that every 3A team is going to make the state tournament takes pressure off teams if they lose a few regular-season games.

“I think it’s good for everybody,” said Candeloro. “It’s such a hard road with 10 weeks of constant battles. I think it was a good move having the open tournament. ... I think it just has all kinds of positives to it.

“We want to get better from Week 1 to Week 10 — and in Week 10 be hitting our stride to go into Week 1 of the playoffs. To get there, we’ve just got to work hard every week. We’ve got to pay attention to game plans, and watch film and do all that stuff to get better every Friday night.

“We’re going out to compete every week and get better.”

Extra points

This year’s CR-Dover game will be played on Oct. 1 in Camden. It’s the second straight year it won’t be played in its traditional season-ending spot as well as the second year in a row it will be played on the Riders’ home field. ... Players won’t have the chance to make All-Henlopen Conference teams in football after this season. With the new alignment scattering Henlopen programs among the three divisions, there won’t be all-conference teams. ... CR plays four of its first four six games at home but three of its last four games on the road.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at 741-8227 or walter@iniusa.org.

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