Edenfield pouring heart and soul into LH
Ian Edenfield looked completely exhausted, mentally and physically spent, as he sat down after Friday night’s 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’s 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’ always tough and gritty Vikings, whom they lost to a year ago, 49-0.
“I’m very proud of these guys,” Edenfield said, his voice still cracking with emotion following the game. “It’s not even the football side of it. These kids have been knocked down with everything that’s gone on (in the offseason).
“They showed some good school spirit tonight.”
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.
“Not a lot of time to get ready, really,” 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.
“I’m just glad to be back, honestly,” Edenfield said. “This is home to me. I don’t know if there’s a person that loves this place more than me.”
Edenfield has implemented much that he learned under his former coaches and made sure to work particularly with sophomore quarterback Gabe Centofanti.
“We’d watch my old IUP films from last year, we’d watch those plays and he’d be, ‘Oh, that’s our play,'” Edenfield said. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s what we’re trying to do.'”
He’s used some of what he learned under Gundy as well.
“There are things we try to do to simulate some of it,” Edenfield explained. “I run the lifting like a Division-1 program like we did out there. I run practices like it. We’re maximum effort, that’s what I was taught out there.”
When game day finally rolled around for his Mustangs coaching debut on Friday, Edenfield admitted he was amped up and a bundle of nerves.
“I didn’t eat all day today,” Edenfield said. “I was teary-eyed listening to the national anthem.”
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’s Kaden Hudec in the third quarter gave the Vikings their first lead, 14-10.
This was the first true test of the Mustangs’ mettle under Edenfield, who kept his offense’s spirits up.
“They broke that run, they scored, and I got the offense together and said, ‘Guys, it’s not over. We’ve got a chance to go down and take the lead again,'” Edenfield said.
His players responded with a nine-play drive that ended with Centofanti’s 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’s final three passes.
The draining first game behind him, Edenfield was ready to turn the page.
“I told the kids in there, ‘Monday I’m going to come back and we’re going to get to work and move on to Derry,'” Edenfield said. “We’ve just got to keep working.”
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’s 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.
“I do,” Edenfield said. “I can’t ask for a better group of guys.”
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 Herald-Standard and can be reached at rburchianti@heraldstandard.com.