“Win the Day” mentality drives CD East soccer to new heights

Approximately 24 hours before kickoff, CD East does not conduct typical walk-through practice.

The football program has increased its pace in recent years under head coach Lance Deane, and nothing but a quick and robust practice session is enough.

“We’re actually trying to do the exact opposite. The closer it gets to game time, the faster it gets. We’ll slow it down a little bit on Wednesday,” Deane said.

“We finish the week faster so we can learn more on Fridays. We always want to practice quickly and efficiently.”

Of course, this efficiency paid off hugely for the Panthers. A determined cast fuels the program's best start in franchise history. CD East enters Friday's home game against State College with just one loss with a perfect record of 7-0.

It may be a surprise to many in the Mid-Penn Conference, but not to the Panthers.

“We try to do as much as possible off the field. Relationships and bonds are big,” said junior linebacker Alante Caceres, who leads the Panthers with 45 tackles.

“We send our coaches to work all the time. We’re all 100 percent in the same boat.”

The Panthers certainly have an experienced cast leading the way. Senior QB Demaj Jalloh is a long-time starter who is now working up front behind a number of experienced blockers.

The transfer of wideout Santana Young from Trinity was a revelation. And the emergence of RB Leon Parson, especially after 1,800-yard rusher Jared Porter was sidelined with injury for most of the season, sets the tone.