Cretin-Derham Hall coach Chuck Miesbauer ‘03 made one thing perfectly clear during the offseason.

He expected the Raiders to have a very balanced and well conditioned team. At this rate, they might even exceed Miesbauer’s expectations.

Four games into the season, the Raiders have one of the state’s most balanced teams committed to sticking with the game plan under any circumstances. It’s making an impact.

“The second half of all of our games thus far we have been able to wear teams down and impose our will,” Tony Underwood ‘20 said after accumulating nearly 300 yards of total offense in Friday’s victory over White Bear Lake. “Everybody knows the strength of our offense is balance and we kind of took it upon ourselves,” he added.

No, this is not the sometimes pass-happy Raiders (4-0) team fans remember from the Steve Walsh ‘84 and Chris Weinke ‘90 eras. Heck, it hardly resembles the team that finished last season 5-4.

When Miesbauer arrived this year, he installed a new-look, old-school offense full of  balance. Miesbauer figured the old-school, new-look philosophy might help CDH take the next step.

Miesbauer planned to give Underwood and Zion Guerra ‘20 most of the rushing carries and settle in on their QB which has gone to Preston Thelemann ‘20. The plan has been successful as the Raiders have established themselves among the state’s best and most balanced offenses.

The Raiders have also proven to be very stingy on the defensive side of the ball especially in the 2nd half of games. This season, the Raiders have only allowed 14 points in the 2nd half through four games. 

“One of our goals coming into this season is that we were going to be one of the best conditioned teams in the state,” Miesbauer said. That has been very evident through four games. “The ability to wear our opponents down in the 2nd half has been critical to our early success,” added Miesbauer.

The Raiders will enter into a tough part of their schedule as they will host #4 Mounds View on October 4 for Homecoming in a battle of top 5 teams and then wrap up the regular season against a very good Totino-Grace team on October 16.

Continue to follow CDH Football as they march into the playoffs @CDH_Football.