De La Salle offensive lineman Cedric McDonald has played a different position in all three seasons as a Cavaliers starter.
Currently serving as De La Salle’s left tackle, the 6-foot-1, 285-pound senior shifted to the left side of the line this year after starting at right tackle as a junior and at right guard as a sophomore.
McDonald anchors an experienced Cavaliers front five that features three seniors and two juniors.
McDonald is accompanied by junior left guard Gerald Daniels and senior center Shamar Bridges, who are both three-year starters. The other senior starter is Dasean Nisby at right guard, a converted defensive lineman. Junior Gavin Blanchard starts at right tackle.
“(The offensive line) is probably the most consistent group on the team,” coach Graham Jarrott said. “Cedric (McDonald) is incredibly versatile and super explosive; he’s like a road grader. He’s incredibly strong and continues to improve every week.”
Run blocking is McDonald’s strength. He has led a Cavaliers offensive line that has created a three-headed monster at running back led by senior Robert Lewis and juniors Eamon Williams and Charles Irvin.
Jarrott credits Daniels as being the vocal leader of the line and said McDonald is “the guy we can count on when we need a tough yard.”
McDonald was an interior offensive lineman until making the a tough switch to tackle last year.
De La Salle senior left tackle Cedric McDonald (left) and junior left guard Gerald Daniels (right).
Spencer Urquhart
“At left tackle, it’s definitely different,” McDonald said. “Starting from the beginning of summer and even spring, I had to learn how to adjust to that. It’s taught me how to be versatile on both sides, how to combat different types of defenders. I’m glad I’ve gotten the chance to experience it.”
“I love (playing next to McDonald),” Daniels said. “One of us makes a play, we get excited. That energy just feeds off, and we both start making nasty blocks.”
Lewis and Williams each have more than 800 yards rushing on the season. De La Salle finished with 181 yards rushing in a 45-14 rout at Episcopal in the first round of the Division III select playoffs.
Lewis had a team-high 101 yards on 10 carries in the victory.
De La Salle led Episcopal by 32 points at halftime after scoring five touchdowns. Cavaliers sophomore quarterback Alericq Valentine, a first-year starter, completed 11 of 15 passes for 116 yards and three touchdowns.
McDonald said he has matured into a better pass blocker.
“(Run blocking) has been second nature to me,” McDonald said. “I’ve always been explosive off the line. Blocking for Alericq this year, now I have to step up and be even more precise on my punch timing, my kicks, everything. I have to make sure he doesn’t get touched.”
A tough nondistrict stretch resulted in an 0-5 start for De La Salle (5-6), which has won five of its past six games.
“We were in every game,” said Jarrot, whose team travels to Crowley to face No. 2-seeded Notre Dame (8-2) at 7 p.m. Friday. “I told them, ‘If you guys can compete with those bigger schools, we should be ready when we get to the playoffs.’ Notre Dame is an incredibly talented team. It’ll be a tough test.”
A win would help No. 18 De La Salle reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2022.