FOOTBALL: Lebanon miscues fuel Falcons' 41-7 blowout in Cedar Bowl

It's a tough lesson to learn, but there's arguably none more important in sports.

Before you can win, you can't lose.

And before heading into a long holiday weekend, Lebanon was thoroughly schooled on the concept in the hardest way possible over a 41-7 shellacking against rival Cedar Crest.

The Cedars simply couldn't get out of their own way Friday, as if a single dark cloud from the night's game-delaying storm had stuck around to hang over the team for four quarters. Four of the Cedars' six first-half drives ended in turnovers, including three croaked by lost fumbles. Lebanon botched a snap immediately after burning each of its first two timeouts, the last killing a possession at the Falcons' 2-yard line.

Following a merciful halftime break, the Cedars then watched Kobe Bolanos turn a wide corner and run behind them for a half-opening touchdown.

Suffice to say, it will be back to basics for Lebanon before a Week Two tilt with Northern Lebanon.

"It was fundamental breakdowns," Cedars coach Gerry Yonchiuk said of the loss. "And that's on me. As the head coach, I have to do a better job of making sure that those little things are cleaned up or that they don't occur again."

Conversely, Cedar Crest executed a clean, fundamental approach en route to reaching its new 1-0 mark. The early formula featured bruising junior back Justice Belleman, who surpassed the 100-yard mark in the third quarter and punctuated the Falcons' first two drives with scores.