Few things change in the Cazenovia football program.

Year after year, a group of committed, well-conditioned athletes, led by a core of veteran coaches who have run the show for decades, take the field in September and October, where they run wild on offense and shut down the opposition on defense, leading to plenty of wins for the Lakers and an annual shot at championship glory.

So it came as a bit of a shock when, on March 4, Tom Neidl announced he was stepping down as head coach, having guided Cazenovia for 25 years and going 178-54-1 in that span, claiming seven Section III titles.

But while Neidl moved on and now coaches running backs at Utica College, the program didn’t wait too long (less than three weeks), or look too far, to find his successor.

Jay Steinhorst, after all, had served as an assistant coach during Neidl’s entire tenure, while also serving as head coach of varsity baseball and indoor track. At the same time, Steinhorst retained the other top assistant, Mark Evans, on his staff, and promoted junior varsity head coach Kyle Martin to round out his staff.

“It’s just the passing of the torch,” said Lakers quarterback Jake Shaffner. “It’s not a big change, but it’s going to be a little different.”

For his part, though, Steinhorst is enjoying his new role.

“It’s a lot more fun being in charge and getting to call all the shots,” said Steinhorst. “And coaching these guys is a dream. They’re motivated, smart and disciplined.”

Motivation wasn’t difficult to find. Cazenovia faced the challenge of seeing more than 20 seniors graduate from last year’s squad that roared, undefeated, into the Section III Class B final at the Carrier Dome before seven turnovers proved the difference in a 38-24 defeat.

“We shot ourselves in the foot, over and over, and it left a bad taste in our mouths,” said Shaffner.

The memory of that defeat, and atoning for it, is the overriding theme in 2015, a season that starts right back at the Dome this Friday when the Lakers face Amsterdam (Section II) in the Kickoff Classic.

Shaffner, in particular, faces a big assignment, taking over under center after terrific runs by his predecessors, Kevin Hopsicker and Keaton Ackermann. He said he learned plenty from them, especially the details of how to run an offense that can either line up with a conventional huddle or go no-huddle spread, depending on the situation.

A bigger concern lies at running back. Dan Phillips and Jake Wozniak are gone, and while their replacements aren’t quite settled, that could leave room for T.J. Connellan to move over from wide receiver, where there’s plenty of depth.

Aside from Connellan, Paul McLaughlin and newcomers Ben Nichols and Clay Fox, there’s also Cole Willard, like Connellan a lacrosse standout headed for Penn State, who came out for football this season. He could provide a lot of speed as a slot receiver.

Up front, there’s work to do. Jon Nannery, Brian Silfer, Reed Lucas and Ryan O’Herien have graduated, and while Dustin Hammond and Shawn Cunningham are back, to give the Lakers some continuity, Steinhorst said that’s the team’s biggest concern, with starting spots up for grabs.

On defense, senior captain Kevin Frega returns at linebacker, and has more responsibility than ever in the absence of 2014 All-Central New York selection Hayden Polhamus.

Evans, who with Porter runs the defense, said that Frega is up to that task, saying that “he can play two games back-to-back if he wanted.”

Up front, Shaffner is the rare quarterback that plays at defensive end on the other side, though it’s at end where he has colleges courting him. Cunnigham and Nick Szlamcynski will help out, while a new-look secondary includes Connellan and Willard, plus Fox and McLaughlin.

Following the Dome game with Amsterdam, Cazenovia starts Class B East division play at home against Mexico on Sept. 12, and hosts fellow league contender Oneida two weeks later. By then, the Lakers will have a better idea of whether Steinhorst can continue the massive success Neidl achieved.

“We have the tools to get where we want to go,” said Frega. “Each kid will need to do their job well for us to be successful.”

Steinhorst said that he welcomes the responsibility long, sustained success brings upon the Cazenovia program.

“”We’ve always felt pressure to win, but that’s good,” said Steinhorst. “This means expectations are high. That’s where we want to keep things.”