This is the 14th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug. 28. Today, Dave Purpura checks in on District 15-5A favorite Cypress Ridge.

Keenan Flax earned the nickname “Slurpie” his freshman year at Cypress Ridge, when his wobbliness on the weight bench despite his prowess there caught the attention of teammates, coaches and other onlookers.

Now the Rams’ senior left tackle, a verbal commitment to North Texas, is hopeful his new linemates slurp up knowledge at warp speed and help guide the team to expected heights this fall.

While star quarterback Russell Shepard and running back Hasan Lipscomb draw the lion’s share of headlines to the backfield, the offensive line is busy replacing four starters.

“The coaches have been telling me, ‘Hey Slurpie, you have a year under your belt; you’ve been here a while so you’ve got to teach these guys,’ ” said Flax, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound verbal commitment to North Texas.

John Edmondson moves to left guard, Allan Moran is the center, Carl Shaffstall is the new right guard and Marcus Wratny is the new right tackle. Of that group, only Moran saw substantial varsity time last year.

“We’re a work in progress there,” Rams coach Gary Thiebaud said. “I have a tremendous amount of faith in Johnny McWilliams and Zac Quinlan, my two line coaches. They’re as good as anybody around and they’ll have a group of kids ready to play as a unit. That’s the big thing – you’ve got to find a group of guys who can play together, play as a unit.”

Thiebaud was quick to add, though, that having Shepard and Lipscomb – LSU and Minnesota commits, respectively – in the backfield provides the line something of a cushion.

“You just have to create some space and kind of get in the way and let those guys do what they can do,” Thiebaud said. “We don’t ask for an offensive lineman to drive a guy five yards downfield and put him on his back. We don’t have those kinds of kid. Now Keenan could do that, but the rest of them, we don’t have those kinds of kids.”

That isn’t a concern for Shepard, the state’s top-ranked quarterback who accounted 2,300 yards of total offense and 26 touchdowns in 2007. Cy Ridge went 11-2 and advanced to the regional semifinals, losing to Fort Bend Hightower on a 50-yard field goal in the final seconds.

Cy Ridge is favored by many publications to either win 15-5A or challenge Cypress Falls for the championship. The Rams, who open against Humble Aug. 29 at the Berry Center, play Falls in an ESPN U-televised game Oct. 16 at Berry.

“This might be the most athletic offensive line we’ve ever had come through this school,” Shepard said. “Keenan has what it takes to be a big-time offensive lineman and he’s going to teach them the ropes to winning. All of them look up to him for teaching and off the field too. It’s a blessing to have him as my left tackle. That’s my blind side and he takes care of me.”

The defensive line is considerably more experienced but has its own work to do, having graduated two starters. John Gandy, Robert Scarpati and Harold Jackson return up front, with First Team all-district linebacker Princeton Jackson providing able support.

“That (having Jackson behind the linemen) is a comfort zone for us,” Thiebaud said.

Hard work and maturity will increase the offensive line’s comfort zone, says Flax, who still is being actively sought after by several major programs, including Arkansas and Oregon.

“I like the challenge,” he said. “Coach Thiebaud always tells us to keep our eyes on the road; don’t look up until you’re done. So the atmosphere around here is calm. When we step on the field, it’s time to play. There’s no looking around.”

CYPRESS RIDGE 2008 SCHEDULE
Aug. 29: Humble, 7:30 p.m. (at Berry Center)
Sept. 5: at Klein, 7:30 p.m. (at Klein Memorial Stadium)
Sept. 11: at Cinco Ranch, 7 p.m. (at Rhodes Stadium)
*+Sept. 26: Cypress Woods, 7:30 p.m. (at Pridgeon Stadium, as home team)
+Oct. 4: Cypress Creek, 6 p.m. (at Berry Center, as home team)
+Oct. 11: Cy-Fair, 6 p.m. (at Berry Center, as visiting team)
+Oct. 16: Cypress Falls, 7 p.m. (at Berry Center, as home team)
+Oct. 25: Jersey Village, 6 p.m. (at Pridgeon Stadium, as visiting team)
+Oct. 31: Cypress Springs, 7:30 p.m. (at Berry Center, as home team)
+Nov. 7: Langham Creek, 7:30 p.m. (at Pridgeon Stadium, as visiting team)

* Homecoming
+ District 15-5A game

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