RB Shepard Helping Run Up the Score for Vikings

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Watching Keenan Shepard run is a pure, simple, powerful thing.

It’s also like watching a video replay, over and over and over.

Shepard runs. Shepard burns. Shepard scores.

Play. Stop. Rewind. Repeat.

When Shepard, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound junior running back for the Tennessee High Vikings, takes a handoff behind the line-of-scrimmage, his initial motions are a blur.

Shepard’s legs pump. His arms churn. His feet dance. He is fast, quick action, and his body appears to be a high-speed train on a God-sent mission.

While Shepard’s shoulders angle hard and low, his torso and muscles stand out and tease, almost begging for contact.

Come on and hit me, they say. Just try. See what happens. See what kind of trouble you’re about to face. And try to enjoy the war.

The result: Shepard bowls over his opponent like a tank.

Then he keeps on running.

And the scene of Shepard’s domination happens over and over and over.

Play. Stop. Rewind. Repeat.

“You can’t stop running in a football game,” said Shepard, who grew up in Atlanta, Ga., and moved to Bristol, Tenn., when he was in the sixth grade. “You never know who’s behind you.”

Right now, everyone is behind Shepard.

His 2008 numbers: 254 carries for 1,518 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Shepard has another chance to add to that stat line tonight, when the Vikings hit the road to face the Greeneville Greene Devils (9-2) in a Class 4A second-round playoff game. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

“[Keenan’s] got one motor, and it just goes,” Tennessee High coach Greg Stubbs said.

The one-gear motor is all Shepard needs.

At the start of his sophomore year, Shepard was fighting for recognition and a starting spot in the Vikings’ backfield.

Less than two years later, Shepard owns Tennessee High’s backfield. He’s the premier high school running back in Northeast Tennessee. And he’s well on his way toward becoming one of the best in the state.

“He’s a special running back. He sees things that others don’t see. He’s faster than most. He’s a great running back we’re lucky to have on our football team. And without him, I’m not sure we would be as successful as we are.” – Taylor Harmon, Tennessee High junior quarterback

New year, new muscle
Shepard added 15 pounds of muscle weight during the offseason. He knew he’d need it.

Tennessee High’s coaches told Shepard – part-joke, part challenge – they expected 2,000 yards from him this season.

Shepard laughed off the number during media day this year.

But behind the laugh, there was belief.

Shepard knew he was capable. He’d shown alluring glimpses of promise during his sophomore season. And he was about to unleash a 2008 campaign that already ranks among the best in Tennessee High’s storied history.

“I love to run,” Shepard said. “I used to run from dogs. We had a lot of dogs [when I was a kid]. I used to run from them all the time.”

Shepard began his sophomore year as a back-up, but an injury provided Shepard with a starting position and he responded immediately.

Shepard brought fast, new life to Tennessee High’s backfield. And he finished the season with 964 yards and 10 touchdowns on 122 rushing attempts for a 7.9-yard average.

But Shepard only received 27.8 percent of the Vikings’ 439 total carries – a mere taste of what awaited in 2008.

And his sophomore season ended on a down note in Tennessee High’s 28-21 loss to Sullivan South at Death Valley in the Mountain Lakes Conference championship.

Shepard stunned the Rebels and silenced a previously roaring Death Valley stadium when he turned a toss sweep into a 73-yard touchdown run on the third play from scrimmage, giving Tennessee High a quick 6-0 lead.

But a hard fall ended Shepard’s – and the Vikings’ – season.

What appeared to be a certain touchdown for Shepard that would have pulled Tennessee High within one point disappeared from sight when he tripped and fell as he tried to cut
upfield and find the end zone on a fourth-and third attempt late in the fourth quarter.

Shepard walked off the field in tears. And the memory clouded his head and stayed in his thoughts during the offseason.

Shepard’s response?

He worked harder.

And Shepard didn’t just bulk up. He transferred techniques he’d picked up from his track and field coaches – Shepard competes in four running events for Tennessee High – onto the football field.

Soon, Shepard noticed his field-vision, footwork and initial burst after receiving the ball had improved.

And where Shepard once saw a mass of arms and legs grasping for his attention at the line, he now saw the one thing every good running back who wants to become great must see: holes.

“He’s a great running back. He pretty much creates holes for himself. He’s a leader: He and [Tennessee High quarterback] Taylor [Harmon] are the leaders of our offense.” – Vikings senior linebacker/fullback Matt McClellan

Recognition
A group of young kids scream Shepard’s name.

The young kids are new fans.

“Keenan!” they shout.

“Keenan! Keeeeee-nan!”

“Hey, Keenan. Will you sign this? Please?”

The fans hold out pieces of paper. They dangle the pieces over a rail. They try to stretch their arms and reach out to Shepard.

Shepard, holding a Vikings football helmet, looks up and smiles wide.

Then he looks around for a pen.

Shepard’s just run for 181 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries. Tennessee High has defeated Virginia High 28-17 on Sept. 12 at Gene Malcolm Stadium. And Shepard has admirers.

“You got a pen?” Shepard asks a reporter.

Soon, Shepard is writing his name down on a small piece of white paper.

Soon, Shepard’s new fans have what they wanted.

“I think it’s pretty cool. We want him to get as many yards as he can, get as [many] touchdowns. … We want him to get the player of the year, hopefully.” – Tennessee High fullback/defensive end Bradley Tallman

Still running
Shepard’s first touchdown came with 3 minutes, 31 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

His second occurred less than three minutes later.

His third took place just three minutes after the second.

By the end of the night, Shepard had five touchdowns and 205 yards on 30 carries, and the Vikings had found playoff redemption with a 49-35 win over the Morristown West Trojans last Friday night in a Class 4A first-round playoff game at the Stone Castle.

The Trojans had pounded Shepard. He walked off the field slowly and talked slower during a post-game interview.

But Shepard had pounded the Trojans harder.

And he smiled as he spoke in a soft, modest voice.

Shepard credited his teammates. He credited his quarterback and offensive line. And then he walked toward the locker room.

Shepard has withstood injuries and bruises this season. He’s withstood 30-carry games and big, hard hits and setbacks.

And Shepard’s still running.

He’s evolved from a young kid in the seventh grade who at first struggled to hold on to the ball and didn’t know which pads went where, into a dynamic, all-state type talent who’s now received six letters from the University of Tennessee.

Football is a release and a relief for Shepard. It keeps him young and keeps him out of trouble.

And as Shepard’s star ascends, he just keeps running.

btsmith@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2569