State football final truly a family affair for Timberwolves

Photo Credit: Scott W. Coleman

It was one of those days for Cedar Park defensive coordinator Steve Battles where everybody on the defensive side of the ball was having a bad practice, and it was his job to make sure they knew it.

When his son, Shelby, who plays linebacker for the Timberwolves, got home, Steve had one question for him: How was practice?

“I coach him directly and there is no buffer,” Steve Battles said. “When I’m at home, I’m your dad, and when I’m at practice, I’m a coach and I’m going to treat you like everybody else. I’ve been as objective as I can. If he did good and is up for an award, I put him up for it. If he didn’t do good, then I don’t.”

It’ll truly be a family affair when the Timberwolves take on Denton Ryan Friday at 7 p.m. at AT&T Stadium in Arlington in the state title game as four pairs of fathers and sons will take the field for Cedar Park.

In addition to Steve and Shelby Battles, the family duos are offensive line coach Jon and sophomore receiver Hunter Luke, offensive line coach Beau and sophomore offensive lineman Isaac Barksdale and head coach Carl and senior receiver Gunnar Abseck.

“It is a dream come true,” Carl Abseck said. “We’ve talked about it for years how cool it is when we watch it on TV. It’s been our goal obviously as a team, and to see it come to fruition is an unbelievable feeling. I couldn’t ask for any better ending than that.”

Gunnar Abseck has been around Cedar Park football since he was one and a half years old. Carl Abseck has been on the coaching staff for 16 years, and said there probably isn’t anybody that’s seen more Cedar Park football than his son.

Having his son come up in the youth football leagues that are so ingrained in the culture of the high school has made his connection with the current group of seniors even stronger.

“I’ve been watching these guys since they were in fourth grade,” Carl Abseck said. “Yeah, I was coaching (at Cedar Park), but I was watching the game like the rest of the dads. We were just dads watching our kids play Pee Wee football.”

Gunnar Abseck said it’s been even more special to be able to share the field with his dad and a huge group of brothers.

“This group is really, really close,” Gunnar Abseck said. “I’ve been playing with a lot of these dudes since the 4th grade. It’s really special because we’ve all hung out and my dad has known all these dudes since we were younger.”

At first, Shelby Battles was a nose tackle when he got to Cedar Park, but he moved to linebacker his sophomore year and was directly coached by his dad.

Shelby said the first few years, his dad might have been a little tougher on him than some of the other players, but as the seasons went on, it’s gotten more fun and the two have built trust on the field.

To run out on the field together in a state title game is the cherry on top.

“My dream was to go to state ever since I’ve been playing football, and to do it with my dad makes it even more fun,” Shelby Battles said. “I would want any other coach.”

The bar is set high for the vaunted Black rain defense, and just because the captain linebacker and defensive coordinator have the same last name doesn’t mean the expectation or work effort is lessened.

“It’s been an awesome experience,” Steve Battles said. “It’s been a long season, but I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. As long as you have a positive relationship that doesn’t affect the team, then it’s great.

“But there are times when he gets his butt chewed out, too.”

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Originally published at https://www.hillcountrynews.com/stories/state-football-final-truly-a-family-affair-for-timberwolves,83796?