The page has turned at Cinco Ranch.

It’s a new era, with new faces that are looking to carry on the success of the past two seasons.

Gone is one of the greatest quarterback’s to come through Katy ISD, along with nearly all of last year’s starting offense that had historic numbers last season.

“It’s new guys and the important thing for them to learn is that they don’t have to be exactly who came before them,” said Cinco Ranch head coach Chris Dudley. “Like with these quarterback’s, I try to remind them all the time that it’s not their job to be Gavin Rutherford. Their job is to be the best version of themselves they can be and we have to bring that out of them. Same with receivers, they don’t have to be the next Seth Salverino or Noah Abboud or Fischer Reed, they have to be themselves. That’s what we’re trying to teach them.”

Stepping into the fold is a group that has known nothing but success and comes off of back to back playoff and regional semifinal appearances. They are ready to take on a new challenge and step up, which will be needed as the Cougars only return four starters combined on both sides of the ball, one on offense and three on defense.

Big pieces coming back are Superior Hill and Taytum Johnson at quarterback. Johnson comes off a year where he was named second team all-district and was one of the best at forcing turnovers in the district, intercepting five passes while totaling 53 tackles at cornerback. He will be back guarding every team’s top wide out, but he will step into a new role this season as well. Johnson will play receiver for the team and be the primary kick and punt returner. Hill was also a huge piece on defense and the two are a lock down duo at corner.

“Taytum has really stepped up for us,” Dudley said. “He’s started to get more vocal and he really is just that steady kid for us. Whatever he does, whether it’s offseason or in season he’s a great teammate and very humble. Superior has really elevated the verbal part of being a leader as well. Those guys have been through the battles and it’s up to our other guys to latch on to that and follow their lead.”

Junior tight end Kellen LeCronier will be another key figure in the offense. A big bodied tight end, LeCronier can be a force both in the passing attack and blocking game and Dudley is looking forward to using him in a number of different ways.

The big change this year will at quarterback. The past three years Cinco Ranch leaned on Gavin Rutherford, who set nearly every school and Katy ISD career passing record but with his graduation a new face will lead the Cougars offense. Connor Brock and Charlier Adamoli will compete for the top spot and both have shown they can be successful through the spring and summer.

With back to back seasons ending in the regional semifinals, the Cougars have their sights set on finding a way back to that point and past it. With a team that knows what it’s like to compete at the highest level in District 19-6A and in the playoffs, Dudley sees no reason why they shouldn’t be able to replicate their success and build their own legacy.

“There’s only 20 schools in the state of Teas out of 250 in Class 6A that have been to the third round or further each of the past two years, and we’re one of them,” Dudley said. “When you throw those named up there it’s the best of the best and I’m really proud of our coaches and players for taking the program from where it was four years ago to where it is now. It’s awesome and our kids are proud of it. They aren’t scared of the expectations of that, they embrace it and it’s a really exciting time to be a Cinco Ranch Cougar.”