Wildcats Through the Years: 2010

Part 3 of this series on Cy Woods Wildcats football history covers the 2010 team. I did not get to see this incarnation of the Wildcats in action (I was at Arizona State that year), but I understand that they put on a show on offense. The 601 points they scored remains a team record.

Summary

Record: 10-4 (7-2 in District 17-5A); tri-district champions (Creek and Fair also finished 7-2 in district play.)
Playoffs: Division II state quarterfinalists (Region III finalists); lost 48-45 to Memorial
Points scored: 601 (42.9 per game)
Points allowed: 400 (28.6 per game)
Largest margin of victory: 60 (school record), vs. Katy Taylor (67-7)
Largest margin of defeat: 14, vs. A&M Consolidated (24-38)
Most points scored: 67, vs. Katy Taylor
Most points allowed: 48, vs. Memorial
Fewest points scored: 20, vs. Cy Falls
Fewest points allowed: 0, vs. Cy Lakes (first shutout in team history)

Team Records Set

Most points scored in a season, 601
Most points allowed in a season, 400
Most games of 50 points or more in a season, 5
Largest point differential in a season (positive or negative), +201
Largest margin of victory: 60, vs. Katy Taylor (still a record)
Longest winning streak, 9 (still a record)
Most district wins, 7
Longest play from scrimmage, Colton Huntsman 93-yard TD pass to Clesmie Burden vs. Ike
Most offensive yards in a season, 6422 (458.7 per game)

Individual Records Set

Rushing yards in a season: Fred Anderson, 1036
Rushing TDs in a season: Fred Anderson, 20
Rushing yards per carry: Fred Anderson, 8.8
Rushing yards in a game: Jeff Bogan, 217 vs. Jersey Village
Passing touchdowns in a season: Colton Huntsman, 27 (the Chronicle has 2 TDs to Clesmie unaccounted for)
Passing yards in a season: The Chronicle has a few hundred of Clesmie Burden's receiving yards unaccounted for. I assume that Colton broke the record that he set in the previous year.
Receiving touchdowns: Fred Anderson, 10

Schedule and Results

Week 1: L 38-24 @ A&M Consolidated
Week 2: L 28-20 vs. Cy Falls (Berry)
Week 3: W 28-14 @ Cy-Fair (Berry)
Week 4: L 38-35 vs. Cy Ranch (Pridgeon)
Week 5: W 35-14 @ Jersey Village (Pridgeon)
Week 6: W 34-0 vs. Cy Lakes (Pridgeon)
Week 7: W 55-27 vs. Langham Creek (Homecoming @ Berry)
Week 8: W 61-35 @ Cy Creek (Pridgeon)
Week 9: W 49-40 vs. Cy Ridge (Berry)
Week 10: W 51-41 @ Cy Springs (Pridgeon)
Bi-district: W 45-35 vs. Eisenhower (Berry)
Area: W 67-7 @ Katy Taylor (Tully)
Regional semifinals: W 52-34 @ Clear Creek (Turner Stadium, Humble)
Region III Final: L 48-45 @ Memorial (Tully)

The Rundown

A massive senior class departed, but the cupboard was hardly barren for the Wildcats entering the 2010 season.

The final year of the Colton Huntsman era saw the Wildcats score pretty much all the points. However, they had to navigate through some really rough waters in the early going. They were able to right the ship and went on a magical run which included a district championship and a return trip to the region finals.

The backfield of Colton Huntsman and Fred Anderson gave opposing defenses hell all season. Jeff Bogan had a nice first full season spelling Fred at times. Patrick Gant, Cole DeVilliers, Colton Beardmore, Gary Tesch, Jesse Astorga, and Clesmie Burden emerged as Huntsman's main targets. Fred was also heavily involved in the passing game; he was actually the leading receiver. Cole Gunderson returned to lead the offensive line; he was joined by Weston Adams, who was also a returning letterman. Accompanying them on the line were 3 juniors: Conrad Wozniak, Jimmy Schmitzer, and Tyler Mock. Also in that rotation was Cody Jessee and Seth Misley.

Defensively, the Cats were littered with young talent. Dylan Thompson, who spent last season as a defensive tackle, shifted to linebacker. Daylan Skidmore and Cody Small, after emerging as sophomores during the previous year's playoff run, also assumed central roles in the defense. They would joined by a cast that included James Randall, Christian Hynes, Estevan Villareal, Dominic Wilson, and Marquise White on the line. Christian Limbrick, the late Harley Burke, Marshall Frye, and Deoundrei Davis made significant contributions from the linebacker spots. Weston Card, who spent his first 3 years at Cy Woods as an offensive player, made the transition to the secondary in 2010. He was joined by Phillip "P.J." Johnson, Deonte Davis, Josh Holley, Jamaul Tompkins, and Alfred "Bama" Pullom.

Regular Season

The third chapter began in College Station on September 3, 2010.

Nathaniel Crea scored the Cats' first points of the season with a 29-yard field goal in the 2nd. The first TD of the year belonged to Patrick Gant, who hauled in a 42-yard pass from Colton with a little over 4 minutes left, which tied the game at 10.

However, the Cats were outscored 28-14 in the 2nd half, and for the first time in team history, the Wildcats dropped a season opener. The final of this one was 38-24, A&M Consolidated. Fred had 199 total yards (80 rushing, 119 receiving). Colton also threw a 71-yard TD to Cole DeVilliers.

8 days later, the Cats opened up the district slate with a tilt against Cy Falls at the Berry Center. Colton opened the scoring with a 5-yard run in the 1st, but he left with an injury. The reins were handed to junior Gabe "Tarzan/Thor" West. He scored on a 2-yard run and threw a 6-yard TD to Colton Beardmore in the 2nd. The Cats led 20-14 at halftime, but once again, they were outscored in the 2nd half as they fell 28-20. I suppose Cy Falls kids have long memories.

It was the Fred Show against Cy-Fair, as he scored all 4 Woods touchdowns. He scored on 3 runs from 9, 17, and 14 yards, and also had a 51-yard TD catch. He finished with 189 yards on 19 carries. The defense was swarming, as they forced 4 fumbles and recovered 3 of them.




Next up was the highly-anticipated first matchup against Cy Ranch. Very intriguing storylines in this game. Most of the players on both sides know each other personally. They all grew up together, and if I remember correctly, most of Ranch's seniors that year attended Woods at one point alongside the Cats players.

Well, if I could slip in an analogy here.... if the Cats are the Houston Rockets, then the Mustangs would be the Dallas Mavericks. This rivalry formed in literally no time flat. My time came before this ever happened, but I've been to all 4 Woods/Ranch games since I came back from Phoenix and there is legitimate enmity between both sides here. It's not quite the Yankees-Red Sox of Cy-Fair ISD; that title belongs to Fair and Creek. But the, uh.... disdain that Woods and Ranch have for each other has put this tilt on equal footing.

The Cats jumped out to a 28-7 lead as Fred caught 2 TDs from 42 and 6 yards out and added another score on a run from 5 yards out. The other Woods TD in the 1st half belonged to Jeff Bogan, who scored on a 6-yard run.

But that theme of having a lackluster 2nd half came back to haunt the Cats once more. After Fred's 6-yard TD run put Woods up 28-7 in the 2nd, they were outscored 31-7 the rest of the way. Their 7 in that stretch came on a 2-yard run from Fred with just over 4 minutes to go in regulation that tied the game at 35. The defense was unable to prevent the final Cy Ranch advance, and they would lose 38-35 on a 24-yard field goal as time expired.




A 1-2 record in district play is not a death sentence, but it certainly makes earning a playoff berth slightly more difficult. After their toughest loss of the season to that point, the Cats were left to do some soul-searching.

All they did after losing to Ranch was rattle off 9 straight wins. The first of those 9 wins came on October 2, against Jersey Village. Jeff Bogan had a historic night as he set a team record (since broken) with 216 yards rushing. He scored from 7 yards out in the 1st, caught a 16-yard pass from Gabe West and added a 6-yard run in the 2nd, and finally, he capped off his night with a 66-yard run for his 3rd rushing TD of the evening. Deonte Davis had a pick 6 in the 1st, and Nathaniel Crea opened the 2nd half for the Cats with a 31-yard field goal as the Cats picked up a 35-14 victory.




In their first Thursday varsity game, the Cats were at Pridgeon taking on the district's other debutants, Cy Lakes. They welcomed Colton back, jumped out to a 20-0 lead after the 1st, forced 5 turnovers, and romped to the first shutout in team history, winning 34-0. Fred had 2 scoring runs from 26 and 60 yards, and Gabe also had 2 TD runs from 1 yard and 20 yards. Colton threw a 13-yard TD to J-Bo in the 1st.




Homecoming III was the first one at the Berry Center. Langham Creek was the opponent for the night. Colton kicked off the Homecoming festivities by having a hand in all 4 Woods TDs in the 1st quarter. He had 2 scoring runs of 75 and 17 and 2 scoring passes to J-Bo for 65 and Fred for 80 yards. Huntsman added 2 more TD passes in the 2nd; he connected with Gary Tesch for 22 yards and Clesmie Burden for 74. At the half, the Cats had the situation under control with a 41-7 lead. Colton finished off his night with an 84-yard TD pass to Fred to open up the scoring in the 2nd half. Gabe capped off the scoring with a 7-yard run to begin the 4th, wrapping up a 55-27 win.

Weston Card hauls in one of the Cats' 3 interceptions against Langham Creek.

The machine kept rolling on against Cy Creek, as they took a 35-7 lead at halftime on their way to a 61-35 victory. Colton had 391 total yards (287 passing, 104 rushing) and 5 TDs (3 passing, 2 rushing). Fred opened the scoring with a 9-yard run 2 minutes into the game. Colton then connected with Gary Tesch from 86 and Fred from 58 yards. In the 2nd, Fred found the end zone once again from 11 yards, and Cole DeVilliers caught a 35-yard TD. It was more of the same in the 2nd half, as Huntsman scored from 43 and 27 yards out, and in the 4th, Daylan Skidmore had this play... a strip-and-score. 

Gabe finished it off with a 29-yard run in the 4th quarter, which gave Woods a 61-28 lead.




Next up was Cy Ridge. The previous 2 meetings resulted in a Russell Shepard and a massacre on Homecoming. Would the third time be the charm?

The Rams scored first, but the Cats responded with 28 unanswered and led 35-14 at halftime. They did get outscored in the 2nd half again, but Fred provided the cherry by snagging a 42-yard TD pass with less than a minute remaining in the game, extending the Woods lead to 9. Colton was doing Colton things, as usual... he tossed 5 TD passes (3 to Fred, 2 to Cole) and ran for another. The third time was the charm after all, as Woods defeated Ridge for the first time, 49-40.

Colton Huntsman, doing Colton Huntsman things against Cy Ridge.

The season finale pitted the Wildcats against Cy Springs. They cruised out to a 32-7 halftime lead and was up by as much as 51-14 in the 4th... and that was when the Panthers suddenly arose and made things way too close for comfort. Mop-up time was abruptly cut short, as the starters were pressed back into duty after Springs ran off 27 unanswered points. However, Woods still emerged from this game with the victory, 51-41. And with that win, the Wildcats clinched the first district championship in team history.




Playoffs

November 13, 2010. This playoff run was a little different. The Wildcats moved over to Region III after spending their first 2 years in Region II. They also moved over to the Division II bracket.

Game 1 took place at the Berry Center, and the Eisenhower Eagles of Aldine ISD made the trek over from Antoine. It was a fun, back-and-forth affair. The difference was that the Cats kept Ike off the board in the 3rd, which allowed them to gain a little bit of separation. Clesmie opened up the scoring in the 3rd with the longest play in Wildcat history, a 93-yard TD reception.  The 31-21 lead after 3 quarters held up at the end, and the Wildcats advanced with a 45-35 win. The Cats defense had their hands full with Ike QB James Jones. But the Cats offense was up to the task and as a result, they were able to outlast Ike.




The area round took the Cats to Tully Stadium, where they would face the Katy Taylor Mustangs. Well, uh... absolutely no offense to Taylor, but the game went sort of like this:

Woods led 53-0 at halftime and basically strolled through to the next round, winning Bloody Saturday II by a count of 67-7. I don't really care to elaborate on this game, as the final score speaks for itself. Deep into garbage time, Samuel Stewart, then just a freshman, made his debut with a 5-yard run.

Sam Stewart's first carry as a varsity player. I'm fairly sure he was a freshman in this picture.

Round 3 was a battle of the Wildcats. The venue was a place where a school whose mascot was the Wildcats called home. That would be Turner Stadium in Humble, home of the Humble Wildcats (and other Humble ISD high schools). The other Wildcats came from Clear Creek, and their star running back from that season, C.J. McElroy, is currently playing minor league baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals system.

Cole wasted little time getting the fireworks started as he took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a score. This was the 2nd kick returned for a TD in team history; Tyler Williamson returned one 98 yards in that very first Cy Falls game. Woods led wire-to-wire, as they created just enough separation between them and Clear Creek. The difference was a 21-0 2nd quarter that gave them a 35-14 lead at halftime. All 6 TDs on offense were scored on the ground. Colton ran for 191 yards and 2 TDs from 47 and 4 yards. Fred provided 120 yards and 4 scoring runs; 2 came from 7 yards out, while the other 2 came from 8 and 3 yards. Nathaniel Crea had a 21-yard field goal in the 3rd. For the 2nd straight year, the Cypress Woods Wildcats would return to the Regional final, as they knocked off Clear Creek 52-34.



The Cats returned to Tully, where Memorial and their own two-headed monster of QB Wayne Taylor (who now plays baseball in the Seattle Mariners organization) and RB Justin "Boomer" White awaited. A trip to the Final Four was on the line. And...

...for the second straight season, the Cats' season ended in the 4th round. This was one of those games where both teams had an answer for everything. Unfortunately, an interception with 4 minutes left in the 4th sealed the Cats' fate, and Memorial scored on their next offensive possession to extend their lead to 48-38 with 2:12 left in the game. That was the one stretch that Woods could not answer the Mustangs, and it could not have happened as a worse time. Colton Huntsman went out with 3 TD passes and a TD run. He threw 1 to Gary, 1 to Jeff Bogan, and one to Patrick Gant. He also ran for 124 yards, scoring from 20 yards out in the 1st.

The 2010 Wildcats were a fantastic bunch. They lit up the scoreboard every night; they scored at least 20 points in every game that year. The Memorial game was simply one that they let get away. It was a shame to see a player like Colton go out like that. The 2009 and 2010 Wildcats still stand as the most successful teams in Cy Woods history.

Wildcats Through the Years: 2009

This is the 2nd post looking back on the history of the Cy Woods Wildcats. Here, the 2009 Cypress Woods Wildcats are featured. This is the only time in which I will refer to the team using the word "we."

Summary

Record: 11-3, 5-2 in District 15-5A (t-2nd)
Playoffs: Division I state quarterfinalists (Region II finalist, 4th round), lost 55-12 to Round Rock Stony Point
Points scored: 460 (32.9 per game)
Points allowed: 371 (26.5 per game)
Largest margin of victory: 33, vs. Klein Oak (W 56-23)
Largest margin of defeat: 43, vs. Round Rock Stony Point (L 55-12)
Most points scored: 56, vs. Klein Oak (Week 2)
Fewest points scored: 12, vs. Round Rock Stony Point (4th round)
Most points allowed: 55, vs. Round Rock Stony Point
Fewest points allowed: 7 twice, vs. Cy-Fair and Langham Creek

Team Records Set (off the top of my head)

Most points in a season, 460
Most wins, 11 (still a record)
Deepest advancement into playoffs (4th round)
Most points allowed, 371
Most points allowed in a game, 55 (Round Rock Stony Point)

Individual Records Set (stats from Houston Chronicle, again also off the top of my head)

Passing yards in a season: Colton Huntsman, 2874
Passing yards in a game: Colton Huntsman, 442 vs. Klein Oak
Passing touchdowns in a season: Colton Huntsman, 24
Carries: Colton Huntsman, 200
Rushing yards in a season: Colton Huntsman, 1032
Rushing touchdowns in a season: Colton Huntsman, 19
Rushing yards in a game: Colton Huntsman, 175 vs. Jersey Village
Yards per carry (min. 75 carries): Jeremy Conley, 6.9
Receptions: Isaiah Battle, 60
Receptions in a game: Isaiah Battle, 10 vs. Cy Falls
Receiving yards: Isaiah Battle, 1109
Receiving touchdowns: Isaiah Battle, 8
Interceptions: Bryce Callahan, 7
Punt returns for touchdowns: Bryce Callahan, 3

Schedule and Results

Week 1: W 55-49 @ A&M Consolidated
Week 2: W 56-23 vs. Klein Oak (Pridgeon)
Week 3: W 35-14 @ Stratford (Tully)
Week 4: L 46-20 vs. Cy Ridge (Homecoming @ Pridgeon)
Week 5: W 31-13 @ Jersey Village (Pridgeon)
Week 6: W 21-20 vs. Cy Creek (Berry)
Week 7: W 23-13 @ Cy Springs (Pridgeon)
Week 8: W 21-7 vs. Cy-Fair (Berry)
Week 9: W 42-7 @ Langham Creek (Berry)
Week 10: L 46-43 vs. Cy Falls (Berry)
Bi-district: W 38-28 vs. Round Rock Westwood (Berry)
Area: W 35-29 @ Westfield (Leonard George Stadium, Spring ISD)
Region semifinals: W 28-21 vs. Dallas Skyline (Temple Wildcat Stadium)
Region II Final: L 55-12 vs. Round Rock Stony Point (Berry)

Statistical Leaders (per Houston Chronicle)

Passing: Colton Huntsman, 188-326 (57.7%), 2874 yards, 24 TD, 14 INT
Rushing: Colton Huntsman, 200 carries, 1032 yards (5.2 per carry), 19 TD
Receiving: Isaiah Battle, 60 rec, 1109 yards (18.5 per catch), 8 TD
Interceptions: Bryce Callahan, 7

The Rundown

After an incredibly successful debut season which saw them reach the 3rd round of the Texas 5A playoffs, the onus was on the Cy Woods Wildcats to replicate that feat. They would have to do it with a completely new cast of characters. A large senior class graduated, which brought about another large senior class.

Colton Huntsman was handed the reins to the team in his junior season. He would have plenty of tools at his disposal as Jonathan Cross, Patrick LaFleur, Isaiah Battle, and Seth Crosby returned, giving him a veteran wide receiver corps. Jeremy Conley, who saw significant action at running back behind Chris Walker in 2008, would be the feature back. Andrew Hall returned as the leader of the offensive line. He was joined by Chase Matthews, Matt Alcala (a former cornerback!!!), Scott Wiesmann, and junior Cole Gunderson.

Bryce Callahan, the breakout player (well, if you've known him for a long time, he was bound to be a special talent) from 2008, was the undisputed star of the defense. Joining him in the secondary was Braylon Ransom, Michael Stewart, and Von'Darrick Jones, a transfer from Jersey Village. Dominique Robertson led the linebackers, and accompanying him was Arnold Gacita, Julius Russell, Brian Cobb, and later on, a young Daylan Skidmore. The Cats had a solid stable of defensive linemen, as they got contributions from Jared Baker, Dylan Thompson, Tavian Glenn, Trey Valdez, Tyler Haley, Jeff Marshall, and sophomore Cody Small. We didn't have the imposing physical presences or the freakishly talented types (save for Bryce and Dominique) like the year before. However, pound-for-pound, I would say that we were a real scrappy bunch. What we lacked in talent we made up for in grit and hustle.

Regular Season

September 4, 2009. The second chapter of Wildcat Football began on this date.

We made the journey up to College Station to play A&M Consolidated in their house. Jeremy and Bryce provided the fireworks early with a 58-yard TD run and a 74-yard punt return TD, respectively.

The Cats poured it on in the 2nd as J. Cross tore up the AMC secondary with 2 touchdown grabs of 47 and 51 yards. Jeremy added another touchdown run for 42 yards, and Colton got himself on the board, scoring from 7 yards out. At halftime, we led 42-14. We thought the first win was in the bag. That was a mistake. A&M Consolidated mounted a huge rally in the 2nd half and suddenly, we didn't feel too comfortable. But the defense held strong and got the stops they had to get, and we escaped Aggieland with a 55-49 victory.




Next up on the schedule was Klein Oak. They had originally been scheduled to meet in 2008, but Hurricane Ike prevented that from ever happening. The Panthers entered the season as one of the top teams in the Houston area, and were sure favorites to make a deep run in the playoffs. Things didn't quite go according to plan for them in the early going, as they came up short against Creek and saw the wheels fall off from under them at the new Cowboys Stadium as they lost their 2nd game to Notre Dame High School from California. You might not believe this, but the Cats entered this game as 40-point underdogs. True story.

Isaiah opened the scoring in the 1st with a 45-yard TD pass. 48 seconds after Oak tied the game, Isaiah put the Cats back on top with his 2nd receiving TD of the quarter. The Panthers tied the game once more as they opened the 2nd, but right before halftime, Colton scored and the Cats went into halftime with a 21-14 lead. Good back-and-forth half. Second half, dramatically different story.

Klein Oak tied the game with a pick 6 to open the 2nd half. That.... would be as close as the Panthers ever got to the lead, as the Cats buried them with 35 unanswered points. Colton took charge as he fired 2 TD passes to Jeremy and Pat LaFleur, and in between those 2 passes, he ran for 3 scores. He finished with 513 total yards (442 passing, 71 rushing) and 8 total touchdowns. In other words, he was responsible for every single Cy Woods touchdown. Oak got a consolation safety late in the 4th but the damage had long been done. Cy Woods 56, Klein Oak 23. So much for being a 40-point underdog.



The big win sent shockwaves across the Houston high school football landscape. But we, as a group, knew that we were capable of games like these. No unnecessary chest-thumping here. It was the truth. We were a senior-heavy class. This was the only chance that we would ever get to showcase our skills in high school. So understandably, we had a chip on our collective shoulders. We wanted to take the standard that the guys on the first team set, and we wanted to raise it as high as we possibly could.

Channel 2 featured the Stratford game as part of its Friday Football Frenzy feature. So naturally, there was a heightened sense of excitement in the days leading up to this game. Cy Woods made a playoff run last year and put itself on the map without much fanfare from the outside. Now, with the media casting its spotlight on the program for the first time, you get the feeling that the expectations for the program shot up a few notches. And expectations were already rather high to begin with. No pressure.

Defense ruled the 1st half, which saw no team gain a discernable advantage over the other. At halftime, the game was tied at 7. The lone TD for the Cats came on a 3-yard run from Colton Huntsman. For the 2nd straight game, the 2nd half proved to be a different story.

Jeremy took a screen pass and scored to give the Cats the lead, which turned out to be for good. In that 3rd quarter, we scored in all 3 facets of the game. Bryce returned a punt 49 yards for a TD (his 2nd on a punt return), and Michael Stewart got a pick 6 to give Woods a 28-7 lead heading into the 4th. Colton put the finishing touches on with a 48-yard run to extend the lead to 35-7. The Spartans got a consolation TD late in the 4th. Final score: Woods 35, Stratford 14.





After a perfect run through non-district play, we entered district play on an absolute high. We wanted to go undefeated. The atmosphere in the locker room was electric. We felt like we were on top of the world....

....and we were about to get a huge slap in our collective faces.

Homecoming II. District game #1. The Cats let the game against Ridge slip away last year, so we had a little payback on our minds. That didn't happen. Ridge jumped all over us in the 2nd and we found ourselves behind 29-10 at halftime. 2nd half wasn't much better, as we never really got into this game. Ridge 46, Woods 20.

In the aftermath, we were left searching for answers. For the first time this season, the Cy Woods Wildcats got absolutely floored. How would we respond?

The next game was against Jersey Village. It was a dreary day, with intermittent showers throughout. This weather continued through gametime. This game was one in which we were in control from wire to wire. We took a 10-0 lead after 1 quarter thanks to a TD run from Jeremy Conley and a field goal from Andrew Klink. Colton did his thing, firing a TD pass to Seth Crosby and running for 2 himself. Woods took this one 31-13. In this game, Cody Small saw his first action as a varsity player. He would become one of the main cogs of the Cy Woods defense for years to come.

Next up was a huge matchup with the defending district champs, Cy Creek. They were 5-0 heading into this game, and they were hell-bent on defending their crown. We had other plans for them.

After both teams traded scores toward the end of the 1st quarter, we got out in front late in the 2nd thanks to who else? Colton Huntsman. Isaiah had a nifty 32-yard catch and run for a TD to open the scoring (0:53 mark of video).



Woods led 14-7 at halftime. Creek came out by scoring the first 13 points of the half to take a 20-14 lead entering the 4th quarter. Yeah, they missed an extra point. Keep that in mind. The offense sputtered in the 4th, but the defense was steadfast and kept the Cougars at bay. Their performance in the 4th was monumental as they got all the stops.

The offense got the ball with 2 minutes left in regulation inside their 20, needing a touchdown to grab the lead. The key play occurred at the 3:58 mark of the video. Isaiah took that pass and rumbled his way into Creek territory. Then, Colton completed his next 2 passes, and with 45 seconds left, he punched it in to tie the game at 20, and Andrew Klink gave us the lead as he banged the extra point through. Creek wasn't quite ready to admit defeat yet, however. They marched down the field and into Wildcat territory, but the defense held their ground and forced the Cougars into a game-winning field goal attempt, an attempt that went wide right and short. The Cats welcomed Cy Creek to the loss column for the first time that season, 21-20. For once, we had to grind out a victory. Creek was an excellent opponent that year, and we knew that trying to run them off the field would be an extremely difficult task. We understood that they would do everything in their power to maintain their stranglehold on the district.

After we snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, we went up against Cy Springs. Uncharacteristically, we were unable to run our opponents off the field. Believe it or not, we actually struggled to move the ball in this game.  

We led 14-0 at halftime as Jeremy scored on a run from 12 yards out in the 1st and Pat LaFleur caught a 15-yard TD pass in the 2nd. Klink added a 25-yard field goal in the 3rd to extend the lead to 17-0, but Springs roared back with 13 unanswered. And suddenly, things got a bit too close for comfort. However, we pulled ourselves together and saved the win. Jeremy Conley scored on a 43-yard run with less than 2 minutes remaining for insurance. And we escaped, 23-13. We escaped at a minor cost, as Colton would miss the next game against Cy-Fair. Thankfully, that would be the only game that he would miss.

In Huntsman's stead, Weston Card, who was normally a wideout, took the reins for the Cy-Fair game. The first half was all Woods, as we jumped out to a 21-0 lead by halftime. Wes had 2 TD runs from 9 yards and 1 yard, and Jeremy scored from 36. They both eclipsed the century mark in rushing yards; Jeremy had 103, while Wes ran for 159. The Cy-Fair defense kept us off the scoreboard in the 2nd half, but aside from a TD pass late in the 3rd, the Wildcat defense stonewalled the Bobcats. Woods came out on top 21-7, and that win, coupled with Springs' loss to Langham, put the Cats in a 1st-place tie in the district with Creek.

Langham was next up, and we were 25 seconds away from a shutout. No joke. Bryce, who had been working with the offense for a good portion of the season, was unleashed in the 1st when he scored on an 87-yard pass. Colton Huntsman, in his return to the starting lineup, ripped the Lobo secondary a new one as he tossed for 370 yards and 5 TD passes. Isaiah caught 2 of those, and he finished with a then-record 168 receiving yards. Colton also ran for another TD from 1 yard out in the 3rd. The Cats strolled through with a 42-7 win. Making his debut in this game was Daylan Skidmore, then just a sophomore. He came on in mop-up duty at middle linebacker for Arnold Gacita, when the game was well in hand. Daylan would emerge as a key member of the defense in this year's playoff run, and he ultimately secured his place in the annals of Cy Woods football history.

Daylan Skidmore (#23, left), in his first varsity game.

The season finale pitted us against Cy Falls.

Man, this one hurt. Yeah. We got steamrolled by Stony Point. But, it's debatable as to which loss stung more. Either it was that one, or this one. We had a chance to wrap up a district championship (I don't believe in sharing) and we just blew it.

The Cats led 36-22 at halftime. We were outscored 24-7 the rest of the way, as Falls got the last laugh (in this game) with a field goal with 2 minutes to go as they helped Creek retain their district championship, 46-43. Isaiah had a huge afternoon, as he caught 10 for 163 yards and 2 TDs. Jeremy had 108 yards on just 6 carries, one of which was an 80-yard run. He also caught 4 passes for 52 yards, scoring from 17 and 26.

Yeah. That..... wasn't very fun.

The only solace we took from that game was that our season still continued.

Playoffs

November 14, 2009. In the bi-district round, the Wildcats faced off against Westwood, who made the journey from Round Rock to the Berry Center. Jeremy, banged up from the Falls game, was limited in this one. Fred Anderson, a junior, got the lions' share of time at running back and he had a solid debut, running for 163 on 15 carries. Jeff Bogan, a sophomore call-up, also saw time at RB.

The first half was rather uneventful, however, Bryce broke the monotony of a scoreless tie by returning a punt 62 yards for a touchdown with less than 5 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter. That was his 3rd punt return for a touchdown on the year.

Business started picking up in the 2nd half as all the points except for 7 were scored in this half. Jeff, or J-Bo, as we eventually got around to calling him, picked up his first touchdown at the varsity level with a 30-yard run on our 1st drive of the 3rd. Colton added an 18-yard TD run of his own later on in the quarter. However, Westwood got themselves going with a 21-point quarter and so, heading into the final period, the game was tied at 21. It was a 4th quarter in which the Cats seized control, scoring 17 unanswered to take a 38-21 lead. Jeremy caught a 6-yard pass for a score, Colton busted out for a 54-yard TD, and Klink sent a 32-yard field goal through for the Cats' final points. The Warriors got a score back late, but we moved on, winning 38-28. A random note from this game: Jordan Williamson was Westwood's kicker that year. He went on to kick at Stanford.

Next up was the area round. A trip out to Spring was our reward for winning, and we got the Westfield Mustangs. We scrimmaged them in preseason, and well, they like to talk. If I remember correctly, I think Braylon and Von'Darrick might have gotten tossed during the scrimmage because they got suckered in to some extra stuff after the whistle.

We might have scored 35 points, but none of the scoring plays went further than 15 yards. According to the Chron's box score, we were outgained 443-261. All of the offensive stats were in Westfield's favor. Well, we held them to 29 in the column that ultimately mattered: the scoreboard. Fred scored from 1 yard out and Colton from 2 and 1. Colton also threw a 4-yard TD to Pat, and a 15-yard TD to Isaiah. Wanna know a good way to shut up a guy or a team that's done nothing but run his/their mouths all night? Beat them. That's what we did to Westfield.

The Cats returned to where their season ended: the 3rd round. In Temple, a familiar foe was waiting for us: the Skyline Raiders. The #2 team in the state of Texas was in our way once again. And again, the only people who believed that we could pull off the near-unthinkable... was us, and the Cy Woods community.

Colton opened the scoring with an 8-yard TD run in the 1st. Skyline took the lead with 2 TDs in the 2nd and took that 14-7 lead into the half with them. The score remained that way until the 1st play of the 4th, when Bryce Callahan scored on a 71-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.

A frantic finish would ensue. With less than 3 minutes left, the Raiders re-took the lead. A minute later, Pat LaFleur re-tied the game with a 47-yard touchdown reception. On the ensuing Skyline possession, Dylan Thompson got a pick and put the Cats in position to win. the. game.

On the final possession of the game.... they did just that. Isaiah Battle took a Colton Huntsman pass and took it 44 yards to give the Cats the lead with 30 seconds to go.

A last-gasp effort from Skyline was picked off by Bryce, and the Wildcats sent Skyline packing with a 28-21 victory. Skyline's QB had not thrown a pick all season. He threw 2 in the final 2 minutes of this game. Boy, I wish I was there. I had surgery that week.

The first Wildcat football game in December was played in the friendly confines of the Berry Center. The Tigers of Stony Point became the 2nd Round Rock school to come down to Berry, and well....

They ended our season. It started off well enough, as Jonathan Cross scored the first TD of the game, but after that, it was all Stony Point. They ran off 42 unanswered before we scored again, and then for good measure, they put up 2 more in the 4th. Ugh. And just like that, our season was over. 55-12. The Stony Point Tigers came into our house and completely pillaged it. Ugh.

Did I think that they were 43 points better than us that night? Nope. Do I think they were 43 points better than us now, looking back on this game almost 6 years later? Nope. Ask anyone else who was on this team and they'd tell you the same thing.

Despite the bitter end to our season, that was a real fun year for football. I'll never forget it as long I live.

Wildcats Through the Years: 2008

The first installment of Wildcats Through the Years takes a look back at Year One: the first Wildcat football team.

Summary (too long, didn't read version)

First year of varsity play.

Record: 8-3 (5-2 in District 15-5A, finished 3rd); two games cancelled due to Hurricane Ike

Playoffs: 3rd Round (Division I, Region II Semifinals), lost 35-21 to Dallas Skyline

Points scored: 432 (39.3 per game)

Points allowed: 264 (24 per game)
Largest margin of victory: 50 twice (56-6 vs. Jersey Village, 70-20 vs. Cy Falls)
Largest margin of defeat: 29, against Cy Creek (25-54), Week 6
Most points scored: 70, against Cy Falls, Week 10
Fewest points scored: 21 twice, bi-district vs. Georgetown, regional semis vs. Dallas Skyline

Team Records Set

All of them. It was the first year, they started everything...

Schedule and Results

Week 1: W 28-17 vs. A&M Consolidated (Berry)

Week 2: Klein Oak cancelled due to Hurricane Ike

Week 3: Stratford cancelled due to Hurricane Ike

Week 4: L 43-41 @ Cy Ridge (Pridgeon)

Week 5: W 56-6 vs. Jersey Village (Pridgeon)

Week 6: L 54-25 @ Cy Creek (Berry)

Week 7: W 48-14 vs. Cy Springs (Homecoming @ Pridgeon)

Week 8: W 42-20 @ Cy-Fair (Berry)

Week 9: W 58-20 vs. Langham Creek (Berry)

Week 10: W 70-20 @ Cy Falls (Berry)

Bi-district: W 21-20 vs. Georgetown (Kyle Field)

Area: W 22-15 @ Klein Forest (Klein Memorial)

Regional Semis: L 35-21 vs. Dallas Skyline (Waco ISD Stadium)

Statistical Leaders (stats according to Houston Chronicle)

Passing: Lucas DeVilliers, 177-279, 2693 yards, 23 TD, 6 INT (also had 11 rush TD)

Rushing: Chris Walker, 62 carries, 363 yards (5.9 YPC), 6 TD

Receiving: Brad Korndorffer, 40 rec, 579 yards, 6 TD

Interceptions: Bryce Callahan, 6

The Rundown

There was a significant amount of buzz surrounding the Cy Woods Wildcats as they entered their inaugural varsity season in 2008. They had two wildly successful seasons in the JV ranks, but they would be stepping up to the big leagues for the very first time that year. The Cats, on paper, were well-equipped to take on the rigors of a varsity schedule, as they had cut their teeth against 4A and 3A varsity squads. Leading the way on offense was the dynamic backfield of QB Lucas DeVilliers and RB Chris Walker. DeVilliers had weapons outside in Brad Korndorffer, Brant DeArmond, and Jonathan Cross. Anchoring the offensive line was Matt Ferguson, who began the Wildcat tradition of undersized centers. Joining him was Cameron Lyons, Andrew Hall, Chase Ross, and Logan Geveshausen.

Defensively, the 11 players they put on the field that year was probably the most imposing Wildcat defense. I would venture to say that they still are the most imposing to this day. Up front was 6'8" Josh Theut. He was joined on the line by Justin Washington, Anthony Villamagna, and Glenn Etienne. Behind them was the trio of Patrick West, Hayden Dobbs, and Clint Taylor. The secondary was a solid group headlined by Bryce Callahan and Tyler Williamson at the corner positions, while Chad Epps and Cory Barcus occupied the safety spots. The DBs also received contributions from Jarel Richard, Alex Riley, and Braylon Ransom. 

Regular Season

September 6, 2008. The day that Wildcat football as we know it began. The Tigers of A&M Consolidated were the first-ever opponents for the Cats and they made the journey from College Station to the Berry Center for this game. That night, the Wildcats erased a 17-0 halftime deficit on their way to a 28-17 victory. DeVilliers put the Cats on his back in the 2nd half as he fired two touchdown passes in the 3rd and ran for two more in the 4th. 

One game, one win. However, that would be the last game they would play for three weeks as Hurricane Ike ravaged Southeast Texas. The remaining non-district slate with Klein Oak and Stratford was wiped out. 

20 days later, on September 26, the Wildcats delved straight into district play. Their first district game pitted them against Russell Shepard and the Cypress Ridge Rams. Go look up his high school highlight video; this game was prominently featured. There was plenty of firepower in this one, as the Rams held a 30-29 lead at the half. One of the most ridiculous sequences that I have ever seen in any sport occurred in the 4th quarter. The Rams began a drive at their own 1. The Cats surely had Shepard sacked for a safety, but he got the ball out of his hands just before Patrick West hit him, and one broken tackle later, Russell Shepard had thrown a 99-yard touchdown pass. Man. That's one of those plays where all you can do is just tip your hat to the guy. Cy Woods traded blows with Cy Ridge all night, but the Rams ultimately came out on top, 43-41. Jonathan Cross had seven catches for 212 yards and two scores. 

The next game was against Jersey Village and they jumped out to a 56-0 halftime lead and basically ambled their way to a 56-6 victory, as they notched their first-ever win in district play. Here are some highlights from this game:

It was tough sledding against Cy Creek, who went from worst to first in 2008, on their way to an undefeated season in district play. DeVilliers went down with an injury and the wheels fell off in the second half. The Wildcats were outscored 33-6 after halftime as they fell 54-25. 

The first homecoming game took place on October 17, 2008, and the Cats got a glimpse of the future, as Colton Huntsman was promoted from the JV to make his first start and he stole the show. He did throw a pick, but he won the game with his legs, running for 127 yards and three touchdowns as Woods took a 34-0 lead into halftime and cruised to a 48-14 win on Homecoming I. 

Next up was the highly-anticipated first meeting with Cy-Fair. Lucas absolutely sliced the Bobcat secondary in this game, throwing 4 TDs. The Wildcats led 42-6 after the 3rd and came out on top 42-20. This would be the first of five straight games in which Woods held their opponents to 20 points or fewer. 

Against Langham, the Wildcats led 41-0 after the 1st. The 41 points represent the most they've ever scored in a single quarter. I believe this record is still standing. Again, they cruised to another victory, 58-20. If I remember correctly, they also clinched a playoff berth with this win.

The season finale was a memorable one, indeed. Cy Falls needed a win to clinch a playoff spot, but the Cats turned it into a complete and utter massacre as they led 49-7 at halftime and they ended up hanging 70 on the Eagles that day. The 70 points stood as a Cy Woods record until that ridiculous 74-73 affair with Jersey Village in 2015. Also, this would be the only win that the Cats would have on Falls until 2013. 

Playoffs

The Wildcats finished the regular season 8-3, 5-2 in District 15-5A. They finished in third, behind Ridge and Creek. They qualified for the playoffs and was 15-5A's #1 seed in the Division I bracket.

November 15, 2008. It was a chilly Saturday, and it would remain that way all day. This was the bi-district round. In their first-ever playoff game, the Cy Woods Wildcats took on the Georgetown Eagles at Kyle Field. The Cats took a 14-0 lead at halftime, but Georgetown scored two unanswered touchdowns to tie the game. Jeremy Conley broke the tie with a 12-yard TD run early in the fourth, but with two minutes left in the game, Georgetown scored another touchdown and lined up for the game-tying extra point. Instead of a 21-21 tie, this happened (3:30):



Josh Theut put his frame to good use as he swatted the extra-point attempt away, preserving the Cats' lead and giving them a 21-20 win in their inaugural playoff game.

In the area round, Cy Woods was a little closer to home as they took on Klein Forest at Klein Memorial Stadium. Again, this was a departure from the regular season, where at times they put up points in effortless fashion. They trailed after the first quarter for the first time in a month. But, a pair of touchdown runs from DeVilliers and Huntsman in the second gave them a 12-7 lead at the half. Andrew Klink added a field goal in the third to extend the lead to 15-7. The Golden Eagles tied the game at 15 in the 4th as they converted the 2-point conversion with just under eight minutes to play, but a minute later, Woods retook the lead as DeVilliers punched it in from four yards, and the defense was ironclad as they kept the Golden Eagles at bay to advance by a final of 22-15.

The Wildcats' maiden playoff voyage was ended at the hands of the Skyline Raiders in Waco. They lost DeVilliers to an injury early on, and Colton Huntsman was given the reins for the rest of the first half. The Cats trailed 28-0 in the second, but Huntsman got some positive feelings back with a touchdown run just before halftime. DeVilliers came back in the second half and almost engineered a comeback as he scored from a yard out to make it a 28-21 game at the beginning of the fourth, but the Raiders got a score later in the quarter to extend their lead to two scores to squash the comeback bid, and as a result, Skyline moved on with the 35-21 win.

The first team set the standard for all future Wildcat football teams. It's a standard that is expected to be raised each and every season.

7-on-7 State Tournament, Day 2

On Saturday, the Wildcat 7-on-7 team returned to College Station to take part in the consolation bracket. Their morning, and tournament, was finished early as they lost 42-40 to Austin Westlake in the first game of the day. Reece Clark went 15-20 with 6 touchdowns. Chad O'Donnell caught 3 of Clark's 6 TDs; he had 5 receptions overall. The other 3 TD grabs were made by R.J. Harmon on the Wildcats' 3rd possession in the 1st half, Tre Hart on their 2nd drive of the 2nd half, and Bryson Powers on their 3rd drive in the 2nd half.

Again, it was a tough showing for the defense, but they did get 2 stops on interceptions from Matt Swalm on Westlake's first possession of the game, and one from Brandt Redden in the 2nd half. They also had a bit of bad luck as Chaps receivers somehow made grabs against some really good defending.

Yes, the Cats lost all 4 games, but state champions aren't decided in July, without pads, and with 7 players a side. Would it have been nice to see them win one? Of course. I'm sure the guys left this weekend wondering what they could have done to win those games, because all of them were closely contested. They were unlucky to leave winless.

Also, just because they went 0-4, doesn't mean that their weekend was devoid of any encouraging signs. Here are three guys who really stood out to me:

C.J. Jones has made himself one to watch for in the coming seasons. Only a sophomore, Jones gave Wildcat fans a glimpse of what he can do on the gridiron, especially during the spring game. Another sophomore, Bryson Powers is new to the program; his father is one of the new assistant coaches. Simply put, Bryson's a player. This was the first time I've seen him on the field and I came away extremely impressed. He was sure-handed and looked to make things happen every time he got his hands on the ball. Michael Wirt, making the switch to corner after playing receiver for 3 years, looked like he made a seamless transition to the other side of the ball. He had the interception in the 1st game and had a very solid weekend.

Now, after a week of SAC camp and a 1-week grace period following its conclusion, the real fun begins. Despite their showing in College Station this past weekend, it's shaping up to be another fun season for the Cy Woods Wildcats.

7-on-7 State Tournament, Day 1

Today, the Wildcats took part in the Texas State 7-on-7 Tournament held at Veterans Park in College Station. They were drawn into Pool K alongside the Byron Nelson Bobcats, the Plano West Wolves, and the Hutto Hippos.

It was a long day for the Cats as they dropped all 3 games in pool play and were relegated to the consolation bracket for Saturday. In the first consolation game, the Wildcats will take on Austin Westlake at 8:00 A.M.

Game 1: Byron Nelson 32, Cy Woods 27

In their first game of the day, they took on Byron Nelson, a team that will be playing at the highest level of Texas high school football for the first time this upcoming season. The game was tied at 14 at the half, and the Wildcats briefly took the lead after their 2nd offensive possession of the 2nd half, as Reece Clark connected with Bryson Powers. The PAT was good, giving the Wildcats a 21-20 lead. However, the defense faltered late, giving up 2 unanswered touchdowns (both PATs failed). The 2nd came after a 3-and-out from the offense, which put the Cats in a 32-21 hole. They managed a consolation touchdown as time expired.

Clark finished 25-38 and threw 4 touchdowns against 1 interception. Sophomore C.J. Jones had 7 catches, 1 of which went for a touchdown. Defensively, Michael Wirt stood out in this one: he had an interception in the end zone on Byron Nelson's 3rd offensive possession and broke up 2 more passes.

Game 2: Plano West 20, Cy Woods 6

The Wildcat offense sputtered in their 2nd game of the day: their inability to sustain anything really hurt them. They failed to convert on 4th and goal from the 1 on their 2nd possession in the 1st half. Jaylen Miller, a junior WR, caught a TD on their 3rd drive, which would be the Wildcats' only points of the game. Clark was a bit erratic, as he finished 18-32 with 2 picks. It wasn't entirely his fault, as drops haunted the Cats all day. The first one proved to be the backbreaker, as the Wolves returned it for a touchdown. The Wildcats had been trailing 13-6 at that time.

Clark was also called for 4 seconds (took too long to throw) 8 times, according to my count. Some of those 4-second calls seemed dubious, at best.

Defensively, the Cats had their best effort of the day. They might not have had any interceptions to show for it, but they kept themselves in this game with their work on defense.

Game 3: Hutto 48, Cy Woods 35

The defense was ripped in the final game of the day: they allowed Hutto to score on 7 of their 8 possessions. Their one stop was an interception returned for a touchdown by junior LB Keith Watson, which came in the 1st half and gave the Cats a 14-7 lead.

Clark finished 18-28 with 4 TDs and 2 INTs. Junior RB R.J. Harmon led the charge with 5 catches and 2 TDs. C.J. Jones and Chad O'Donnell also caught touchdowns.

Welcome

Welcome to the first Cy Woods football blog! My name is Dustin, and before we kick things off, I would like tell you a little about myself.

I was a former player; I graduated from Woods in 2010. I was a cornerback and had a thoroughly unremarkable career which ended when I tore my ACL during my senior year, before the game against Cy-Fair. Yes, that actually happened. That's all I have to say on that matter. I don't enjoy talking about myself very much, to be honest.

This was me, when I thought I was a football player. I'm #22.

I enjoyed my time as a Wildcat football player and now, as a fan, I enjoy seeing what the coaching staff and the players, past and present, have built up. Coach Jones laid the foundation 8 years ago, and now Coach Faith is building upon it. Cy Woods is still a relatively new school, but in its short history, the Wildcats have quickly established themselves as a football power in Cy-Fair ISD.

I have a great deal of respect for the coaching staff, especially Coach Zachos and Coach Neill. I'm glad that they gave me the opportunity to be a part of something truly special during my 4 years as a Wildcat. Coach Faith has been a welcome addition to the Wildcat family, and as I have gotten to know him a little better, I am also extremely glad that he has become an integral part of this program.

Some may be unfamiliar with the history of this team, which is totally understandable. With this blog, my aim is to inform those who are unfamiliar with said history, to go along with what the Wildcats of today are doing. This blog came about because I feel that the Cats have built up a large enough following through the years.

Also, I have the tendency to be a smartass. Just go with it. Play along. I mean absolutely no disrespect when I'm being a smartass.... unless you think that I am. Honestly, that really isn't my problem. I call things like I see them.

Well, that's all I've got. I bet you didn't even read this. That's alright. In this age of social media, not many people these days seem to want to read something this long. So let's get to it.