New tunnel. New uniforms. New everything. This new era of Cy Woods football is in full swing.
Well... Chapter 7 of Cy Woods Football didn't exactly start off the way everyone expected. The Cats fell behind 21-0 at halftime and trailed by as much as 35-0 before they sprang to life. It was all Tigers in this game as they literally pounded the Cats into the ground to the tune of 429 rushing yards. And, as a result, Cy Woods was condemned to a 42-14 defeat on Opening Night.
Yes, the Cats got smacked in their first game of the season. But, there's at least 9 games remaining in this season. People who are panicking over this game are completely missing the big picture. That's really all I can say to the sky-is-falling crowd.
There was a lot of hype surrounding this game from the team and the community, and they got hit in the mouth. I think this game opened their eyes a bit. This game showed that they still have a ways to go before they reach the level that they expect to play at this season. They'll be fine, though. The Wildcats have bounced back from worse losses before, trust me.
Yes, the Cats got smacked, but that doesn't mean that this game was devoid of any encouraging signs. Bryson Powers (#88), a sophomore, finished with 2 catches for 45 yards and returned 4 kickoffs for 58 yards. He's new to the program. His father is one of the new assistant coaches this season; Coach Powers is handling the inside linebackers. Bryson showed a nice burst after his first catch and eventually gained 38 yards on the play. He also got the majority of the kick returning duties as Klein Collins decided to kick away from Zac Duncan and C.J. Jones. He'll be one to watch not just for this season, but in the coming years, as well.
Turning Point
Woods was driving in the 1st quarter, but that was derailed after a botched snap on the Klein Collins 22-yard-line, and then Nick Hooper coughed it up as he attempted to salvage something from that play. The Tigers eventually scored on their ensuing drive.
You could also say that the first 30 minutes of this game was one giant turning point, as the Tigers built up a 35-0 lead before the Cats could answer.
Ground
Both Cats TDs were scored via the running game. Zac Duncan scored the first points of the season when he took a reverse and ran 26 yards for a touchdown in the 3rd. Later in that 3rd quarter, R.J. Harmon scored from 7 yards out.
There wasn't much to report from the passing game. The longest pass play of the evening belonged to Bryson Powers, who caught a 38-yard pass on Woods' 3rd possession, in the 2nd quarter. Other than that, though, the next-longest completion was a 17-yard catch from Jared Taylor in the 3rd. R.J. Harmon led the Cats with 6 receptions. Nick was relieved for a series by Reece Clark, who was at the helm for Woods' first scoring drive.
Nick Hooper: 16-23, 121 yards
Reece Clark: 4-6, 31 yards
*Wait, why do the Wildcats have 179 receiving yards, but only 152 passing yards? Well, part of this is because I am the rare Asian who isn't very good at math. Also, there is no exact science to keeping track of statistics at the high school level. Some media outlets, like the Chronicle, say that Cy Woods had 162 passing yards. The numbers will vary, depending on which media outlet you are consulting for your stats, like TSRN, Varsity Wires, or Adam Coleman. These are the numbers that I have compiled. Some of these catches may have actually been backwards passes that should've counted towards the team's rushing statistics, but were counted as receptions, and thus, were counted towards the team's passing statistics. Defense
Allowing the opposing team to score touchdowns on their first 5 possessions is definitely not ideal. That's all I'll say here. They recovered a fumble in the 2nd, but that was wiped out by a dubious, at best, offsides call. And then Klein Collins eventually scored.
In some kind of sick irony, the Cats allowed 212 yards in the 1st half.
Kason Franklin (#34), a sophomore making his debut in the show, had 7 tackles (4 assisted) and recovered an onside kick. Elijah Pierson (#42) led the way with 8 total tackles, 5 of which were solo efforts. The Outlaw Shane Lawless, also had 8 tackles, only 1 of which was assisted.
Tackles: Elijah Pierson 8 (3 assisted), Shane Lawless 8 (1 assisted), Kason Franklin 7 (4 assisted), Wade Carson 6 (1 assisted), Michael Wirt 5, Tyler Greaves 5 (2 assisted), Jake Jones 4, Matt Swalm 4 (3 assisted), Morgan Tosten 4 (all assisted), Keith Watson 3 (2 assisted), Justyn Johnson 2 (both assisted), Danny Malone 2 (1 assisted), Elijah Kinnison 1, Brandon DePrato 1 (assisted), Randall Medlin 1 (assisted), Justin Lawson 1 (assisted)
Interceptions: None.
Fumbles forced/recovered: None.
*Interceptions and fumbles won't be overly tough to track, but tackles is definitely going to be a different story. If there's a pile at the line of scrimmage and there's about 7 players around the ball carrier, then that's a lot of assisted tackles to dish out. So, therefore, I'll award assists to the first 3 players that get to the ball carrier. My bad if that hurts your numbers, but your numbers better contribute to a Wildcat win. Also,it's a little tough to compile stats with a notebook. Special Teams
Jordan Johnson punted 3 times for 124 yards, giving him a 41.3-yard average. So, a good night for him in that aspect of the game, but I think he'd much rather have a better night on offense.
I've never seen a team execute 2 onside kicks for 2 straight kickoffs.... until last night. #85 (no nameplate on back) did a great job, because the Cats ended up recovering both of them. The Outlaw Shane Lawless recovered the kick that followed Zac Duncan's TD run, and on the ensuing Wildcat possession, R.J. Harmon scored. The next onside looked like it was going to be recovered by the Tigers, but one mishandle and a scrum later resulted in Kason Franklin emerging with the ball for the Cats.
Zac Duncan returned 2 kicks for 47 yards, while Bryson Powers returned 4 for 58 yards. These numbers are guesstimates, but I'm fairly confident those numbers are correct. Zac also muffed a fair catch after Collins' first punt of the game, which occured with less than a minute to go in the game. Looking Ahead
After a week off, the Wildcats will kick off district play as they take on Cy Ridge on Saturday, September 13 at 6:00 at the Berry Center. They'll look to win a district opener for the first time ever. This will be the first of 3 consecutive Saturday games for the Wildcats.
I'll be breaking down the opposition for the first time in this post.
Disclaimer: I won't claim to know anything on the other team. Most of the info on the opponents will come from Dave Campbell's Texas Football and some of it from my head.
Klein Collins Tigers (0-0) vs. Cy Woods Wildcats (0-0), Friday, August 29, 7 PM, Pridgeon Stadium
The Enemy: Klein Collins At-A-Glance
School district: Klein
UIL District: 15-6A
2013: 4-6, 3-5 (6th of 9) in District 13-5A
Players to Watch, per Dave Campbell's Texas Football
DB Quintrell Webster, OL Taylor Golden, LB Justin Gil, RB Justin Pratt
Top sophomore: WR Quinton Newton
Other prospects: DB Earnest Watts, DL James Martin, DL Hunter Lynam, OL Robert Benavides
All-Time Series
Tied, 1-1
Previous Meetings
August 29, 2013: Cy Woods 21, Klein Collins 0
September 1, 2012: Klein Collins 35, Cy Woods 14
This Game, in a Paragraph
After 280 days, the wait is over. The 2014 Cypress Woods Wildcats will take the field for the first time, and they'll have a rubber game with the Klein Collins Tigers at Pridgeon Stadium, one year to the day of the 2013 season opener.
Last Time These Teams Met
The Wildcats looked to correct the anomaly that was the 2012 season. The first order of business was getting even with Klein Collins after they ran away with a victory in the first meeting ever between the two teams at BBVA Compass Stadium.
This was a different affair, though. Woods opened up their season on a high note as they blanked the Tigers 21-0, their first of 2 shutouts on the season. Samuel Stewart ran for 69 yards on 13 carries, caught a 6-yard touchdown from Mason Roberts, and also threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Devin Hokanson.
JV and Freshman Game Info
As is customary, sub-varsity game night will be on Thursday. The freshmen will be at Cy Woods, and there will be 3 games. The C-team leads off at 4:00. The Gold game will follow at 5:15, and the Cardinal team will play at 7. The JV will travel to Klein Collins. JV game times are 4:30 (Gold) and 6:30 (Cardinal).
This next installment of Wildcats Through the Years takes a look back on the 2013 Cypress Woods Wildcats.
Summary
Record: 8-4 (6-3, t-3rd in District 17-5A)
Playoffs: Division II, Region III Area round, lost 51-7 to Katy
Points scored: 358 (29.8 per game)
Points allowed: 264 (22 per game)
Largest margin of victory: 54, vs. Cy Ranch (54-0)
Largest margin of defeat: 44, vs. Katy (51-7)
Most points scored: 57, vs. Cy Springs
Most points allowed: 51, vs. Katy
Fewest points scored: 7, vs. Katy
Fewest points allowed: 0 twice, vs. Klein Collins and Cy Ranch
Team Records Set
Most shutouts in a season, 2
Longest play from scrimmage, 93 yards (tied, Zac Duncan TD reception vs. Cy Ridge)
Individual Records Set
Rushing yards in a game: Samuel Stewart, 247 vs. Cy Lakes
Statistical Leaders
Passing: Nick Hooper, 115-206 (56.1%), 1691 yards, 15 TD, 9 INT
Rushing: Samuel Stewart, 132 carries, 734 yards (5.6 per carry), 13 TD
Receiving: Mason Roberts, 32 recs, 514 yards, 5 TD
Interceptions: Nick Csatlos and Colton Fontana, 4 each
Schedule and Results
Week 1: W 21-0 vs. Klein Collins (Pridgeon)
Week 2: L 48-20 @ Langham Creek (Berry)
Week 3: W 28-26 vs. Cy Ridge (Pridgeon)
Week 4: W 34-14 @ Cy Lakes (Berry)
Week 5: W 57-14 vs. Cy Springs (Homecoming @ Berry)
Week 6: L 30-23 vs. Cy-Fair (Berry)
Week 7: W 54-0 @ Cy Ranch (Berry)
Week 8: W 37-15 vs. Cy Falls (Pridgeon)
Week 9: W 21-14 @ Cy Creek (Berry)
Week 10: L 42-0 vs. Jersey Village (Pridgeon)
Bi-district: W 56-10 vs. Nimitz (Pridgeon)
Area: L 51-7 vs. Katy (Rhodes)
The Rundown
The Coach Faith era began with a rocky start as the Wildcats missed the playoffs for the first time school history in 2012. However, the returning Cats made it clear that there wouldn't be a drought.
After getting his feet wet as a receiver, Nick Hooper was the next man up at the quarterback spot, while the dynamic Mason Roberts returned to wideout. Samuel Stewart became the feature back; Peter "Chuck" Garza saw some time at tailback, as well. He also saw how the other half lives at the beginning of the season, logging in time at safety. The Cats also got a glimpse of the future at running back with Raynard "R.J." Harmon. Zac Duncan was the top returning receiver from 2012. He also saw some time in the secondary during this season. He and Mason were joined out wide by Devin Hokanson, Chris England, Jared Taylor, and Taylor Tesch. An experienced offensive line returned with Trevor Rogas, Jamal Kinard, Logan Wright, and Mohammad El-Zibdeh as the leaders. They were joined by Brian Biddy, Andrew Gallagher, and Robbie Beardmore.
Defensively, the Cats were just 3 points from matching a record low for points allowed in a season. Owing to Coach Faith's defensive background, this was a real stingy group. Up front was the solid junior duo of Randall Medlin and Justyn Johnson. Tre'von Taylor, Jeremy Orange, Wyatt Wozniak, and Jarel Jones were also significant contributors to the defensive line. Nick Csatlos and Taylor Holmes anchored the linebackers and they were accompanied by Wade Carson, The Outlaw Shane Lawless, Hector Larios, Elijah Pierson, Tyler Greaves, and Elijah Kinnison, who also played some safety. Colton Fontana emerged as the top performer in the secondary. Joining him were Sam Dobbs, Stevie Polly, Matt Swalm, and Dylan Butsch.
Regular Season
Chapter 6. August 29, 2013.
Just like the previous year, the Klein Collins Tigers were the Cats' first opponents. Woods opened the year with a fine defensive performance as they kept the Tigers off the board and while the offense wasn't sharp, they did their job. Sam Stewart scored the first points of the year when he caught a 6-yard pass from Mason Roberts in the 1st. Nick Hooper had a 1-yard TD run early in the 2nd, and Sam threw a 63-yard TD pass to Devin Hokanson in the 3rd. And so, the Wildcats began 2013 on a winning note with a 21-0 shutout win.
The Wildcat defense was excellent to open the season as they kept Klein Collins off the scoreboard.
What if I told you that the Wildcats had lost every district opener that they've played? This is a fact. The Wildcats were 0-5 in the first game of district play entering this season. This one, against Langham, turned out like the first 5. The Cats were undone by 4 turnovers and never really threatened the Lobos, falling 48-20. Sam ran for 71 yards on 12 carries, one of which was a 33-yard TD in the 1st. He also caught a 25-yard scoring pass in the 2nd.
Cy Ridge was next up, and the theme between these two teams was that every matchup has alternated between a tightly contested affair or a blowout. In this game, it would be the former, as the Cats held a 20-17 lead at halftime. A pair of Chase McLaughlin field goals and a safety pushed the Woods lead to 28-17, but the Rams fought back and were on the cusp of tying the game. A 21-yard touchdown pass cut the Cats' lead to 28-26, and Ridge lined up for the game-tying 2-point conversion with 20 seconds to go in regulation.
Taylor Holmes keeps the Cats in the lead by breaking up this potential game-tying 2-point conversion from Ridge.
The Rams almost tied the game. Almost. Taylor Holmes broke up the pass in the endzone and the Cats hung on by the skin of their teeth, 28-26. Zac Duncan tied Clesmie Burden's record for the longest play from scrimmage with his 93-yard touchdown reception in the 1st. Nick Hooper threw for 214 yards and ran for 105 more.
Next on the slate was Cy Lakes, a team coming off a winless season. Well, the defense held steady for the most part, but the offense was stuck in mud for the first 24 minutes. Then, the rain came. Then, a busted coverage gifted the Spartans a touchdown early in the 2nd quarter. Then came the turnovers. To get to the point here... the first half of this game was not the easiest to watch for the Wildcat faithful. So, the Cats entered the locker room down 7-0 to the Cy Lakes Spartans. This was the first time that they were shut out at the half since the Cy Fair game in 2011. And then, as the rain steadily fell, the Berry Center was eventually placed under a lightning delay. So, the Cats got a little extra time to fine-tune the adjustments they intended to make for the 2nd half to try and get something going on the offensive side of the ball.
About a couple of hours later, play resumed, and the Cats wasted little time in getting themselves going as Mason Roberts returned the opening kickoff of the 2nd half deep into Spartan territory. Not long after, Nick Hooper put the Cats on the board with a 12-yard touchdown run. They tried to take the lead, but the 2-point conversion failed. The Cats found themselves behind the 8-ball once again as Lakes got another touchdown before the end of the 3rd quarter. So, with 12 minutes to go, Woods found themselves trailing the overwhelming underdogs, 14-6. But in that final stanza, the Cats offense finally woke up from the trance they were in all night and seized control by outscoring Lakes 28-0. The battery of Nick Hooper and Sam Stewart carried the Cats to the finish as they both ran for 2 scores in the 4th. Stewart finished with a team-record 247 yards on the ground and scored the final 2 touchdowns of the evening.
Sam puts the finishing touches on another Wildcat victory.
Homecoming VI. October 4, 2013. The Berry Center was the venue, and Cy Springs was the opponent. The Panthers, who entered this game with a 3-1 record, suddenly weren't the doormat that they were for much of their history. But, on this night, the Cats turned back the clock and channeled the Cats of years past as they just poured it on and turned the game into a total rout. The Cats led 37-7 at halftime and strolled to a 57-14 win. A happy homecoming, indeed.
Nick sliced the Panther secondary to the tune of 334 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also scored on a 14-yard run in the 3rd. Raynard Harmon ran for 68 yards on 11 carries and scored his first touchdown in the big leagues on a 20-yard run early in the 4th.
R.J. Harmon lunges for the end zone... and gets there.
The Cats took on Cy-Fair next. It took them a while to get themselves going, as the Bobcats completely stifled them in the 1st half, taking a 16-0 lead into the locker room. But, Woods suddenly sprang to life, as Mason caught a pass from Nick Hooper and took it 48 yards to the house. One successful 2-point conversion later, and it was all of a sudden a one-possession game. Sam caught a 13-yard touchdown pass and they converted another 2-point try to make it a 23-16 game. However, Fair just had an answer for every Wildcat outburst. They just made a few more plays. Mason scored on a 10-yard run to make it a 1-touchdown game again. The Cats had the ball last, but time ran out on their bid to tie the game, and Cy-Fair tied the all-time series at 3 apiece with the 30-23 decision.
Mason Roberts puts the Wildcats on the board against Cy-Fair with this 48-yard TD grab.
The next opponent was that school on Fry, Cy Ranch. For these two mortal enemies, it was a tale of two teams during the 2012 season; the Wildcats missed the playoffs for the first time ever, while the Mustangs made it to the 4th round in their first playoff voyage. But, the Cats emerged victorious in their meeting that year, and that apparently didn't sit too well with some of the Ranch faithful. They made it 4 rounds deep, but they couldn't top the Wildcats.
lol
For an entire offseason, the returning Cats had to hear it all from the Cy Ranch community about how their team made it to the 4th round while Woods was sitting at home. The Cats made sure those words would come back to haunt the Mustangs.
As for the game.... oh boy. Remember when Ranch was all pumped after they surprised Woods in their first matchup ever? And then 68-21 happened the next year? Well, déjà vu here. The Cats absolutely dominated in all facets of the game as they handed Ranch their worst defeat ever, 54-0. Bloody Saturday III.
Nick Hooper darts upfield as Mason Roberts clears a path for him.
The Outlaw Shane Lawless had this pick 6 in Woods' massacre of Ranch. One-handed grab too!
Cy Falls was next, and despite the Eagles falling off the cliff in this season, the specter of a 4-game losing streak to them loomed large over the Cats. They emphatically extinguished those demons as they led 34-2 at halftime and finished with a 37-15 win, getting their first win in the series since the first season. Nick threw for 2 scores and ran for 2 more in a game that had no semblance of official order whatsoever. This marked the Wildcats' first win over Falls since the very first season.
Devin Hokanson hauls in a touchdown against Falls.
The Cy Creek game was a defensive slugfest. The Cats found themselves behind after the Cougars got a pick deep inside Woods territory and scored on their subsequent offensive possession. But, Samuel Stewart took over and scored all 3 Woods touchdowns. He scored on 2 runs from 15 and 11 yards in the 2nd quarter, and this Cougars player quickly realized that facing Sam head-on.... was most unwise. I can't make fun of him, though. The guy tried to make a play, and although he didn't, he wasn't afraid to take on Sam. It's football... plays like those occur.
Sam just would not be denied here.
Sam added a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown to put Woods up 21-7 in the 3rd. The Cougars stayed within striking distance as they added a touchdown early in the 4th to make it a 1-score game again. So... the spotlight shone on the defense, which had been so good that year. They needed to come up huge in the 4th quarter to secure this game. And.....
But here... the Cats denied the Cougars in their last-gasp effort at the goal line.
...the Cat defense withstood the final Cy Creek advance and repelled them from the end zone not one, not two, not three, but four times, to secure the 21-14 victory. With the win, there would be no playoff drought for the Cy Woods Wildcats.... they'd be back in a familiar place.
Well, unfortunately, the tune-up didn't go as planned, as Jersey Village wiped them out with a 42-0 scoreline in the season finale, which was the Falcons' first win in the series.
Playoffs
November 16, 2013. In their return to the playoffs, the Wildcats took on the Nimitz Cougars in the bi-district round.
I suppose they were excited to be in the playoffs again because they just hammered Nimitz early and often. The Cats led 42-3 at halftime and cruised to the area round with a 56-10 victory. Nick Hooper completed all 10 of his passes for 174 yards and 4 TDs. Everyone that caught a pass scored. Sam Stewart only carried the ball 6 times for 30 yards, but 3 of those carries went for touchdowns in the 2nd. He scored from 2, 10, and 5 yards out.
Sam wouldn't be denied here, either.
The area round saw the Wildcats take on the juggernaut known as the Katy Tigers. They gave Katy a shock before ultimately falling 44-30 in 2011, and not for a second in that game did they look intimidated.
This game started off rather well for the Cats as they struck first. Mason Roberts turned what would've been an interception into a 24-yard touchdown reception. Unfortunately...... that was as good as it got for the Cats as it was all Katy afterwards. And so, the Cats' season ended in the area round on that cold, cold November night at Rhodes Stadium, 51-7.
Despite the bitter end to their season, the Class of 2014 can hold their heads high. They made sure that the Wildcats' absence from the playoffs was short-lived. They put their most hated rival in their place a year after they were forced to witness them go 4 rounds deep in the playoffs. They revived 212.
Cy Woods is still a relatively new school, but ever since they arrived on the scene 7 years ago, they've consistently been in the upper echelon of Cy-Fair ISD football. What occurred in 2012 was something definitely out of the ordinary at Cy Woods, where playoff runs are expected every year. But sometimes, it may take a non-playoff season for a team to realize that nothing comes easy, especially in Cy-Fair ISD football. The Class of 2014 took the lessons they learned from a rough year and in the end, they delivered a special season to Cy Woods.
Part 5 of this 7-part series of the history of Cy Woods Wildcats football takes a look at the 2012 team.
Summary
Record: 4-6 (4-5, 7th in District 17-5A)
Points scored: 296 (29.6 per game)
Points allowed: 321 (32.1 per game)
Largest margin of victory: 50, vs. Cy Lakes (63-13)
Largest margin of defeat: 33, vs. Cy Ridge (54-21)
Most points scored: 63, vs. Cy Lakes
Most points allowed: 54, vs. Cy Ridge
Fewest points scored: 10, vs. Cy Falls
Fewest points allowed: 13 twice, vs. Cy Lakes and Cy Springs
Schedule and Results
Week 1: L 35-14 @ Klein Collins (BBVA Compass Stadium)
Week 2: L 32-31 vs. Langham Creek (Homecoming @ Pridgeon)
Week 3: L 54-21 @ Cy Ridge (Berry)
Week 4: W 63-13 vs. Cy Lakes (Pridgeon)
Week 5: W 48-13 @ Cy Springs (Berry)
Week 6: L 49-20 @ Cy-Fair (Pridgeon)
Week 7: W 40-37 (OT) vs. Cy Ranch (Pridgeon)
Week 8: L 35-10 @ Cy Falls (Pridgeon)
Week 9: L 39-14 vs. Cy Creek (Pridgeon)
Week 10: W 35-14 @ Jersey Village (Pridgeon)
The Rundown
The Katy game proved to be the swan song of head coach David Jones' tenure at Cy Woods. In February, Coach Jones left to become the new head coach at Tivy High School in Kerrville. Taking his place was former Cy Creek defensive coordinator Trent Faith.
Year 1 of the Coach Faith era was a struggle, to say the least. The Cats dropped their first 3 games and never found anything resembling consistency, missing the playoffs for the first time in team history. The offense that seemingly put up points at will in its first 4 seasons had its moments, but never seemed to string their good performances together, and the explosiveness was just gone. The defense... struggled all season.
After seeing some time alongside Gabe West last season, Nate German assumed the reins of the offense. However, his season ended after 4 games after he underwent surgery on his shoulder. As a result, Mason Roberts took over and was joined by Nick Hooper at the QB spot. Both began the season as wideouts. Trent Holmes, Egbezien "EB" Obiomon, and Samuel Stewart were the feature backs. Chase Ragusa was the top returning receiver, and he was accompanied by Roberts, Hooper, seniors Jake Seaboch and David Burrell, and sophomore Zac Duncan. Jordan Woodward was the lone holdover from the previous year's offensive line. Brett Bryan, Jamal Kinard, and Trevor Rogas were converts from defense, and Mohammad El-Zibdeh, Robert Bruges, Logan Riordan, and Logan Wright also saw time on the O-line.
On defense, Marquise White returned to anchor the defensive line. He was joined by Jordan Cipriani, Stephen Thompson, Jordan Jones, Justyn Johnson, Jeremy Orange, and Brent Hernandez. Deoundrei Davis, who ended up signing with The University of Texas, led the linebackers, although he would be lost for the season due to a torn ACL. Also seeing significant time at the linebacker spots were Nick Csatlos, Taylor Holmes, Ayman Elayyan, Jordan Johnson, and Dimitri Smith. Alfred "Bama" Pullom, who signed with Baylor, was the leader of the secondary, and he was joined by Andrew Pruitt, Xavier Banks, and Miles Ogunyomade.
Regular Season
Chapter 5 began on September 1, 2012. The venue was BBVA Compass Stadium, home of the Houston Dynamo. This was the first neutral-site regular season game in Cy Woods history. The opponents for that night were Tigers, again. Only this time, they were a little closer. The Cats matched up against the Klein Collins Tigers. This game was actually rather close, as EB Obiomon tied the game at 14 with an 11-yard TD run midway through the 3rd. However, the Cats were doomed to a season-opening 35-14 defeat as Collins scored 21 unanswered points to close out the game.
District play kicked off with Homecoming V at Pridgeon against Langham Creek. They were in an 18-0 hole early on, but a 31-7 surge put them in front. The Cats got 2 TD runs from Nate German and 1 apiece from Trent Holmes and Mason Roberts. However, they couldn't hold off the final Lobo surge, as they gave up the go-ahead score with 2:33 to go. And, as a result, the Wildcats fell to 3-2 on Homecoming with the 32-31 loss.
The next game was against Cy Ridge, and..... ugh. The Cats were absolutely steamrolled, falling behind 44-7 at halftime on their way to a 54-21 loss. No further comment.
No Wildcat team has ever lost their first 3 games to open a season. However, the schedule would provide a brief break in the form of Cy Lakes and Cy Springs.
The Cats absolutely stomped the Spartans, going up 56-0 at halftime as they won their first game of the Coach Faith era, 63-13. Mason Roberts ran for 69 yards on 6 carries and scored 3 times. He also tossed a 65-yard TD pass to Trent Holmes.
The following week, they ruined Cy Springs' homecoming with a 48-13 victory. Mason had another solid game as he threw for 183 yards and 2 scores (both to Zac Duncan) and ran for 98 more, which included a 28-yard TD. EB Obiomon had 142 yards on 9 carries and had a 7-yard TD run in the 3rd.
So, the Cats had some positive momentum built up for this incredibly tough stretch that faced them. Did they have a late surge in them? Unfortunately......................
Sad times. Sad times indeed.
The Cats were locked into a tight battle against Cy-Fair and trailed 21-20 at halftime. Unfortunately, they came undone in the 2nd half and got swamped 28-0 over the final 24 minutes on their way to a 49-20 loss.
Next up, Woods rekindled their rivalry with that school on Fry. And that was an absolutely epic encounter. After a scoreless 1st quarter, business picked up as the Cats blocked a field goal. On the ensuing Wildcat possession One play later, Mason Roberts opened up the scoring with an 88-yard TD run. The Mustangs thought they had him, but then again, they thought they heard a whistle. Mason didn't and scampered all the way to the house. Just 2 minutes later, Mason found Samuel Stewart for a 33-yard touchdown pass. Both teams were tied at 13 at halftime. Trent Holmes put the Cats on the board first in the 2nd half with a 3-yard touchdown run, but Ranch hit back for 17 unanswered and led 30-20 in the final stanza.
With Mason out of commission, Nick Hooper slid over to the QB spot for the 2nd half. He found Trent Holmes on a pass, and Holmes did the rest. He ran 80 yards and slashed the Mustang lead to 3 with just over 7 minutes to go in regulation. Nick put the Cats on top 34-30 as he basically strolled in untouched from 3 yards.
Nick Hooper coming through in the clutch!
The Mustangs re-took the lead with 97 seconds left in the game as Keith Ford ran one in from 11 yards out, but the last-gasp effort for the Cats was successful as Chase McLaughlin kicked his way into Wildcat football lore. He tied the game with a 42-yarder as the clock struck zero! And so, the Cats would play an overtime game for the first time ever.
It didn't take long for Chase to cement his place there. After the Mustangs missed their shot in OT, Chase sent the Wildcat faithful home in absolute jubilation by nailing a 26-yarder in Woods' half of overtime. The Cats took the series lead with a 40-37 victory.
The Kick
Unfortunately, all the good feelings and all that good stuff from that win went up in smoke as the Cats were pummeled 35-10 by Cy Falls. Zac Duncan had a 17-yard TD run in the 3rd quarter. It didn't get any better against Cy Creek, as the Cougars condemned them to a year without playoff football after a 39-14 thrashing. The Cats only had 151 yards of total offense, according to the Chronicle. Nick Hooper caught a 12-yard TD pass from Mason, and Nick Csatlos had a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown.
In the season finale, the Wildcats took on Jersey Village in a game that had zero significance, other than deciding which team would finish the season above the other in the standings. On a beautiful November afternoon, EB Obiomon, who is now playing at West Point, went out with a great game as he rushed for 72 yards on 12 carries and 3 scores. After the Falcons tied the game at 7 midway through the 2nd, the Cats erupted for 28 unanswered as they won 35-14.
Yes, it was a tough season, but there were encouraging signs for the future. I'm one of those people who try to find the good whenever things get tough. Nick Hooper and Zac Duncan cut their teeth as sophomores and they would eventually evolve into centerpieces on the offense. Mason Roberts and Sam Stewart had solid junior seasons and became the unquestioned leaders of the offense. Defensively, Nick Csatlos and Taylor Holmes played prominent roles as the outside LBs and became stalwarts on defense. Justyn Johnson, another sophomore, held his own on the defensive line and would eventually anchor the defensive line.
Part 4 of Wildcats Through the Years takes a look back at the 2011 season.
Summary Record: 9-3 (7-2, 3rd in District 17-5A)
Playoffs: 5A Division II, Region III Area round, lost 44-30 to Katy
Points scored: 496 (41.3 per game)
Points allowed: 261 (21.8 per game)
Largest margin of victory: 49, vs. Cy Lakes (63-14)
Largest margin of defeat: 16, vs. Cy Falls (28-12)
Most points scored: 68, vs. Cy Ranch
Fewest points scored: 0, vs. Cy Fair (first time shut out in team history)
Most points allowed: 44 twice, vs. Langham Creek and Katy
Fewest points allowed: 0, vs. Cy Springs
Team Records Set or Tied Greatest point differential (positive or negative), +235
Fewest points allowed in a season, 261
Fewest points allowed per game in a season, 21.8
Most offensive yards in a game, 724 vs. Jersey Village
Most district wins, 7 (tied with 2010)
Most passing yards in a game, 532 vs. Cy Lakes
Individual Records Set or Tied Receiving TDs in a season: Gary Tesch, 10 (tied)
Rushing TDs in a game: Jeff Bogan, 4 vs. Langham Creek
Statistical Leaders (per Houston Chronicle) Passing: Gabe West, 117-207 (56.2%), 1662 yards, 17 TD, 9 INT (also ran for 9 TD)
Rushing: Samuel Stewart, 93 carries, 769 yards (8.3 per carry), 8 TD
Receiving: Gary Tesch, 44 rec, 582 yards, 10 TD
Interceptions: Josh Holley and Alfred Pullom, 3 each
Schedule and Results Week 1: W 27-21 vs. A&M Consolidated (Berry)
Week 2: L 28-12 @ Cy Falls (Berry)
Week 3: L 14-0 vs. Cy-Fair (Berry)
Week 4: W 68-21 @ Cy Ranch (Pridgeon)
Week 5: W 63-24 vs. Jersey Village (Pridgeon)
Week 6: W 63-14 @ Cy Lakes (Berry)
Week 7: W 50-44 @ Langham (Berry)
Week 8: W 49-31 vs. Cy Creek (Homecoming @ Pridgeon)
Week 9: W 45-13 @ Cy Ridge (Berry)
Week 10: W 47-0 vs. Cy Springs (Pridgeon)
Bi-district: W 42-7 vs. Eisenhower (Thorne Stadium, Aldine ISD)
Area: L 44-30 vs. Katy (Berry)
The Rundown Few schools experience the success that the Cy Woods Wildcats immediately experienced: Three seasons, three deep playoff runs. A 3rd round appearance followed by 2 straight appearances in the 4th round. However, the Wildcats entered the 2011 season with questions on offense. They had to replace Colton Huntsman, who was, without a doubt, the face of the program. Colton was a truly special talent who would be incredibly difficult to replace. However, the Wildcats' system was still stocked with talent.
Gabriel West, who gained some varsity experience filling in for Huntsman during the 2010 season, was the next man up at quarterback. For the first time, the Wildcats employed a 2-QB system, with Nate German also seeing spot duty. Jeff Bogan became the featured running back, and he was backed up by junior Trent Holmes and rising sophomore Samuel Stewart, who was primarily a wideout. Gary Tesch and Jesse Astorga were the top returning receivers, and they were joined by junior Chase Ragusa and another rising sophomore in Mason Roberts. Conrad Wozniak and Jimmy Schmitzer returned to anchor the Wildcats' offensive line, and accompanying them were Brad Sharp, Jordan Woodward, Braxton Norris, Tyler Mock, and Michael Gallagher.
Cody Small had a trial run at receiver, but this move did not pan out. The experiment lasted all of 3 games before he returned to the defensive side of the ball. He was joined by a deep defensive line rotation that included Dominic Wilson, Marquise White, Blake Bennett, Estevan Villarreal, Jordan Cipriani, Jordan Jones, Jordan Hardy, and Stephen Thompson. Daylan Skidmore entered his final season as the new face of the Wildcats. Christian Limbrick and Deoundrei Davis, who both saw significant playing time in 2010, also returned to give the Cats a formidable trio of LBs. Casem Noureddin, Will Glover, and Ryan Renaud also saw some action from the outside linebacker spots. The secondary was a nasty quartet. 3 of those 4 were returning starters, and all of them saw significant action in the 2010 season. Josh Holley and Deonte Davis were the cornerbacks, while Jamaul Tompkins and Alfred Pullom manned the safety spots. They gave no quarter to their opponents, as they only allowed two opposing receivers to gain over 100 yards in a game all season.
After a rough beginning to district play, the Cats suddenly sprang to life and ran the table, clinching a playoff berth for the 4th consecutive season.
Regular Season Chapter 4 of Cy Woods Football began on September 2, 2011. For the 4th consecutive year, the A&M Consolidated Tigers provided the competition on Opening Night.
The first points of the season belonged to Gary Tesch, who caught a 14-yard TD pass from Gabe with just over 4 minutes left in the 1st. Gabe West had a hand in all 4 Woods scores, as he had 2 touchdown runs from 21 and 7 yards, and he also threw an 18-yard TD to Sam Stewart. He threw for 183 and ran for 161.
Much like the first 3 meetings, this was a very tightly-contested affair. West's 7-yard touchdown run came with 55 seconds left in regulation and turned out to be the difference as the Cats outlasted the Tigers, 27-21.
Cy Falls was the first game on the district slate. This was a forgettable affair, to say the least. Although the final margin was 2 touchdowns, the Cats never found a consistent rhythm on offense and they trailed by as many as 22 points before scoring a consolation touchdown with 1:45 left in the game, as Gary Tesch caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Nate German. The Wildcats dropped their 4th straight district opener, losing by a score of 28-12. The other Woods touchdown came on a 1-yard run from Gabe West early in the 2nd quarter.
The offensive woes continued against Cy-Fair, which really put an outstanding defensive effort to waste. Unfortunately, the defense committed a crucial miscue right before halftime as a busted coverage effectively gifted the Bobcats a touchdown. Fair added another touchdown with a minute left in the game, and the Wildcats, who were held to just 209 yards of offense, were shut out for the first time ever, 14-0. This was Fair's first win in the series after Woods took the first 3.
Next up on the schedule was Cy Ranch. The Wildcats and Mustangs entered this game on opposite ends of the district standings; the Mustangs won their first two games in district play, while the Wildcats looked lethargic, especially on offense, in losing their first two contests.
Gary Tesch opened up the scoring by catching a 5-yard TD in the 1st. Then, with just under 2 minutes left in the quarter, Sam had a nice catch-and-run TD from 58 yards out. On the ensuing kickoff, Josh Holley snared the pooch kick from Gus Rabadan out of the air to give the Wildcats another offensive possession. On the ensuing drive, Trent Holmes struck with a 42-yard TD run, and just like that, the Wildcats led 21-0 after the 1st.
Trent Holmes (27) leaves the Mustangs in the dust on his way to the endzone.
This game degenerated into a complete bloodbath rather quickly, as the Cats clearly had payback on their minds after they were upset by the Mustangs in their first meeting, thanks to a field goal as time expired. The Cats forced 7 fumbles and recovered 5 of them. They terrorized Keith Ford, the Mustangs' all-world running back, all evening, holding him to just 54 yards rushing. They were up 48-0 at halftime and that was not their largest lead of the night; Mason Roberts' touchdown run with 3:55 left in the game gave them a 68-14 lead. Gary Tesch by himself scored as many touchdowns as the Mustangs. Long story short: Cy Woods got their revenge on Cy Ranch by romping to a 68-21 victory.
The Wildcats, now unchained, faced Jersey Village, and it was déjà vu from last week. After the Falcons got on the board first with a field goal in the 1st, the Cats scored 49 unanswered points and put on another show on offense with 724 total yards as they cruised to a 63-24 win. Jeff Bogan had a monster night, catching 6 passes for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bogan also ran for 151 yards on just 6 carries, one of which was a 60-yard touchdown.
Against Cy Lakes, it was more of the same, as they strolled to a 63-14 win. Gabe West and Nate German tore the Spartan secondary apart to the tune of 532 passing yards (Gabe 311, Nate 221). The two of them threw for 3 touchdowns apiece. Jeff Bogan had 146 receiving yards and caught 2 TD passes; one from West from 28, and a 64-yarder from Nate. The super sophomores also provided some fireworks of their own as Sam Stewart caught a 72-yard touchdown pass from Gabe, and a 61-yard touchdown pass from Nate to end the 3rd. Sam also scored a 15-yard TD run. Mason Roberts caught a 63-yard touchdown from Gabe halfway through the 2nd and capped off the night with an 8-yard touchdown run in the 4th.
The game against Langham Creek was a departure from the blowouts of the previous 3 weeks. The Cats got out to a quick 15-0 start in the 1st, but the Lobos kept themselves within striking distance for much of the game. After Chase Ragusa caught a halfback pass from Bogan to put Woods up 35-16 in the 3rd, Langham struck back and whittled the lead down to just 5 heading into the 4th. But, the Cats held steady in the final period and weathered the Lobo storm, outlasting them 50-44. Bogan had a career night as he ran for 101 yards and 4 TDs on 16 carries. That TD pass he threw went for 29 yards. Chase also caught a 31-yard TD from Nate German in the 4th and Sam tacked on the 2-point conversion.
Homecoming IV pitted the Cats against Cy Creek at Pridgeon. This was another rollercoaster affair, as the Cats opened up the game with a 21-0 lead, only to see the Cougars begin to stir and get off the canvas a bit with 10 unanswered. However, Woods responded by finishing the 2nd quarter with 2 unanswered touchdowns, taking a 35-10 lead into the locker room. Creek then proceeded to put a legitimate scare into the Wildcats as they nearly erased that halftime deficit with a 21-0 3rd quarter. Like the Langham game, though, the Cats took Creek's best shot and they were still standing. Ragusa caught a halfback pass for a TD for the 2nd straight week, and Sam Stewart, who threw that pass, iced the game with a 54-yard TD run with just under 7:30 to go in the game. He ran for 178 yards on 13 carries, and those 54 yards were huge as they sealed a 49-31 victory.
After a happy Homecoming, a tilt with Cy Ridge awaited the Wildcats. Gary Tesch broke a scoreless tie with a 60-yard touchdown catch in the 2nd quarter. Later in the 2nd, Alfred Pullom scooped up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown. The Cats took a 14-6 lead into halftime, and then they promptly opened up the floodgates in the 2nd half, putting the Rams away with a 21-0 3rd quarter. Gabe and Nate had touchdown runs, and Jesse Astorga caught a 15-yard TD pass. Gus Rabadan added a field goal in the 4th, and Jordan Cipriani fell on an errant snap in the endzone for the Cats' final TD of the evening. The Wildcats ended up cruising to a 45-13 victory in a game that got rather chippy; the tensions reached a boiling point with a brawl midway through the 2nd quarter.
The season finale pitted the Cats against winless Cy Springs in their final tuneup before the playoffs. The offensive engine looked to be running just fine and the fans got a glimpse of the future in the 47-0 victory. Nicholas Hooper, then just a freshman, made his debut. Nick is best known for his work as a quarterback, but in this game, he was deployed as a running back. He had a rather productive afternoon, running for 101 yards on 7 carries, including a 16-yard touchdown run in the 4th.
Nick Hooper's debut
Playoffs
November 11, 2011. The Cats had a rematch with the Eisenhower Eagles at Aldine ISD's Thorne Stadium. Although they struggled to move the ball (286 yards), they certainly did not struggle with putting points on the board (42 points). The defense suffocated Ike all night, holding them to 191 total yards of offense and 7 points. After Ike tied the game at 7 with less than 2 minutes in the 1st quarter, it was all Woods as they scored the game's final 35 points and went on to win 42-7. Trent Holmes had 3 carries for 33 yards; 2 of them went for touchdowns in the 3rd quarter.
The area round pitted the Cats against the the most storied program in Texas, the mighty Katy Tigers.
In the words of Ric Flair: "To be the man, you gotta beat the man!" Katy, time and again, has proven that they are the kings of the mountain known as Texas high school football. Attempting to depose the kings would prove to be a Herculean feat.
But.... these Cats were up to the task. This was a labor that they were more than willing to undertake.
November 18, 2011. The Berry Center was the site of the most electric environment that Cy Woods Football was ever a part of. That night, te Berry Center transformed into a sea of maroon, red, gold, and white.
The game matched its atmosphere; it truly felt like a heavyweight title fight. Katy's signature physicality was on display that night, but the Cats found a way to respond each time they were challenged. The reaction was pure ecstasy when Deonte ran that blocked extra point back for the Cats' first 2 points of the night. It was absolutely deafening when Jeff Bogan caught a pass from Gabe West and outran everyone on his way to the endzone to put the Cats up 9-6. The Cats led 16-13 early in the 2nd quarter after Jamaul Tompkins returned a fumble 81 yards for a score, but the Tigers seized the momentum in this game when they scored 21 unanswered points to take a 34-16 halftime lead. The Cats' signature resilience was on full display that night as well, but they ultimately fell short after putting a scare into the mighty Katy Tigers, 44-30. In his final high school game, Jeffrey Bogan had 2 touchdown receptions. Gary Tesch caught a 49-yard touchdown pass in the 3rd.
Although the 2011 Cypress Woods Wildcats fell short in their task to dethrone the best team in Texas, they proved that they could hang with the best for 48 minutes, and at their best, they could've pulled off something the 2009 Wildcats would have never dreamed of. If they didn't let the game get away from them, even just a little bit, in the 2nd quarter, they could have pulled off the unthinkable. You just have to tip your hat to the Katy Tigers; they made a few more plays on both sides of the ball than the Cats did that night.
Jamaul Tompkins returns a fumble for a touchdown against Katy.
