Thursday, August 21, 2014

Wildcats Through the Years: 2013

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.

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