Know Your Enemy: Cy Creek Cougars

Cy Woods Wildcats (2-2, 2-1) vs. Cy Creek Cougars (1-3, 1-2), Friday, October 3, 7 PM, Pridgeon Stadium

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

On Saturday at the Berry Center, the Cats suffered their 1st loss to Cy Ranch in 4 years as they had a wretched time trying to throw the ball all night and their 4th quarter misery on offense continued. They couldn't hold a 35-24 lead and Ranch took advantage of those 4th quarter woes to snatch a 38-35 victory.

R.J. Harmon and Nick Hooper ran for over 100 yards and scored 2 TDs apiece, while the other Wildcat TD came in the form of a 95-yard kickoff return from C.J. Jones to open up the 2nd half.

The Enemy: Cypress Creek Cougars

2013 Record: 4-6, 3-6 (7th) in District 17-5A

Over at Pridgeon Stadium on Saturday, the Cougars were overwhelmed by Langham Creek's relentless attack, falling behind 31-9 at halftime and ultimately coming out with a 48-23 loss.

In their other 2 district tilts, they demolished Cy Lakes 40-0 and got blanked by Cy-Fair 27-0, and finally, they fell 37-11 against Klein Oak in their season opener.

Players to Watch

QB Brett Baumgartner, RB Matt Hines, RB Tre Earls, WR Matt Shoffner, WR Tommy Huynh, LB Jacoby Brooks, LB Josh Head, DB Jay Beck, DB Isa Anderson, DB Chance Steverson

All-Time Series

Woods leads 4-2.

Previous Meetings

November 1, 2013: Woods 21, Creek 14
November 2, 2012: Creek 39, Woods 14
October 21, 2011: Woods 49, Creek 31
October 22, 2010: Woods 61, Creek 35
October 9, 2009: Woods 21, Creek 20
October 10, 2008: Creek 54, Woods 25

2¢ on Creek

For the early part of the 2013 season, the Cougars looked as if they'd mount a serious threat to contend for the district title, but the wheels fell off for them after a 4-0 start. After they topped Cy Springs in overtime in week 4, they finished the season on a 6-game losing streak.

After being in a timeshare with Ross Hargrove last season, Brett Baumgartner will take the reins of the Cougar offense. Adam Coleman noted that he was "pretty fast" in the previous Varsity Wires podcast. Hargrove could see some time, though. Matt Shoffner and Tommy Huynh are their top returning receivers. Terrell Aldridge and Overton Croomes, their top 2 running backs from last year, have graduated, but they have a good tandem in the making with Tre Earls and Matt Hines.

Their defense is anchored by 2 really good LBs in Jacoby Brooks and Josh Head. Brooks was a 1st-team all-district performer last season, while Head garnered 2nd-team honors. Jay Beck is a returning starter in the secondary, while Steverson also saw significant action last year as a sophomore; it appears that he missed last year's game.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

In a smash-mouth defensive affair, Coach Faith got his first win against his former employers as the Cats came out on top 21-14 in a game where all the touchdowns were scored by 2 people: Overton Croomes for Creek, and Samuel Stewart for Woods.

Sam scored on 2 runs from 15 and 11 yards in the 2nd, and he ran a punt back 63 yards for another score in the 3rd quarter to give the Cats a 21-7 lead. Croomes responded with a 3-yard run with 9:25 left in the 4th to make it a 1-score game once again, and the Cougars threatened to tie the game in the dying moments, but the Wildcat defense mounted a goal-line stand and repelled Creek from the endzone to preserve their lead.

JV and Freshman Game Information

JV at Creek, Freshmen at Woods. 5 and 7 on Thursday.

For JV Games: Directions to Creek

Cy Ranch 38, Cy Woods 35: Fourpeat Denied, 4th Quarter Offensive Woes Continue

2014 Record: 2-2, 2-1 in District 17-6A

Welp.

The Cats' offense faltered in the 4th quarter once again, and this time, it came back to bite them. The defense, which came through in such a monumental fashion in the closing moments against Cy Falls, just couldn't get the stops they needed in the 4th quarter against Ranch. The Cats were outscored 14-0 in the final stanza, and as a result, the Cy Ranch Mustangs got their first win over the Cats since 2010 with this 38-35 decision. Cy Woods has been outscored 34-0 in the 4th quarter this season.

Look, I understand that in 2 of the Cats' first 4 contests, the outcome of the game was well in hand. But.... 0 4th quarter points through 4 games is an extremely disturbing trend. They escaped the Falls game, but you had to wonder whether they'd be able to escape again and whether the offense could get something going in order to finish off a game. And.... for this game, save for one drive that resulted in a missed field goal, the answer was a resounding no. Obviously, it's an issue that must be addressed moving forward. 

As much as you can't stand hearing them gloat, let them. They won a good, hard-fought game. They didn't resort to any underhanded crap... they just made a few more plays. Nothing more, nothing less. All you can do is tip your hat (however grudgingly) and move forward.  [clichés] It's a setback, no doubt, but that's how it goes sometimes. You win some, you lose some, keep your head up, and all that stuff.[/clichés] 

Tough loss, but don't lose sight of the big picture. 

So, What Happened Was...

Cy Ranch got one over on Cy Woods, that's what happened. 

R.J. Harmon scored on a 10-yard run to open up the scoring in the 1st quarter. After Ranch briefly took a 14-7 lead, he'd strike again from 53 yards out. A scoop-and-score in the 2nd for the Mustangs was the difference in the 1st half, and they took a 21-14 lead into the locker room.

The Cats started off the 2nd half with a bang as C.J. Jones took the opening kickoff 95 yards to tie the game at 21. Then, for the 2nd straight week, Jake Jones put an end to the opponent's first drive of the 2nd half with a pick. On the ensuing Woods possession, Nick Hooper punched it in from 1 yard out. He added an 8-yard scoring run midway through the 3rd to give the Cats an 11-point lead. But, the wheels fell off for the offense and the defense cracked in the 4th quarter. 

Turning Points

Down 21-14 at halftime, the Cats had the perfect response with a 21-3 3rd quarter, which saw them take a 35-24 lead into the 4th. But oh, how the tables turned. The Mustangs scored 2 unanswered TDs in the final 12 minutes to come away with the W. 

Also, the Cats had a golden opportunity go straight into the trash compactor of sadness in the 4th, as they got a 53-yard catch-and-run from Tre Hart that gave them a 1st and goal at the Ranch 5. However........ nothing doing. After 3 runs failed to yield anything, Logan Fortune wound up missing a 22-yard field goal. 

Ground

All the damage on offense was done via the running game. Nick ran for 155 and 2 scores, while R.J. put up 123 on just 8 carries. 

Nick Hooper: 26 carries, 155 yards, 2 TD, 1 fumble lost

R.J. Harmon: 8 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD

C.J. Jones: 4 carries, 28 yards

Jordan Johnson: 1 carry, 8 yards

Air

On the other hand, the passing game never got going, whether by drops, or Nick being under siege for much of the night. Whatever, nothing was going Woods' way in the air. Only 3 passes were completed and only 2 players caught passes, which is absolutely unheard of in this offense. They tried 2 halfback passes, but C.J. overthrew Chad O'Donnell, and R.J.'s bid just went off of Tre Hart's hands. Nick also threw a pick, but that was on a heave to end the 1st half. No return.

Nick Hooper: 3-16, 63 yards, INT

C.J. Jones: 0-1

R.J. Harmon: 0-1

Tre Hart: 2 rec, 65 yards

C.J. Jones: 1 rec, -2 yards

Defense

The high tackle totals that you're about to see are a combination of Cy Ranch's run-oriented offense and the fact that there were Cats everywhere the ball went. Morgan Tosten and Justyn Johnson turned in huge games in the trenches. The Outlaw Shane Lawless had a dozen tackles. 

Tough night in the secondary, as Michael Wirt and Jake Jones were both targeted on 2 of Ranch's 3 TD passes. Jones atoned for that somewhat as he got his 2nd interception on the season, which ended Cy Ranch's opening drive of the 2nd half. Yeah, it happens. 

Tackles: Morgan Tosten 13 (8 assisted, 2 TFL), Shane Lawless 12 (6 assisted, 1 TFL), Justyn Johnson 12 (5 assisted, 1 TFL), Tyler Greaves 10 (7 assisted, 1 TFL), Wade Carson 8 (5 assisted, 1 TFL), Michael Wirt 8 (1 assisted) Matt Swalm 7 (4 assisted), Jake Jones 6 (1 assisted), Randall Medlin 5 (2 assisted, 2 TFL), Kason Franklin 4 (2 assisted), Bryson Powers 4 (3 assisted),  Isiah Clay 3 (2 assisted, 1 TFL), Brandon DePrato 3, Hayden Stoeber 2 (both assisted), Danny Malone 2 (1 assisted), Elijah Pierson 1 (assisted), Logan Fortune 1 (assisted), Myles Wilson 1 (assisted)

Sacks: Morgan Tosten 1 (4 yards lost)

Interceptions: Jake Jones 1 (2 season)

Special Teams

C.J. Jones' 95-yard kickoff return TD was the 3rd in Woods history and the first in 3 years. The last time a Wildcat returned a kickoff for a touchdown was during the 2011 playoffs, when Cole DeVilliers led off the game against Clear Creek with..... a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. I'm fairly sure that C.J. will be getting fewer and fewer opportunities to return kicks as the season goes on, but I'm also very sure that the next poor soul who kicks to him will regret that decision. He also had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the 1st quarter.... that was wiped out by a block in the back call. By my count, the would've-been-a-90-yard-touchdown was slashed to a 29-yard return. His 192 kick return yards is most likely a single-game record. 

C.J. Jones: 5 kicks returned, 192 yards, TD

Jordan Johnson: 2 kicks returned, 63 yards

Bryson Powers, who was somewhat limited due to a shoulder injury he suffered against Falls, didn't really get much of a look on punt returns. He only got to return 1 for 3 yards. He did attempt to return another one late in the 4th, but lost 10 yards and Woods was called for a penalty in the process, pinning them at their own 10 to begin a possible game-winning drive. 

Next up on the kicker carousel was junior Logan Fortune (#41). He nailed all of his extra points, but he missed a 22-yard field goal that would have tied the game at 38 with under 6 minutes left in regulation. 

0-1 FG (missed 22), 5-5 XP

Jordan Johnson punted 5 times for 191 yards, giving him a 38.2 average. 

Man of the Match

Whenever R.J. Harmon touches the ball, he's a home run threat. Honorable mentions go out to C.J. Jones in the return game, Morgan Tosten, Justyn Johnson, Shane Lawless, and Tyler Greaves.

Observations

C.J. got banged up a bit in the 3rd as he was slow to get up after a kick return and was walking around with a slight limp, but he didn't seem to be showing any ill effects afterward.

Shane Lawless looked like he re-tweaked his right ankle; he originally hurt that ankle against Ridge. 

Slide-tackling is apparently legal in this form of football???

It seems that the only people that have respect for each other are the ones that were on the field. That's all I'll say on that matter.

Looking Ahead

On Friday, October 3, the Wildcats will take on Cy Creek at Pridgeon Stadium at 7. They'll be the home team.

Know Your Enemy: Cy Ranch Mustangs

Cy Woods Wildcats (2-1, 2-0) @ Cy Ranch Mustangs (1-2, 1-1), Saturday, September 27, 6 PM, Berry Center

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats overcame 5 turnovers and 19 penalties and escaped Pridgeon Stadium with a 48-47 victory over Cy Falls on Saturday, giving them their first-ever 2-0 start in district play. The Cats are now 1 of 4 undefeated teams in District 17-6A play. 

Tre Hart (124) and Jared Taylor (101) each topped the century mark in receiving yards and both were on the receiving end of TD passes from Nick Hooper. They're the first Cats pair with 100+ receiving yards and a touchdown since Mason Roberts and Zac Duncan did it against Cy Springs in last year's Homecoming game. Hooper also ran for 148 yards and 3 scores.

The Enemy: Cypress Ranch Mustangs

2014 Record: 5-5, 5-4 (t-5th) in District 17-5A

Over at the Berry Center on Saturday, the Mustangs rallied from a 21-0 deficit against Langham Creek and took a 39-35 lead in the dying moments of the game, but the Lobos had their devil magic working for them again as they scored a touchdown as time expired for the 2nd straight week (seriously) and snared another victory from the jaws of defeat, 42-39. 

In their district opener, Ranch disposed of Cy Lakes 31-2. 

Players to Watch

OL Zack Kinninger, QB Collin Rock, RB Joseph Johnson, DB Mark Bruno, LB/K Myles Roll, DB Niko Johnson, LB Brayden Stringer, TE Jackson Solbeck, WR Cameron Grier, WR Chandler Thomas, LB Christian Kobal

All-Time Series

Woods leads 3-1. I'm sure every kid that has gone to Woods over the past 3 years knows the results of this series by heart. 

Previous Meetings

October 19, 2013: Woods 54, Ranch 0

October 20, 2012: Woods 40, Ranch 37 (OT)

September 23, 2011: Woods 68, Ranch 21

September 24, 2010: Ranch 38, Woods 35

Or: Whatever happened in the previous meetings DOES NOT MATTER.

2¢ on Ranch

Rivlaries can take two forms. A rivalry can be one where dislike exists between both sides, but at the same time, mutual respect can be found. On the other hand, it's also entirely possible for them to just simply hate each other. Woods and Ranch decided on the latter, so.... yeah. Well, in a game like this, everything goes out the window, and anything can and will happen. Expect the usual charged atmosphere in this one.

To weigh in on that question: Yes, Cy Ranch is Cy-Woods' rival. In fact, they're one of 9 that the Wildcats have! 

Their offensive line is anchored by Mr. Kinninger's son, Zack. Joseph Johnson gives them a solid option in the backfield. Rock inherits the Mustangs' offensive reins from Cole Martin. TE Solbeck provides him with a big red zone/short yardage target. Thomas is their top returning receiver from last season; he's also seeing time at the RB spot. Thomas and Johnson are both averaging over 8 yards per carry. RB Charlie Booker, who was their top returning rusher entering the season, has missed the last 2 games. 

On defense, they return 5 players from last year who all saw significant action at the LB spots: Roll (who is also doubling as the kicker), Stringer, Bryce Saracene, Austin Leslie, and Kobal. In the secondary, Johnson and Bruno are returning starters. They are currently 2nd in the district in interceptions (5), trailing only Cy-Fair.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

The Cats dominated in every aspect of the game as they demolished the Mustangs 54-0, handing them their worst defeat ever in the process. Nick Hooper ran for 113 yards and 2 scores, and he also threw a 29-yard TD pass to Mason Roberts. Samuel Stewart had scoring runs of 26 and 5 yards, and he also chipped in with 103 receiving yards. Also, this Shane Lawless one-handed pick 6 happened. 

Or: What happened the last time these two teams met DOES NOT MATTER.

Random Facts and Figures From This Series

- When designated as the away team, Woods has won both meetings, outscoring Ranch 122-21. 

- Ad nauseam alert #2: Last year's game was Ranch's worst loss ever. By the way, Woods is responsible for 2 of the 3 biggest losses in Ranch history. Yes, 68-21 is one of them. On the flip side, that 54-point win was the 2nd-largest margin of victory in Woods' history.

JV and Freshman Game Information

Freshmen at Ranch, JV at Woods. Game times are 5 and 7 on Thursday.

For Freshman Games: Directions to Ranch

Cy Woods 48, Cy Falls 47: A Harrowing Escape

2014 Record: 2-1, 2-0 in District 17-6A

Jake Jones puts an end to Cy Falls' 1st drive of the 2nd half with this INT.

So, where to start? 95 combined points, 9 turnovers, 890 yards of offense combined... just another night in District 17-6A football. As you can see by the 9 turnovers (5 for Woods, 4 for Falls), it was not exactly the prettiest display of football, even with the astronomically high final score that we're so accustomed to seeing in District 17-6A. 

The Wildcat defense came up huge in the final 5:30 as they faced 2 potential game-winning drives and squashed them both, preserving the tenuous grip that the Cats had on this game. Wade Carson stopped the first potential game-winning drive by forcing a fumble that was recovered by Bryson Powers, and then, on what proved to be the final defensive series of the evening for Cy Woods, Randall Medlin and Wade Carson snuffed out a screen pass on 4th down, giving the Cats the ball back with 2:12 to go. And from there, the Cats ran out the clock and escaped with a 48-47 victory, giving them their first 2-0 start in district play in team history.

Well, they got the ball with 2:13 left, but getting it with 2:12 left sounds a lot better. 

OK, I think we can all exhale now. For much of the 4th quarter, flashes of the 2009 game against Falls were running through my head....

So, What Happened Was.....

After the Eagles capitalized on a Nick Hooper lost fumble by scoring first with 9:38 left in the 1st quarter, the Cats went on a 27-0 run that spanned the next 17 minutes (give or take) and was capped off by a pick 6 from Michael Wirt, which pushed the Cats' lead to 27-7 with 4:48 to go in the 1st half. 

However, the Eagles suddenly sprang to life and made it a game once again by scoring the final 2 touchdowns of the 1st half, one of which was a pick 6 as the clock struck zero. That was Nick Hooper's 3rd interception of the 1st half, and, needless to say, it proved very costly. The extra point was missed, however, and the Cats entered the locker room with a 27-20 lead that really masked how well they were playing; they just kept shooting themselves in the foot at the most inopportune times possible.

In the 2nd half, the Cats just couldn't seem to shake Cy Falls; the Eagles just had an answer for Woods and managed to keep themselves within striking distance. The Cats scored on 3 of their 4 drives in the 3rd as Nick Hooper scored on a 1-yard run, threw a 36-yard pass to Jared Taylor, and C.J. Jones found the end zone on a 26-yard run. But again, Falls was still very much in this one. The 4th quarter proved to be a near-disaster on offense for the Cats as they lost a fumble and had 3 3-and-outs. The theme of shooting themselves in the foot continued as the Cats finished the game with 19 penalties.

Turning Points

The two scores that Falls got before halftime truly changed the complexion of this game as it turned a possible blowout into a game that got waaaaaaaaaay too close for comfort.

With 5:23 to go, Cy Falls began a drive at the Cy Woods 41. A false start drove them back 5, but they got those yards back to get a more manageable 3rd down. Falls RB Shannon Vaughns looked to have the 1st down, but Wade Carson jarred the ball loose, and Bryson Powers fell on the ball to snuff out the threat. 

However, after another 3-and-out, the defense was called upon once more with 3:19 left in regulation. 2 runs from Vaughns gave Falls a 3rd & 4, but Casey Rosellini's pass fell incomplete, forcing a 4th down. The Eagles called a screen pass, but Randall Medlin and Wade Carson made the biggest stop of the season so far as they sealed another Wildcat victory.

Ground

Nick Hooper got the vast majority of the carries; of Woods' 47 attempts on the ground, 37 were to his name. He ran for 148 yards and 3 scores, but he also lost 2 fumbles. C.J. Jones had a 26-yard score in the 3rd, which put the Cats up 48-34 at that point.

All offensive stats per TSRN.

Nick Hooper: 37 carries, 148 yards, 3 TD; 2 fumbles lost 

C.J. Jones: 7 carries, 64 yards, TD

Jordan Johnson: 1 carry, 3 yards 

R.J. Harmon: 1 carry, -5 yards

Jared Taylor: 1 carry, -6 yards

*TSRN also has 3 carries for -15 yards, accounted to no one. 2 of those were Nick taking a knee, and the other was Nick recovering an errant snap for -13 yards.

Air

Nick took every snap, with the exception of one play when it looked like his shoe came loose (?). Reece Clark's only pass attempt was incomplete. Hooper fired 2 touchdowns; the first went for 12 to Tre Hart in the 1st quarter, and he connected with Jared Taylor for 37 yards in the 3rd. On the other hand... he also threw 3 interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

Nick Hooper: 20-31, 311 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT

Reece Clark: 0-1

Hart and Taylor had over 100 receiving yards apiece. Zac Duncan also chipped in 58 yards. Tre almost added another TD catch to his line, but he was caught at the 2, so he had to settle for a 54-yard gain instead.

Jared Taylor: 7 recs, 101 yards, TD

Tre Hart: 5 rec, 124 yards, TD

Zac Duncan: 4 rec, 58 yards

C.J. Jones: 2 rec, 21 yards

R.J. Harmon: 2 rec, 7 yards

Defense

Bryson Powers showed his versatility by starting at one of the safety spots in place of the injured Matt Swalm. You could say that he had a rather productive night as he got a pick in the 2nd quarter and had a crucial fumble recovery in the 4th quarter. 

The Cats dropped about 2 more picks, but they got their hands on 3 more. Falls QB Casey Rosellini slinged one downfield that landed in Bryson's arms in the 2nd. The Cats converted that turnover into points as Nick Hooper scored on a 5-yard run. Then, on Falls' next offensive possession, Michael Wirt took his 25 yards to the house. And finally, Jake Jones opened up the 2nd half by kicking Falls off the field, elevating to snag another deep attempt from Rosellini.

Well, it took 2.5 games, but the Cats have their first sacks of the season. After Nick Hooper threw his 2nd pick of the 1st half, Tyler Greaves and Wade Carson made sure that Falls would not convert that turnover into points as they both got to Rosellini for 8 yards apiece. 

Carson recorded a dozen tackles to lead the way. Greaves had another solid night as he had 6 tackles, a sack, and he also forced a fumble. 

Tackles: Wade Carson 12 (4 assisted, 3 TFL), Elijah Pierson 9 (2 assisted, 1 TFL), Bryson Powers 7 (4 assisted), Tyler Greaves 6 (3 TFL, 1 assisted, FF), Jake Jones 6, Randall Medlin 5 (2 assisted, 2 TFL), Brandon DePrato 4 (2 assisted), Michael Wirt 3 (1 assisted), Justyn Johnson 3 (2 assisted), Morgan Tosten 2 (1 assisted), Taylor Tesch 1, Kason Franklin 1, Myles Wilson 1, Luis Reyes 1, Hayden Stoeber 1, Danny Malone 1

Sacks: Tyler Greaves 1 (8 yards lost), Wade Carson 1 (8 yards lost)

Fumbles forced: Tyler Greaves 1, Wade Carson 1

Fumbles recovered: Bryson Powers 1

Interceptions: Jake Jones 1, Michael Wirt 1 (returned for TD), Bryson Powers 1

Special Teams

Powers had a 64-yard punt return TD negated by a block in the back. He had 111 total return yards in this game (65 punt, 46 kick). 

Bryson Powers: 3 punts returned, 65 yards, 3 kicks returned, 46 yards

Zac Duncan: 1 kick return, 19 yards

Jordan Johnson: 1 kick returned, 35 yards

Luis Reyes: 6-6 XP; a 7th was not attempted due to a bad snap. 

Jordan Johnson: 4 punts, 170 yards (42.5 per punt), long of 49, 1 downed inside the 20

Other Happenings in This Game

Unlike last year's affair, the officials made sure that order would be maintained. At no point did it appear that this game would degenerate into anything ugly. 

The 19 penalties against Woods surely has to be a team record. It's not often that a team wins despite committing 19 penalties, but the Cats found a way. The number of penalties that the Cats have racked up so far this season is just mind-blowing. 

The two missed extra points from Falls turned out to be the difference. 

Bryson bore the scars and wounds of this game; it appears that he had a bag of ice over his left collarbone after the game. 

Man of the Match

You know... I'm very tempted to give it to Nick simply for the fact that he had 5 total touchdowns........ but he also had 5 turnovers, so.......

We're 3 games into the season and I have officially run out of good things to say about Bryson Powers. It doesn't matter where he is on the field; he simply possesses that knack to make plays. Great players make plays wherever they are.

Honorable mentions go out to Tre Hart and Jared Taylor, who both had 100+ receiving yards. Also one for Michael Wirt for his pick 6.

Looking Ahead

In the last of 3 straight Saturday games, the Cats will face off against the hated Cy Ranch Mustangs at the Berry Center. They'll be the away team in this contest. Kickoff is at 6:00.

Help Wanted

So, I am looking for 4 players who are a part of the Wildcat football program to contribute to the blog as guest writers. Ideally, I would like one player from each grade to contribute: 1 freshman, 1 sophomore, 1 junior, and 1 senior.

E-mail me at dustin2810 at gmail.com or send me a message on Twitter at itsdtrain to apply. First come, first served.

If you are inquiring via email, please attach a sample of your writing, if you can. This will be a season-long commitment that will conclude after the last Wildcat football game, whether it's game 10 or the state championship.

Trust me... once you get the hang of this, it'll be a breeze. Who knows, you're probably a much better writer than I am.

Know Your Enemy: Cy Falls Golden Eagles

Cy Woods Wildcats (1-1, 1-0) vs. Cy Falls Golden Eagles (1-1, 0-1), Saturday, September 20, 6 PM, Pridgeon Stadium

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats entered the win column for the first time in 2014 as they blasted Cy Ridge 59-28 in the opening game of district play. The running back tandem of C.J. Jones and R.J. Harmon wreaked havoc on the Rams. Jones busted out in his 2nd career game as he accounted for 207 total yards (107 rushing, 87 receiving, 13 return) and 4 touchdowns, while Harmon had 257 yards (125 rushing, 132 receiving) and had a 52-yard touchdown reception. Bryson Powers had an efficient night as he caught 2 passes and scored on both of them; those 2 catches were for 55 yards. Oh, and Nick Hooper looked alright. He finished 11-14 and threw for 321 yards and 5 touchdowns.

The Enemy: Cypress Falls Golden Eagles

2013: 2-8, 2-7 (t-8th) in District 17-5A; Cy Springs also finished 2-7 in district, but they defeated Falls last season.

In the first District 17-6A game of the 2014 season, the Eagles couldn't hold a 19-point lead against Langham Creek late last Thursday and couldn't stop the final Lobo advance. Langham scored a touchdown as time expired to snatch a 43-39 win.

Players to Watch

DL Du'Vonta Lampkin, QB Casey Rosellini, RB Desmond Hite, DB/QB Nate Dalton, DB Michael Eke, WR Jorren Pollard, DL Jordan Johnson, WR Xavier Moore

All-Time Series

Falls leads 4-2. 

Previous Meetings

October 25, 2013: Woods 37, Falls 15

October 26, 2012: Falls 35, Woods 10

September 10, 2011: Falls 28, Woods 12

September 11, 2010: Falls 28, Woods 20

November 7, 2009: Falls 46, Woods 43 (ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)

November 8, 2008: Woods 70, Falls 20

2¢ on Falls

Traditionally one of the stronger sides in Cy-Fair ISD, the Eagles suffered a disastrous 2013 season, where they could only muster up wins against Jersey Village and Cy Lakes, and both of them were 7-point wins. Cy Falls returns a good collection of talent on both sides of the ball as they look to put that season far, far in the rearview mirror.

Their biggest name (and probably the biggest person on the entire roster) is DL Du'Vonta Lampkin. This UT commit is an absolute force on the line of scrimmage. Michael Eke led them in interceptions last season.

Their offense is paced by QB Casey Rosellini and RB Desmond Hite, who both cut their teeth as sophomores. Their top 3 returning receivers are Jorren Pollard, John Murray, and Xavier Moore. Pollard was their leading receiver last season as a sophomore, so they've got a nice core with him, Hite, and Rosellini.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

The Cats ended their 4-game losing streak to the Eagles as they notched their first win in the series since the very first season as they buried Falls with a 27-0 2nd quarter and cruised to a 37-15 victory. This game got, um, chippy. The officials did a rather poor job of keeping order, and I'll leave it at that. 

Nick Hooper threw for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns. On the recieving end of those scoring passes were Peter "Chuck" Garza and Devin Hokanson, and both of them came in the 2nd quarter. Nick also scored on runs from 2 yards and 5 yards out.

Random Facts and Figures From This Series

- Ad nauseam alert: Woods' win in their last meeting was their first in the series since 2008.

- Falls is the only CFISD school that has a winning record against Woods; the Cats' 4-game losing streak to the Eagles was their longest streak against one opponent.

- Last year's game was the first time that Woods scored at least 30 against Falls since 2009.

JV and Freshman Game Information

As usual, the sub-varsity teams play on Thursday. JV at Falls, freshmen at Woods. Game times are 5 and 7. 

For JV Games: Directions to Cy Falls

C'mon.... you've probably passed their water tower about 500,000,000 times.

Oh, alright then....

Cy Woods 59, Cy Ridge 28: Rebounding, or Sophomores' Night

2014 Record: 1-1, 1-0 in District 17-6A

After getting smashed in their 2014 debut, the Cats began their district slate on a winning note and entered the win column for the first time this season as they rolled past Cy Ridge 59-28. The Cats led 21-14 after 1 quarter, but they ended up outscoring the Rams 48-14 over the next 2 frames (there was no scoring in the 4th quarter). This was the first time that the Cats have ever won a district opener; they had dropped the previous 6 due to circumstances that ranged from Russell Shepard in 2008 to a 1-point loss on Homecoming in 2012.

This game turned out to be just like all the other Woods-Ridge affairs: either a tightly-contested game, or a blowout. This encounter turned out to be the latter in the Cats' favor, and with this win, they re-took the lead in the all-time series. 

So........ still worried about this team?

This team sought to atone for their poor showing against Klein Collins to open the season, and I felt there was a heightened sense of urgency with this team. They were extremely eager to get back on the field once again. Yes, it's just one game, but one game can truly make a difference in how a team fares for the rest of their season. This one game for the Cats could be the start of something truly special, and I feel that as this season progresses, we will get to see the Cats' true colors: the most explosive offense in the district, and a punishing, resilient defense. 

One of the intriguing stories that unfolded in this game was the emergence of the super sophomores. It seems like they come in pairs for the Cats. First, there was Cody Small and Daylan Skidmore in 2009, Alfred "Bama" Pullom and Marquise White in 2010, and then Mason Roberts and Sam Stewart in 2011. Nick, Zac, and Justyn came in 2012 (OK, that was a trio), then there was R.J. and Jared last year, and now, this year, the Cats have two pairs, one on each side of the ball: C.J. Jones and Bryson Powers on the offense, and Kason Franklin and Myles Wilson on defense. 

On this night, the sophs on offense took center stage. More on that in a moment.

Turning Point

After Ridge scored on a 3rd and 20 pass play from the Woods 22 to cut the Cats lead to 28-21 with 4:28 to go in the 2nd quarter, the Cats closed out the game on a 31-7 run, which was sparked by a pair of 1-play scoring drives. 20 seconds later, C.J. Jones caught a 70-yard TD pass to answer that Ridge TD, and then on their next drive, which followed a Ridge punt, R.J. Harmon followed suit with a 52-yard scoring catch. As a result, the Cats took a 42-21 lead into the break.

And then, they proceeded to score the first 17 points of the 2nd half, extending their lead to 59-21.

Ground

C.J. Jones reaffirmed his top prospect status by announcing his arrival in the big leagues. He scored 4 touchdowns; his first was a 5-yard run in the 1st, and then 2 minutes later, he had a 64-yard scoring run. He touched the ball 6 times in the first half and scored on 4 of them. R.J. Harmon also joined in on the charge with 125 yards on 16 carries. He didn't find the endzone in the running game, but this was a fine showing for him nonetheless.

All stats are from the Chronicle. Well, for once, all the numbers seem to be in order from them.

R.J. Harmon: 16 carries, 125 yards
C.J. Jones: 8 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD
Nick Hooper: 8 carries, 14 yards
Slade Ortiz: 3 carries, -4 yards
Reece Clark: 2 carries, 2 yards
Zac Duncan: 1 carry, 3 yards
Jacobi Boudreaux: 1 carry, 1 yard

Air

The tandem of Nick Hooper and Reece Clark tore apart the Ridge secondary, throwing for 400 yards and 6 touchdowns. Hooper accounted for 321 of those, and Clark engineered a scoring drive in the 3rd. This was the that 3rd time a Wildcat QB threw for 5 TDs; the last time that occurred was October 30, 2010, when Colton Huntsman threw 5 against... Cy Ridge.

Nick Hooper: 11-14, 321 yards, 5 TD
Reece Clark: 6-9, 79 yards, TD

In the air portion of the C.J. Jones Show, he scored on a 17-yard catch with a minute to go in the 1st and then struck for a 70-yard reception 20 seconds after Ridge cut the Woods lead to 28-21. Fellow sophomore Bryson Powers played a more prominent role in the offense this week, and he delivered in the form of 2 receiving touchdowns: an 18-yarder in the 2nd from Nick, and a 37-yarder in the 3rd from Reece. I hate acting like a know-it-all (no really, I hate it), but sometimes it has to be done. I said it after the Klein Collins game... keep an eye on Bryson Powers. He will be a true impact player for the Cats in the future. On the other hand, R.J. was able to find the endzone in the passing game as he scored on a 52-yard catch in the 2nd, which pushed the Woods lead to 42-21 in the 2nd. He led the way with 6 catches for 132 yards. And finally, Zac Duncan opened up the scoring with a 29-yard grab in the 3rd quarter.

R.J. Harmon: 6 rec, 132 yards, TD
Jared Taylor: 3 rec, 46 yards
C.J. Jones: 2 rec, 87 yards, 2 TD
Bryson Powers: 2 rec, 55 yards, 2 TD
Zac Duncan: 2 rec, 40 yards, TD
Tre Hart: 1 rec, 32 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 rec, 8 yards

Defense

The defense did a fine job neutralizing Ridge's game-changer, Kemah Siverand. He did have an 80-yard touchdown catch and a 25-yard run, but his impact on the proceedings was marginal, at best. Against Klein Collins, I'm not sure if the defense had a single tackle that resulted in a loss of yards. Well, as was the case with the offense, this game was radically different for the defense.

The Cats dropped about 4 or 5 potential picks. The Outlaw Shane Lawless very nearly had a 1-handed pick that would have been reminiscent of the one he returned for a touchdown against Ranch last year. He just couldn't complete the catch. He did leave the game with an ankle injury in the 2nd half; his right ankle was taped up pretty good. Injury aside, he turned in another solid performance from his linebacker spot.

Randall Medlin and Justyn Johnson were quiet in the season opener, but they had good rebound performances against the Rams. The front 3 rotation of Randall, Justyn, Morgan Tosten, and Isiah Clay were solid in this one. Medlin had 3 tackles that resulted in a loss of yards, which led the Cats in that category.

After 4 (or 5) dropped interceptions, the Cats finally got their pick when Brandon DePrato, a receiver-turned-linebacker, snared one as Woods was pinned deep in their territory to kill Ridge's final drive in the closing seconds of the game. Tyler Greaves, another receiver-turned-linebacker, was in on 15 tackles, setting a new season's best mark in the early going.

Tackles: Tyler Greaves 15 (6 assisted, 2 tackles for loss), Danny Malone 8 (3 assisted, 1 TFL), Randall Medlin 7 (3 assisted, 3 TFL) Brandon DePrato 6 (3 assisted, 2 TFL), Justyn Johnson 6 (4 assisted, 1 TFL), Morgan Tosten 6 (3 assisted, 2 TFL), Myles Wilson 5 (3 assisted), Michael Wirt 5 (2 assisted), Kason Franklin 5 (2 assisted), Jake Jones 4 (1 assisted), Shane Lawless 4 (1 assisted, 1 TFL), Wade Carson 3 (1 assisted), Isiah Clay 3 (2 assisted, 2 TFL), Elijah Pierson 3 (3 assisted), Elijah Kinnison 3 (2 assisted), Matt Swalm 2 (2 assisted), Caleb Smith 1, Justin Lawson 1 (assisted), Zac Duncan 1 (assisted), Bryson Powers 1 (assisted)

Interceptions: Brandon DePrato 1

Special Teams

Danny Malone, a linebacker, was the ace in this game. He had 4 tackles (2 assisted) on kickoffs and 8 overall.

Luis Reyes, the kicker whose name I did not know until this game, nailed all of his extra points and converted on a 22-yard field goal in the 3rd for what turned out to be Woods' final points of the night.

Jordan Johnson punted the ball 4 times and averaged 42 yards per kick. He also returned the opening kickoff 25 yards.

Powers was the primary punt returner; he had 3 for 4 yards and returned a kickoff 10 yards.

Bryson Powers: 3 punts, 4 yards; 1 kick, 10 yards
C.J. Jones: 1 kick, 13 yards
Taylor Tesch: 1 kick, 14 yards
Zac Duncan: 1 kick, 22 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 kick, 25 yards

Luis Reyes: 1-1 FG (made 22), 8-8 XP
Jordan Johnson: 4 punts, 168 yards (42 average)

Other Happenings in This Game

On the very first Woods drive of the game, Ridge had one of their starting corners get tossed after he mugged Tre Hart in full view of the Woods sideline. The guy couldn't shake his block, so he threw Tre to the ground and then threw at least 5 punches at him while he was on the ground. Unsurprisingly, he was given the boot.

The Cats scored on their first drive of the game despite committing 7 penalties in the process.

The offensive line play was solid, but they took a bit of a hit as tackle Brian Biddy left the game with a knee injury.

C.J. Jones was just 13 receiving yards shy of having a 100-100 game. That would have marked the first time in Woods history that two players logged 100 yards receiving and 100 yards rushing in the same game. R.J. had 132 yards receiving and 125 rushing. Dual threats.

The scoreboard operator did a pretty not-good job in terms of keeping down and distance. Probably an uncharacteristically poor night in that respect, though.

The Cats had 3 1-play scoring drives. I've already talked about 2 of them ad nauseam; the other was C.J.'s 64-yard TD run in the 1st. I think that might be a record for 1-play scoring drives.

Man of the Match

Not an overly tough decision... C.J. Jones. As a sophomore, he's only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.

Honorable mentions go out to R.J. Harmon, Bryson Powers, Tyler Greaves, Randall Medlin, Danny Malone and Luis Reyes, who hit all of his kicks.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will face Cy Falls next Saturday at Pridgeon. They'll be the home team, and kickoff is at 6:00.

Know Your Enemy: Cy Ridge Rams

Cy Woods Wildcats (0-1) @ Cy Ridge Rams (0-1), Saturday, September 13, 6 PM, Berry Center

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Cats were rocked in their 2014 debut as Klein Collins stormed out to a 35-0 lead before they could mount a response. They got 2 touchdowns, but the Tigers ultimately emerged as 42-14 victors. Zac Duncan and R.J. Harmon provided the scoring for Woods on a 26-yard reverse and a 7-yard run, respectively.

Now, District 17-6A play is on the docket for the Wildcats, and first up is Cy Ridge.

The Enemy: Cypress Ridge Rams

2013: 7-5, 6-3 (t-3rd) in District 17-5A; Woods ranked ahead based on their win in this game last year
Playoffs: Division II Area finalists; lost 49-13 to Memorial

The Rams are also coming off a season-opening loss; they were blanked 16-0 by Morton Ranch on Saturday.

Players to Watch, per Dave Campbell's Texas Football

WR Kemah Siverand, OLB Anthony Jacobs, ILB Michael Dean, S Marquis Jones, OL Jonathan Valencia, K Omar Portillo

Top juniors: CB/QB D'Angelo Ellis, CB Darsham Newsome
Top sophomore: S/RB Greg Johnson

Players also of note, per Adam Coleman: QB Tyler McLaurin, RB Trelon Smith

All-Time Series

Tied, 3-3

Previous Meetings

September 19, 2013: Woods 28, Ridge 26
September 20, 2012: Ridge 54, Woods 21
October 29, 2011: Woods 45, Ridge 13
October 30, 2010: Woods 49, Ridge 40
September 25, 2009: Ridge 46, Woods 20 (Homecoming II)
September 26, 2008: Ridge 43, Woods 41

2¢ on Ridge

This is a team that seems to churn out a really, really good player (read as: gamechanger) most years. In my day, they had Russell Shepard. Now, WR Kemah Siverand assumes that role. He's a Texas A&M commit and not only is he one of the top players in the district, he is surely one of the best football players in the entire city.

But, he's just one (really huge) cog in their machine. Overall, Ridge has fielded very solid teams year in and year out. Which was why I was taken aback somewhat when Dave Campbell's Texas Football pegged them to finish in 8th place in the district, ahead of only Springs and Lakes. That's a severe underrating, but in a district like this, predictions and projections usually get thrown out the window after about 3-4 district games. Don't be fooled by that 8th-place prediction; the Rams are a team that can challenge for a playoff spot, and they could very well be in that chase once it comes down to the wire.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

The Wildcats were reeling from a 48-20 loss to Langham Creek in their district opener. And next up, was Cy Ridge.

Their only Thursday night game of the season turned into a thriller. The Cats could never completely shake the Rams in the 1st half, as they led 20-17 after 24 minutes. They appeared to have created some separation as they took a 28-17 lead into the final quarter. However, Ridge battled back in the 4th and were in a position to tie the game at 28 by converting a 2-point conversion with 20 seconds to go in regulation, but Taylor Holmes foiled them when he broke up a pass in the end zone, preserving the Cats' 28-26 lead. That would turn out to be the final score.

Zac Duncan tied the team record for longest play from scrimmage when he scored on a 93-yard touchdown reception in the 1st quarter. Samuel Stewart had 2 scoring runs from 12 and 5 yards out in the 2nd, and Chase McLaughlin added a couple of field goals in the 3rd. Nick Hooper ran for 105 yards on 15 carries.

Random Facts and Figures from This Series

- Woods put up the fewest points by the winning team in this series in last year's game.
- This is the 3rd time that Woods will begin district play against Ridge. They'll also open next year against Ridge, so this means that Woods has opened up district play against the Rams in 2 2-year cycles. The other time? The first two seasons of varsity play.

JV and Freshman Game Information

The JV will be at home this upcoming Thursday, while the freshmen are at Ridge. Game times are 5 (Gold) and 7 (Cardinal).

For Freshman Games: Directions to Cy Ridge