Note: I did not attend this game due to a death in my family.
On Homecoming VII, the Wildcats had an unhappy beginning to the weekend as they fell to the Langham Creek Lobos, 55-31. This was also the Lobos' homecoming game, and well, someone had to be saddled with an unhappy one, I suppose. Also, there was a concert going on! Great scheduling! The Wildcats fall to 4-3 all-time in Homecoming games.
This was your garden-variety 17-6A game... 98 points and 1,366 offensive yards, or 0.78 offensive miles. Woods was outgunned in the 2nd half mainly because the Langham defense tightened the clamps on them, and as a result, the wheels fell out from right under them. The Lobos turned the Cats' 3 2nd-half turnovers into 14 critical points.
This loss negated an incredible night from Nick Hooper, who took ownership of the single-game passing yards record (448, previously 442 by Colton Huntsman in 2009) and total yards record (603). Turnovers, man. Also, the offense in the 4th quarter still persists as a serious issue that needs to be addressed. They lost one game in the 4th, almost lost another in the 4th, and well... in this one, they were thumped in the 2nd half because of those turnovers.
Because I wasn't at the Berry Center, all I can do is compose a recap looking at a box score. But then again, that's what I usually do when I recap the games of the Astros' minor league system. All offensive numbers are per TSRN.
So, What Happened Was...
A fun game if you enjoy offenses that put points up on the board at an arena football-like pace, but you probably won't be sleeping for a bit if you're more defensive-minded.
Zac Duncan opened the scoring with a 22-yard touchdown grab. Then, Nick punched it in from 5 yards out to give the Cats a 14-0 lead. Langham Creek got on the board as Paul Watson connected with Quartney Davis for a 33-yard touchdown.
End 1st: Woods 14, Langham 7
In the 2nd quarter, the back-and-forth began as Langham tied the game on a 21-yard run from Toneil Carter. On the ensuing Woods drive, Nick Hooper found Tre' Hart for a 65-yard TD as the Cats regained the lead. Watson then fired a 31-yard touchdown pass to Trelen Norton to re-tie the game at 21, and then on the next Wildcat drive, Luis Reyes untied the game with a 25-yard field goal. After 24 minutes, the game would be tied at 24 as Joel Scarbrough ended the half with a 31-yard field goal.
Halftime: Woods 24, Langham 24
The Lobos seized control of this game because (1) they scored on their first 4 possessions of the 2nd half, and (2) their defense clamped down on the Cats offense. Scarbrough ended the 1st half with a field goal.... and opened the 2nd half with a field goal, this one from 25. Nick then found Jared Taylor for a big gain, but Taylor coughed up the ball, which was recovered by the Lobos. They'd cash in as Watson found Norton for the 2nd time in this game; this one from 9 yards out. Nick Hooper scored his 2nd rushing TD of the night as he ran it in from 11, but the Lobos got a 1-play drive with Paul Watson finding Quartney Davis for a 75-yard score; that was Davis's 2nd receiving TD of the night.
End 3rd: Langham 41, Woods 31
Watson scored on a 1-yard run, and then Nick was picked off by Jordan Murray as the Cats were driving. However, that turnover didn't bite them as they got the ball back right away, as Watson coughed it up. Their next turnover did, though, as Nick coughed it up, and then 1 play later, Toneil Carter iced the game with a 78-yard TD run.
Final: Langham 55, Woods 31
Turning Point
The 2nd half, which the Lobos won 31-7. In the 3rd, Langham scored on all 4 of their possessions (a field goal and 3 TDs) in that frame, while the Cats lost a fumble and turned the ball over on downs, with a touchdown sandwiched in between, on their 3 drives. Langham took a 41-31 lead into the final 12 minutes, and iced the game with 2 TDs in the period.
Ground
In the ground portion of the Nick Hooper Show, he had 22 carries for 155 yards and 2 scores. He constituted 71% of the Cats' rushing attempts, 90% of its rushing yards, and 100% of its rushing touchdowns.
Nick Hooper: 22 carries, 155 yards, 2 TD
Jordan Johnson: 1 carry, 19 yards
R.J. Harmon: 4 carries, 7 yards
Jared Taylor: 1 carry, 0 yards
C.J. Jones: 2 carries, -3 yards
Zac Duncan: 1 carry, -5 yards
Air
If it's any solace to Nick, he's now the new owner of the record for most passing yards in a single game by a Cy Woods quarterback. His 448 bests the 442 put up by Colton Huntsman in 2009 against Klein Oak.
Nick Hooper: 27-37, 448 yards, 2 TD, INT
For the 2nd time this season, Jared Taylor and Tre' Hart both had 100+ receiving yards, while Zac Duncan finished at 97.
Jared Taylor: 6 rec, 116 yards
R.J. Harmon: 6 rec, 46 yards
Zac Duncan: 5 rec, 97 yards, TD
C.J. Jones: 5 rec, 44 yards
Tre' Hart: 3 rec, 112 yards, TD
Taylor Tesch: 1 rec, 32 yards
Chad O'Donnell: 1 rec, 1 yard
Defense
It.... just was not the defense's night. The 55 points allowed ties the record for most points allowed in a game, which last happened against Stony Point in the 2009 playoffs. The 745 yards is most likely a record.
I will compile defensive stats later.
Special Teams
Luis Reyes hit all of his kicks... he had a 25-yard field goal in the 2nd and hit 4 extra points. He also had an 18-yard punt.
1-1 FG (made 25), 4-4 XP
Jordan Johnson punted once for 34 yards.
The return game was quiet, as the Lobos declined to kick the ball in C.J. Jones's general direction.
Bryson Powers: 1 punt returned, 4 yards
Zac Duncan: 2 kicks returned, 3 yards
Jordan Johnson: 2 kicks returned, 33 yards
Taylor Tesch: 1 kick returned, 9 yards
Other Notes
I wasn't in attendance.
Man of the Match
Nick Hooper, for his record-setting performance.
Honorable mentions go out to Tre' Hart, Jared Taylor, and Zac Duncan.
Looking Ahead
In their one and only day game of the season, the Wildcats will take on the Cy-Fair Bobcats next Saturday at Pridgeon. Kickoff is at 1:00, and they'll be the away team.
A team that sports a 4-2 district record is usually sitting pretty.... but in this district, no one sits pretty. Well, except for Langham, I guess, since they're undefeated and all...
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