Know Your Enemy: Cypress Ranch Mustangs

Week 5: Cypress Woods Wildcats (1-2, 1-1) vs. Cypress Ranch Mustangs (2-1, 2-0)
6:00 PM, Saturday, September 26, 2015
Pridgeon Stadium

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats led of Week 4 with a tilt against Cy Falls. They had absolutely no answer for the Eagles' two-headed monster of Desmond Hite and Shannon Vaughns, who both scored 3 touchdowns on the ground for Falls as they romped to a 57-20 victory.

The Enemy: Cypress Ranch Mustangs

2014: 13-3, 8-1 (2nd) in District 17-6A
Playoffs: 6A Division I runner-up, lost 47-16 to Allen

The Mustangs walked off with a 27-24 loss at the hands of Cinco Ranch to begin the 2015 season. They've stormed out of the gate in district play; they started off by decimating Lakes 52-3. Then, on double Homecoming Friday, Ranch forced 5 turnovers (4 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered) as they suffocated Langham Creek 27-14.

(A Few) Players to Watch on the Other Side

QB Collin Rock, RB Holden Gourley, RB E.J. Thompson, FB Dylan Proske, RB Ty Laurent, ATH R.J. Sneed, WR Keric Wheatfall, DL Harrison Loveless, DL Juan Perez, LB Brayden Stringer, LB Lawson Pyles, LB Amaud Willis-Dalton, DB Mark Bruno, DB Kiantre Meullione, DB Nick Stiff

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 3-2.

Previous Meetings

September 27, 2014: Ranch 38, Woods 35
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

2¢ on Ranch

Last November, Ryan Nanni of SB Nation composed a feature on one of the longest-contested rivalries in college football. The two belligerents featured in his story are two Division II schools in South Dakota. In this intriguing and well-written feature, he described football (you could include the other sports, but then again, this is Texas) as "merely a means for a clash of cultures. Whether the clash is real or imagined is irrelevant. It only needs to exist in the minds of the fans, so they can point to the enemy and see him as different." This pretty much describes the dichotomy of Cy Woods vs. Cy Ranch to a T.

In 5 years, Woods-Ranch has become arguably the nastiest rivalry in the city of Houston, and it surely has to be one of the nastiest in the state of Texas, as well. It's not just limited to football, either. Some friendships are definitely going to be put on hold for this week, and possibly for the foreseeable future. But, Matthew 5:44, I guess.

As nasty as this rivalry is, it is just as passionate. When you're in the stands for this game, you can clearly see that these two schools have been blessed with outstanding support from their respective communities.

The Mustangs are fresh off an appearance in the 6A Division I championship game. Despite this, I feel very little animosity because I never played Cy Ranch. Although Ranch's run to the final is a feat that deserves respect, I'm glad they lost. It's nothing personal. I would much rather see Cy Woods win the first state championship in football for Cy-Fair ISD, even if it took 75 years. (I'm only saying 75 because I most likely won't be around to see it if it took 100 years.)

Collin Rock, an SMU commit, is back at the helm of the Mustang offense, and he is the face of Cy Ranch football. He is a dangerous runner, especially in the open field. Rock showed tremendous poise and skill as he became one of the district's breakout players in 2014, playing a starring role in Ranch's run to state.

R.J. Sneed, who will probably get as many touches as possible, emerged as Rock's top target in the passing game as a sophomore. Sneed just another one of the talented players in the Class of 2017 in Cy-Fair ISD. The Mustangs will have to find a replacement for the outstanding Charlie Booker, who is now at Harvard. Running back isn't a position of weakness for the Mustangs, though. Holden Gourley has emerged as presumably the next in line, and he's had a fine start to the 2015 season. Ty Laurent has also become a weapon in the run game and the return game as well.

Brayden Stringer is a three-year starter at linebacker. He was a unanimous 1st-team All-District selection and is the leader of the Mustang defense. Accompanying him will be Lawson Pyles and Amaud Willis-Dalton, a couple of talented juniors. Willis-Dalton emerged as an impact player during their playoff run and also has a kickoff return TD on his ledger this year. Mark Bruno, another three-year starter, leads their secondary. He had 2 picks in the win over Langham. Bruno will be joined by Stiff and Meullione, who also doubles as a dangerous return man. Harrison Loveless was pressed into duty on the defensive line as a sophomore last season and performed extremely well. He's also an accomplished thrower, placing 2nd in the discus in last year's district track meet.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

I'm sure the vast majority of you would prefer not to remember that night.

Ryan Nanni put it succinctly and deftly: "Rivalry history only matters for 364 days a year. The day of the game is different." Time to write the next chapter in the book.

For JV games: Location of Cypress Ranch High School

You must be new to this area if you are asking. I'm not trying to come off as crabby, I just call it like I see it.