Jersey Village 74, Cy Woods 73: Devastating.

2015 Record: 4-5, 4-4 in District 17-6A

Photo by Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

Man... I'm having an incredibly difficult time trying to process this, and I have no idea where to start. This game defied all logic. Name any play and any possible outcome for a play, and this game had it all.

- Both teams combined for 147 points. Will they even come close to this score during basketball season?
- Both teams combined for 1,642 total yards of offense. Or... 0.93 miles.
- Both teams (!!!!!!!) surpassed the district's record for points in a single game.
- Just about every record under the sun (well, technically the moon [no wait, it was cloudy, so we couldn't see the moon]) was broken. Let's just say that both teams' record books weren't the only ones that needed changing after this game....

The 2015 Cypress Woods Wildcats can probably be summed up in one word: almost. Almost completed a comeback against Cy Creek. Almost found a way to escape the highest scoring game in this district's history. Almost clawed their way back from a 1-3 start in district play. But, as we all know, there's no rhyme or reason in this district, so anything and everything can and will happen. Before you go all Jim Mora on me with "PLAYOFFS????????????" just remember that the math says that there's still a chance.

Out of the Wildcats' 5 losses this season.... this one was by far the most devastating. Quite possibly the most devastating loss in Cy Woods' football history. Even a historic night on offense was not enough for Cy Woods.... because Jersey Village's night on offense was even more historic, and that made all the difference in the Falcons' 74-73 victory in a game that the Wildcats sorely needed to win.

Deshun Qualls.... you have to tip your hat to him. He was absolutely sensational for Jersey Village. OK, that's an understatement. His performance in this game probably won't be replicated for decades. Never seen anything like what he did, and I probably won't see anything like that again for 20 years. He made one unbelievable throw after another, and Rokeem Paul, Austin Lynch, and Christian Green made one unbelievable catch after another. He kept plays alive with his feet, and his receivers finished them off. Unreal effort all around.

Qualls joins Collin Rock, Logan Taylor (Cy-Fair 2011-12), and Troy Mitchell (Cy Falls 2010-11), as the only starting quarterbacks in the district to win multiple starts against the Wildcats. However, out of this quartet, Qualls is the only one to go 3-0 against Cy Woods.

So, What Happened Was....

Deshun Qualls became Kyler Murray.

On a little more serious note, this was the most chaotic football game I have ever seen. I have never seen a losing team score 70 points.

It looked as though it would be a blowout early, as the Falcons scored on all 4 of their possessions in the 1st quarter. Deshun Qualls opened up the scoring with a 60-yard touchdown run on 3rd and..... 26. Qualls having a hand in a Jersey Village touchdown would be the running theme of this game. He struck again with a 23-yard touchdown run. Bryson Powers put Woods on the board as he broke ∞ tackles to score from 36 yards out. One play later, Qualls threw a bomb, and Austin Lynch made an off-balance catch, and he somehow regained his balance and broke free for an 82-yard touchdown. Josh Bland scored on a 15-yard run to put JV up 27-7, but C.J. Jones was able to regain some positive momentum for Woods as he had a 10-yard touchdown run.

End 1st: JV 27, Woods 13

C.J.'s first touchdown run sparked a 31-0 run that gave the Wildcats the lead at halftime. Bryson Powers and Jordan Johnson connected for 3 touchdowns. The first went for 48 yards, and the other two capped off one-play drives good for 62 and 60 yards. Bryson also had a 1-yard TD run. Qualls found Christian Green, who dove to make a 13-yard touchdown catch shortly before halftime to snap the run.

Halftime: Woods 38, JV 33

Qualls opened up the scoring in the 2nd half when he hit Rokeem Paul for 76 yards. Then, he found Austin Lynch again, this time from 59 yards out. Bryson responded with a 4-yard scoring run. Qualls had the Falcons on the move again, but that drive ended abruptly after Bland coughed up the ball, and Trent Bird fell on it. Two plays later, C.J. Jones left everyone in the dust, scoring on an 85-yard run. Qualls found Christian Green for the 2nd time; that was a 22-yard connection. The Wildcats blocked what would have been the go-ahead extra point, so we entered the final 12 minutes in a deadlock.

End 3rd: Woods 52, JV 52

On the first play of the 4th quarter, Rokeem Paul won a jumpball battle with Jordan Johnson at the Cy Woods 5. Josh Bland coughed up the ball once again at the goal line, and Jordan emerged with the ball and returned it all the way down to the Falcons' 33-yard line. C.J. turned that takeaway into points with a 10-yard run. But, Deshun Qualls had an answer for everything. His next answer was a 2-yard touchdown run. C.J., however, kept Woods in the lead by blocking the extra point. Terrell Brown picked up the loose ball and almost gave the Wildcats 2 points, but he was caught at the 15-yard line of Jersey Village. One play later, C.J. scored on a 75-yard scamper. Again, he outran everyone. On the ensuing Falcon possession, Josh Marvin had a huge interception. Unfortunately, this takeaway turned into a giveaway, as C.J. put the ball on the ground inside the Falcon 5, and Juwan Morgan recovered, and returned it to the Woods 35. Morgan actually lost the ball himself, but Clabe Holmes backed him up. And on the next Falcon drive, Qualls scored to tie the game at 66. Bryson responded.... well, he coughed it up in the end zone, and Skylar Schulz had a chance to recover it, but it skipped off of his hands, as well. Ultimately, Jonathan Laven, the center, emerged from the pile with the ball, and well... that's a touchdown.

Unfortunately, the Wildcat defense could not stop the ensuing Jersey Village possession, which turned out to be the decisive drive of the game. Qualls (who else) capped it off by finding Christian Green for the 3rd time in this game, and he (again, who else) put the Falcons in front with a 2-point conversion.

The Wildcats were left with 69 seconds on the clock. Play #1 started off well enough, as C.J. ran for 8 yards. An incomplete pass brought up 3rd down. C.J. failed to get back to the line of scrimmage on a play that Woods ran at least 50 times in this game, and that set up a 4th down, which saw Bryson's pass fall to the ground, incomplete. Jaylen Miller, who attended Cy Woods for 3 years, broke up the pass and made the play that sent his friends to a crushing defeat.

Final: JV 74, Woods 73

Ground

C.J. Jones and Bryson Powers had their way with the Falcon defense. C.J. ran for 346 yards on 32 carries and scored 4 touchdowns. It's the 2nd time in which he has scored 4 rushing touchdowns in a single game, and the 346 yards is a new Cy Woods single-game record. Meanwhile, Bryson ran for 188 and 3 touchdowns on 24 carries.

In all, the Wildcats ran for 547 yards, which is a new team single-game record. The previous high was 464 in the 2011 regular-season finale against Cy Springs.

And yet... it was not enough.

C.J. Jones: 32 carries, 346 yards, 4 TD
Bryson Powers: 24 carries, 188 yards, 3 TD
R.J. Harmon: 2 carries, 13 yards

Air

Jordan Johnson had a night to remember as he caught 4 passes for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns. He's now tied with Gary Tesch for the most receiving touchdowns in Cy Woods history. Jordan also tied the Cy Woods single-season record for most receiving touchdowns in a single season with 10, which had been shared by Fredrick Anderson and Gary.

And yet... it was not enough.

Bryson Powers: 5-13, 217 yards, 3 TD, INT

Jordan Johnson: 4 catches, 199 yards, 3 TD
Jack Barrientez: 1 catch, 18 yards

Defense

They allowed 886 yards. That's their story for this game. They had their moments where they punished Deshun Qualls, but they were at his mercy all night long.

Josh Marvin, a seldom-used senior linebacker who found himself pressed into duty, had the game of his life as he got 2.5 sacks and an interception. If only he could've run that pick back for a touchdown.....

Interceptions: Josh Marvin 1 (returned 30 yards)

If only Jordan could've run the fumble he recovered back for a touchdown....

Fumbles recovered: Trent Bird 1, Jordan Johnson 1 (returned 67 yards), Jonathan Laven (fell on ball in endzone for a touchdown)

Sacks: Josh Marvin 2.5 (35 yards lost), Neil Chambers 1 (1 yard lost), Trent Bird 0.5 (5 yards lost), Brandon Love 0.5 (5 yards lost)

They also got to Qualls for a 14 yard loss in the 2nd (I think Marvin was in on that play) and another time for 3 yards in the 3rd.

Special Teams

Luis Reyes made 5 extra points, and he is now the highest-scoring kicker in Cy Woods history with 138 points. The previous record for points scored by a Wildcat kicker (career) was 133. That record was held by my good friend, Andrew Klink.

If only C.J. could've picked up that blocked extra point cleanly.....

If only Terrell Brown had enough left in his tank to run another blocked extra point back for 2 points....


PSA

Parents, if you're going to let your kids run around during the game (I have no earthly idea as to why you would allow them to do this in the first place, but I guess this lack of understanding comes from me not being a parent so I wouldn't know...), please, PLEASE, keep an eye on them.

During this game, I saw two little girls slip off the bleachers (in the lower section) and hit themselves on the cement. Yes, they were being watched over. Thankfully, neither of them seemed to be seriously hurt.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will wrap up the 2015 regular season at the Berry Center on Saturday, November 7, against the Cy Springs Panthers. Kickoff is at 1:00. Depending on what happens with Cy-Fair, this game may serve as the swan song for the Class of 2016.

Know Your Enemy: Jersey Village Falcons

Week 10: Cypress Woods Wildcats vs. Jersey Village Falcons
7:00 PM, Friday, October 30, 2015
Pridgeon Stadium

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats still have a pulse in the playoff race, and a 44-7 demolition of Cy-Fair on Thursday at the Berry Center confirmed that. C.J. Jones ran roughshod on the Bobcats to the tune of 180 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Jordan Johnson caught 2 passes; both of them were touchdowns. 

On defense, Woods held Fair to just 202 yards of total offense and kept them confined to their own side of midfield for virtually the entire game. 

The Enemy: Jersey Village Falcons

2014 record: 6-4, 5-4 (5th) in District 17-6A

Did not qualify for playoffs

Jersey Village season-to-date

L 30-27 @ Cinco Ranch

L 48-24 vs. Cy Springs

L 45-21 @ Cy Ridge

L 38-35 vs. Cy Falls

L 42-21 @ Cy Ranch

L 42-37 vs. Cy Creek

W 45-21 @ Cy Lakes

L 54-35 vs. Langham Creek

(A Few) Players to Watch on the Other Side

QB Deshun Qualls, WR Rokeem Paul, WR Brandon Major, WR Austin Lynch, WR/RB Josh Bland, OL Aires Gardner, DL Alex Turner, DL Greyson Newton, DL Jacob Clarkson, DB Clabe Holmes IV, DB Juwan Morgan, DB Mason Mireles, DB Jaylen Miller

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-2.

Previous Meetings

October 31, 2014: JV 44, Woods 38
November 9, 2013: JV 42, Woods 0
November 10, 2012: Woods 35, JV 14
October 1, 2011: Woods 63, JV 24
October 2, 2010: Woods 35, JV 14
October 3, 2009: Woods 31, JV 13
October 4, 2008: Woods 56, JV 6

2¢ on Jersey Village

The Falcons, like many of the teams in this district, harbored playoff aspirations. Unfortunately, a dreadful start knocked them out of the race early. This, however, is a team that has taken the last two meetings from Cy Woods after the Wildcats had completely dominated the series in the first 5 years.

Deshun Qualls enters his 3rd season as the face of the Falcons. He's their do-it-all guy and is one of the most exciting players in the district. Qualls welcomes back his top 4 receivers: Rokeem Paul, Brandon Major, Austin Lynch, and Josh Bland. Qualls to Paul was a common sight during Falcons games in 2014 as they built a great rapport together, and it's been more of the same in 2015. Gardner is the anchor of the offensive line.

Clabe Holmes, Juwan Morgan, and Mason Mireles are all veterans in the Falcon secondary. Jaylen Miller spent his first 3 years of high school at Cy Woods before moving to Jersey Village as a senior. The Falcons also sport a solid front line featuring Newton, Clarkson, and Turner.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

The Wildcats held a 14-3 lead after the first quarter, but Deshun Qualls took over afterwards as Jersey Village outscored Cy Woods 35-10 between the 2nd and 3rd quarters. The Falcons tacked on another score in the 4th to go up 44-24, but the Wildcats managed to launch a comeback bid that ultimately fell just short. They couldn't get the final stop they so desperately needed in order to give the offense a shot at completing the comeback, and they fell by a final score of 44-38.

For JV games: Location of Jersey Village High School

Cy Woods 44, Cy-Fair 7: Still Dreaming.

2015 record: 4-4, 4-3 in District 17-6A

Note: I only saw the 2nd half because I was teaching on Thursday.

Photo by Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

That's a bet👌💯 pic.twitter.com/BM3bt8cGYg

— CeeJay Jones (@CeeJaay21) October 22, 2015

The second Thursday game of the season had a much happier outcome as the Cypress Woods Wildcats ran the Cy-Fair Bobcats out of the Berry Center with a 44-7 victory to kick off Week 9 in CFISD football. This is the Wildcats' third consecutive win, which allowed them climb back to .500 overall, above the .500 mark in district, and also delayed the gratification of the teams directly above them while keeping their own hopes for a playoff spot alive. This team could have fallen apart after Creek, when they dropped their 3rd straight to fall to 1-4. Instead, they've willed themselves back into the playoff picture after everyone thought for sure that they would miss the playoffs, and now, the dream of making a monumental comeback in order to secure another playoff berth is one step closer to becoming reality. The Wildcats do have a favorable schedule to close out the season, but given the nature of this district, this statement is utterly meaningless. The games still have to be played.

Mr. Greaves came up to me after the game and asked, "Can we restart this season?" I'm with him.

I'm sure these kids had a vastly different script for how this season would turn out, but reality tends to work differently, and in ways that we least expect. This is a proud group of kids; instead of pointing fingers at each other and falling apart, they have come together and are on the verge of doing something unprecedented at Cy Woods. Kids like R.J. Harmon and Brandon DePrato and Jared Taylor have been part of playoff teams here. They know what it takes to make a playoff run, and you're seeing that they don't want their final memory at Woods to be one where they miss the playoffs in their senior season.

In the first half of the season, this was a team that was still trying to find its way on offense, couldn't stop anyone on defense, and found themselves having to climb up the Himalayas just to stay in games. It wasn't too difficult to see why Cy Woods started off 1-4.

Even though they lost to Cy Ranch, the offense looked as though they had found some consistency during that game. Although they didn't put up the point totals we've been so accustomed to, they were able to carve through a strong defensive unit. They found a way to keep that momentum going, and then the points came. Now, everything is clicking. With the exception of 4 turnovers against Lakes, the Wildcats have taken exceptional care of the ball during this winning streak; this was their 2nd game in a row without committing a turnover.

The defense was well on its way to giving up 500 points this season. Since the Creek game, which put them at 234 points allowed, they've given up 60, and you can see the progress that this team has made on defense over the last three games. They've helped themselves as well by forcing turnovers, which was something that was sorely lacking in the early part of the season. The Wildcat defense might have gotten themselves started against a clearly inferior opponent in Lakes, but they had to start somewhere, right? They was just beginning to scratch the surface of what they were truly capable of that night. At times against Langham Creek, they bent. But in the end, they got the stops they needed against the Lobos and came out with a massive victory. In this game, they flat-out dominated Cy-Fair for 48 minutes.

Besides, this isn't the first time that Woods has been counted out of the playoff picture. They've always thrived whenever they've been doubted.

So, What Happened Was...

Unlike last year's tilt, overtime was not needed for this game, in which the Wildcats dominated in all facets.

Jordan Johnson opened up the scoring by catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Bryson Powers. After Brandon DePrato's interception, Bryson and Jordan connected on another touchdown pass; this one was 39 yards. Bryson later added a 1-yard touchdown run towards the end of the 1st.

End 1st: Woods 20, Fair 0

Luis Reyes hit a 32-yard field goal, and then Bryson scored on the ground again, this time from 4 yards out.

Halftime: Woods 30, Fair 0

The Bobcats spoiled the shutout in the first series of the 2nd half as Brock Wright scored on a 38-yard pass from Hayden Wesneski. That turned out to be the only time that Cy-Fair put points on the board. C.J. Jones responded with a 2-yard touchdown run, and following a fumble recovered by Myles Wilson, Jack Barrientez scored the final points of the night with a 50-yard touchdown catch, his first touchdown at the varsity level. Neither team scored in the 4th quarter.

Final: Woods 44, Fair 7

Ground

Woods beat Fair at one aspect of their own game. No R.J. Harmon? Well, his absence didn't turn out to be much of a hindrance in this game, because I hear that C.J. Jones guy is pretty good. He has come alive in the running game in the last two games, and his production was sorely missed. His 180 yards is a season high, and he probably could've had well over 200 if some of his runs hadn't been wiped out by penalties.

Hope R.J. is back to health though... he's another dangerous element to a Wildcat offense that is firing on all cylinders.

C.J. Jones: 21 carries, 180 yards, TD
Bryson Powers: 10 carries, 48 yards, 2 TD
Jared Taylor: 5 carries, 22 yards
Matt Ficalora: 2 carries, 16 yards
Sean Despres: 6 carries, 8 yards
Jack Barrientez: 1 carry, 3 yards

Air

Bryson Powers didn't need to throw much, but when he did, he was effective. Only 3 players caught passes in this game, which is so unlike Cy Woods.

Bryson Powers: 9-11, 186 yards, 3 TD

Seth Despres was the only receiver who didn't score, but his 27-yard catch on a 3rd down in the 2nd quarter put the Wildcats in the red zone and set up Bryson Powers' 2nd touchdown run of the evening.

Jack Barrientez: 6 catches, 95 yards, TD
Jordan Johnson: 2 catches, 64 yards, 2 TD
Seth Despres: 1 catch, 27 yards

Defense

Woods soundly beat Fair at another aspect of their own game. The 202 yards that Woods allowed to the Bobcats was the fewest since October 10, 2014, when they held Cy Lakes to 200.

The Wildcats absolutely suffocated the Bobcats' vaunted running game, holding them to a mere 4 yards per carry and not allowing a single run of over 20 yards. They consistently won on the early downs and never allowed Cy-Fair to build any momentum on offense.

The Bobcats had 10 possessions in this game; 7 of them ended in punts. The Wildcats also killed two other Cy-Fair drives by forcing turnovers. Out of Cy-Fair's 10 offensive possessions, they ran a grand total of 8 offensive plays in Cy Woods territory. They also went 2-10 on 3rd down, and they even got a Cy Woods penalty on 3rd down to keep a drive in the 1st quarter alive. On the other 8 3rd down situations, the Bobcats did this:

1. Pass for -3 yards (this was on the same drive in which Woods was penalized on 3rd down)
2. Run for no gain
3. QB sacked, -2 yards
4. Incomplete pass (they had converted on 3rd down with a 13-yard pass earlier in the drive)
5. 1 yard run, fumble lost
6. Incomplete pass (they had converted on 3rd down with a 13-yard pass earlier in the drive)
7. Incomplete pass
8. Run for -2 yards

So, on their unsuccessful 3rd downs, Cy-Fair ran 8 plays, lost 6 yards, and lost a fumble. The Wildcats amped up the intensity on third down and totally shut down any momentum that the Bobcats were hoping to build.

Interceptions: Brandon DePrato 1 (2nd of season, returned 14 yards)

Fumbles forced: Brandon DePrato 1
Fumbles recovered: Myles Wilson 1

Sacks: Collin Fewox 1 (2 yards lost), Trent Bird 0.5 (9 yards lost), Cody Eggleston 0.5 (9 yards lost), Elijah Strang 0.5 (2 yards lost), Jordan Frazier 0.5 (2 yards lost)

Special Teams

Luis Reyes went 5-6 on his extra points and hit a 32-yard field goal in the 2nd. He is now 1 point away from tying Andrew Klink for the most points scored by a kicker in Cy Woods history.

C.J. had some evil intentions in the punt return game; however, he ended up getting tripped up at midfield each time. Nevertheless, he still gained over 40 yards on 2 of his 3 returns.

C.J. Jones: 3 punts returned, 88 yards
Jared Taylor: 1 punt returned, 8 yards

Man of the Match

Congratulations on scoring your first varsity touchdown, Jack Barrientez. The future is bright for this sophomore wide receiver/tailback.

Notes

- This is the most points that Cy Woods has ever put up against Cy-Fair.
- This is also the biggest margin of victory in the series.
- The Wildcats held their opponent to single digits (non-shutout) for the first time since they beat Eisenhower 42-7 in the 1st round of the 2011 playoffs.
- The Wildcats have their first winning streak over Cy-Fair since taking the first 3 meetings (2008-10).

Looking Ahead


The Wildcats will play at Pridgeon Stadium for the final time in the 2015 regular season as they take on the Jersey Village Falcons at 7 PM on Friday, October 30. Cy Woods will be the home team in this contest.

Know Your Enemy: Cy-Fair Bobcats

Week 9: Cypress Woods Wildcats vs. Cy-Fair Bobcats
7:00 PM, Thursday, October 22, 2015
Berry Center

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats topped Langham Creek 48-33, snapping a 3-game losing streak to the Lobos and giving themselves a lifeline in terms of the playoff race. C.J. Jones ran for 176 and 2 touchdowns and also returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown. Bryson Powers ran for 159 and 2 scores and threw for 157 and 2 more scores. The defense recorded 6 sacks, led by Caleb Smith, who had 2.5. 

The Enemy: Cy-Fair Bobcats

2014: 9-4, 6-3 (4th) in District 17-6A; Woods and Fair both finished 6-3 in district, but Woods won the head-to-head meeting. 

Playoffs: 6A Division I, Region III semifinalist, lost 21-19 to Dickinson

Cy-Fair season-to-date

L 28-7 @ The Woodlands

W 14-7 @ Cy Creek

W 56-14 vs. Cy Springs

W 38-0 @ Cy Lakes

W 19-10 vs. Cy Ridge

L 49-21 @ Langham Creek

W 21-13 vs. Cy Falls

(A Few) Players to Watch on the Other Side

TE Brock Wright, RB Blake Faecher, RB Trenton Kennedy, RB Bryce Whigham, WR B.J. Chambers, WR Cody Chrest, WR Stormy Sailer, OL Austin Deculus, OL Harold Hudson, DL Chris Perez, DL Greg Linton, LB Jace Bobo, DB Erick Hallett, DB Spencer Wright, DB Dylan Higgins, DB/LB Kyle Allison, K/P Braden Mann

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 4-3.

Previous Meetings

October 25, 2014: Woods 38, Fair 31 (OT)
October 12, 2013: Fair 30, Woods 23
October 13, 2012: Fair 49, Woods 20
September 17, 2011: Fair 14, Woods 0
September 18, 2010: Woods 28, Fair 14
October 23, 2009: Woods 21, Fair 7
October 24, 2008: Woods 42, Fair 20

2¢ on Fair

Ever since Cy Ranch opened, the animosity between Cy Woods and Cy-Fair has diminished somewhat. Nevertheless, this is still an emotionally charged game because well... Woods originally consisted of re-zoned sophomores from Cy-Fair and a bunch of freshmen who would've gone there. I mean, I remember when they accused Woods of stealing their chants and stuff.

Anyone who is familiar with Cy-Fair Bobcat football knows that they are staunch believers in not fixing things that aren't broken. Their run-first, win with defense style is far from glamorous and can be downright ugly at times (often for the opposing team), but the results on the field do not lie. This iteration of the Cy-Fair Bobcats may be more talented on the offensive side than in years past.

Jacorey Aleem may have moved on, but the Bobcats haven't had much difficulty finding running backs. Trent Kennedy, Blake Faecher, and Bryce Whigham are the three feature running backs. It's pretty nice knowing that you've got solid depth at that spot. They'll be running behind an offensive line led by Harold Hudson and Austin Deculus. Deculus is one of the top linemen in the country in the class of 2017, and one of the best throwers in the district.

The Bobcats sport an outstanding running game, but they have receivers like B.J. Chambers and Cody Chrest who can keep opposing defenses honest in 3rd/4th down situations. Brock Wright is a Notre Dame commit and is one of the top players in the country in the Class of 2017. However, the QB spot remains unsettled. Taylor Gray and Hayden Wesneski have been Cy-Fair's two primary signal-callers, but Wesneski had a solid showing against Falls, so he might be out front in that battle.

With Ross Donelly, Brandon Richmond, and Maxx Chrest all moving on, there is less star power on the Bobcat defense than in recent years. Nevertheless, this is still a solid unit that rarely makes mistakes. Erick Hallett, who looks to be Richmond's heir apparent at safety, has been called on to play a huge role on the defense as a sophomore. Jace Bobo, another sophomore, has also emerged as a contributor at linebacker.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

48 minutes was not enough to decide the outcome of this game. The Wildcats shook off a 17-7 halftime deficit, 6 turnovers, including a lost fumble returned for a Cy-Fair touchdown with 2:25 left in regulation, and 11 penalties to come out on top in overtime by a final score of 38-31. This game marked the first win in the series for Cy Woods since 2010.

Nick Hooper somehow shook off 4 turnovers (3 interceptions and a lost fumble) to help guide his team to a victory. He scored 3 touchdowns on the ground, including the game-winner in OT, and threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open R.J. Harmon. R.J. ran for 98 yards, while C.J. Jones added 104 on the ground. Bryson Powers sealed the victory in extra time with an interception.

For JV Games: Location of Cy-Fair High School

Is Cy-Fair playing their sub-varsity games at Pridgeon this year? I've driven past the school quite a bit on Thursday nights and I've noticed that the stadium lights are off.

Cy Woods 48, Langham Creek 33: Still Alive.

2015 record: 3-4, 3-3 in District 17-6A

Photo by Matt Ramos, The Crimson Connection

For the first time since 2011, the Cypress Woods Wildcats finished with more points than the Langham Creek Lobos in a football game. After they fell behind 20-14 in the 2nd quarter, the Wildcats finished the game on a 34-13 run on their way to a 48-33 victory at Pridgeon Stadium on Friday night. Huge win, and that's an understatement. The Cats snapped their longest active losing streak to any opponent and have effectively put the Lobos on the brink of elimination while bolstering their own playoff hopes.

There's no doubt that the playoffs have come extremely early for the Wildcats, and even if they win out, tiebreakers may enter the equation. They'll also need some results from other games within the district to go their way. It's not going to be easy on their end, either, considering that they'll be facing Cy-Fair to begin the Week 9 slate in CFISD, and then they'll have to tussle with a Jersey Village team that has hassled them over the last couple of seasons. This team is good enough to get it done, though, and they're getting themselves going at just the right time.

So how exactly did the Cats manage to win, despite committing 19 penalties? Well, that's easy... they played 48 minutes and did not turn the ball over. This was their first turnover-free game since the 2nd round of last year's playoffs against Katy Taylor. Their last turnover-free game in district? Well, you'd have to go back to when they demolished Ranch in 2013.

So, What Happened Was...

Langham opened up with a drive inside the Woods 15 that stalled, so they called on the field goal unit. A 30-yard field goal attempt from Ryan Harwell was blocked, and the loose ball was recovered by Keith Watson, who returned it into Lobo territory. However, Langham opened the scoring with a QB sneak from Paul Watson. On a 4th and 2 play earlier in the drive, Toneil Carter slipped out of Neil Chambers' grasp and eked out just enough yards to move the chains. It didn't take long for Woods to respond, however, as C.J. Jones caught a 7-yard pass. R.J. Harmon then followed with a 60-yard run that put the Cats inside the 10, and C.J. finished it off with a 7-yard run to tie the game.

End 1: Woods 7, Langham 7

The back-and-forth began in the 2nd quarter as Watson snuck the ball in for the second time to open the scoring in the period. Kason Franklin ended up blocking the ensuing extra point. This would turn out to be a significant play as the Wildcats responded once again. Bryson Powers fought his way into the endzone from 3 yards out, and Luis Reyes' extra point put them in the lead. It was the Lobos' turn to answer as Carter streaked down the field and caught a pass from Watson in stride to put Langham back in the lead. And yet again, Woods responded with another scoring drive as Bryson broke free with a 67-yard touchdown run to put Woods back in front again. The Woods defense forced a 3-and-out on their next series, and the offense was not needed as C.J. Jones returned a Harwell punt 62 yards for a touchdown. That return was made possible by a huge block from Keith Watson (I think), who took out one defender, and slowed down Toneil Carter, who is also their special teams ace, just enough for C.J. to find the opening he needed. The defense forced another 3-and-out to finish out the half.

Halftime: Woods 28, Langham 20

The 3rd quarter has been the best quarter for the Wildcats this season, and in this game, it turned out to be more of the same. The two scoring plays in this quarter were 2 touchdown passes from Bryson to Jordan Johnson. The first one came from 21 yards out and capped off the first series of the 2nd half, while the other was an 8-yard strike following another Langham 3-and-out.

End 3rd: Woods 42, Langham 20

So, that 3rd quarter score meant that it would be smooth sailing to the end, right? Well... almost. With an offense as talented as Langham Creek's, no lead is safe. Watson scored on a 17-yard run and then connected with Quartney Davis for a 15-yard touchdown. The 2-point conversion that would have made it a one-touchdown game failed, so the Woods lead remained at 9. Once more, the Wildcats had an answer for this late Langham uprising as C.J. put up an insurance touchdown with a 58-yard run with less than 4 minutes in the game to put the Wildcats up 15. The Lobos had one last-ditch drive that was kept alive by a 46-yard pass from Watson to Mercury Hayes, but the defense ultimately finished the job and wrapped up a massive victory.

Final: Woods 48, Langham 33

Ground

The Wildcats ran roughshod over the Lobo defense as they finished with 401 yards on the ground. TSRN actually took away 4 yards because Bryson kneeled twice at the end of the game.

In not-good news, R.J. was knocked out of the game in the 3rd after he careened into the Langham sideline and collided with a bench. I highly doubt that he would just collide with a bench on purpose.

Bryson's 67-yard scoring run was the longest running play for the Wildcats this season.

C.J. Jones: 17 carries, 176 yards, 2 TD
Bryson Powers: 20 carries, 159 yards, 2 TD
R.J. Harmon: 4 carries, 60 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 carry, 3 yards
Jared Taylor: 1 carry, -2 yards

Air

Bryson did not throw an interception for the first time this season. He very nearly did, though, as a ball that was thrown behind Jared Taylor was tipped by Jared and was nearly scooped up by a Langham defender. He had some balls that came out of his hand in a weird fashion, a few passes that were swatted down at the line of scrimmage, and a couple that he just straight up threw into the ground. One of the issues that he's been battling all season is throwing behind receivers, so it's clear to me that he still has some timing kinks to work out. I do wonder if receivers see the ball come out of a left-handed QB differently than they would with a right-handed quarterback.

Bryson Powers: 11-22, 157 yards, 2 TD

Jordan Johnson caught both of Bryson's touchdown passes. On the first series of the 2nd half, he almost broke free for an 81-yard touchdown. He ended up having to settle for 19 yards and a 21-yard score to finish off the drive. But hey, a touchdown's a touchdown.

Jordan Johnson: 4 catches, 74 yards, 2 TD
C.J. Jones: 3 catches, 26 yards
Jack Barrientez: 2 catches, 39 yards
Jared Taylor: 1 catch, 20 yards
R.J. Harmon: 1 catch, -2 yards

Defense

28 first downs, 33 points and 508 yards allowed. When the defense allows those numbers, it's normally a loss. However, Woods has been in plenty of these games, and more often than not, their offense outdoes such figures. Yeah, they allowed over 30 points and over 500 yards, but this was definitely their best effort of the year. They made the stops when they desperately needed them, and not much came easily for Langham, especially in the 3rd quarter.

Kason Franklin forced the only turnover of the game in the 3rd when he jarred the ball loose from Jalen Howard and Jared Taylor fell on it inside the 1-yard line. Now, the enusing Woods possession didn't amount to anything, but that turned out to be a crucial moment in the game. The Lobos had a drive aided by 2 Woods penalties, end right at the doorstep. They were on the verge of punching it in, but Kason had something to say about that. Because of that turnover, they were kept off the scoreboard. Toneil Carter, who ran for well over 200 yards in last year's meeting, was held to 85 in this game. He did have a couple of long receptions, so he wasn't completely shut down. But, his impact in the running game was marginal at best.

The front 7 hassled Paul Watson all night and their sacks really disrupted the offensive momentum that the Lobos intended on building. Watson may have put up 354 yards, but he did not look particularly comfortable in the pocket all night. The secondary did get lucky with receivers dropping catchable passes, and yes, they did get sliced through the air, but they also kept the Lobo receivers from making the tough catches, as well.

Fumbles forced: Kason Franklin 1
Fumbles recovered: Jared Taylor 1

Sacks: Caleb Smith 2.5 (12 yards lost), Austin Greaves 1.5 (10 yards lost),  Keith Watson 1 (6 yards lost), Jordan Frazier 1 (11 yards lost)

By the way, that "pass interference" penalty on Jared in the 3rd quarter was one of the worst calls I have ever seen at any level of sports.

Special Teams

Luis Reyes hit 6 of his 7 extra points; the one he missed sailed wide left. He also punted 4 times; 1 of them landed inside the 20. He's now 9 points away from tying Andrew Klink for most points scored by a kicker in Cy Woods history.

Most teams have realized that allowing the Wildcats to return a kick or a punt usually doesn't end up well for them. The Lobos kicked away from everyone for the vast majority of the night, but Ryan Harwell, their kicker/punter, made one critical error before the break in letting C.J. Jones return a punt. That turned out to be a not-smart decision as he returned it 62 yards for a touchdown. That's the 3rd time that C.J. has scored a return touchdown (2 kick, 1 punt) in his Woods career.

The block unit earned their keep as they kept 4 points off the board.

Men of the Match

On the offensive side, it's C.J. and Bryson as they just demolished the Langham defense. The front 7 harassed Paul Watson all evening as they got to him 6 times.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will kick off Week 9 as they take on the Cy-Fair Bobcats at the Berry Center at 7 PM on Thursday, October 22. Cy Woods will be the home team in this game.

Know Your Enemy: Langham Creek Lobos

Week 8: Cypress Woods Wildcats @ Langham Creek Lobos
7:00 PM Friday, October 16, 2015
Pridgeon Stadium

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

It was a happy Homecoming for the Wildcats as they romped to a 70-20 victory over Cy Lakes on Friday. Everyone basically pitched in for the win: Keith Watson became the first Wildcat to score on 2 return touchdowns in the same game when he returned an interception 82 yards and a blocked punt for 3 yards. On the offensive side of the ball, Jared Taylor (2 receiving TDs) and C.J. Jones (1 rushing, 1 receiving) also scored twice.

The Enemy: Langham Creek Lobos

2014: 9-2, 9-0 in District 17-6A
District 17-6A champions

Playoffs: Lost in 6A Division II, Region III Bi-district round 21-14 to Memorial

Langham season-to-date

L 45-43 vs. Klein Oak
L 33-30 vs. Cy Falls
L 27-14 @ Cy Ranch
L 34-31 vs.Cy Creek
W 56-7 @. Cy Lakes
W 49-21 vs. Cy-Fair

(A Few) Players to Watch on the Other Side

QB Paul Watson, RB Toneil Carter, WR Quartney Davis, WR Mercury Hayes, OL Narciso Grimaldo, OL Tylar Kellar, OL/DL Riley Cole, LB Michael Hoehner, LB Pierre Mamia, DB Jordan Murray, DB Micah Pryor

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 4-3.

Previous Meetings

October 17, 2014: Langham 55, Woods 31 (Homecoming VII)
September 13, 2013: Langham 48, Woods 20
September 14, 2012: Langham 32, Woods 31 (Homecoming V)
October 14, 2011: Woods 50, Langham 44
October 15, 2010: Woods 55, Langham 27 (Homecoming III)
October 31, 2009: Woods 42, Langham 7
November 1, 2008: Woods 58, Langham 20

2¢ on Langham

The Lobos return as the kings of District 17-6A, but unfortunately, an 0-4 (0-3 in district) start in 2015 has dashed their hopes of defending their crown. Instead, they are fighting just to stay in the playoff picture. Maybe the Lobo devil magic wore off.

However... they've gotten themselves off the canvas by pulverizing Lakes and Fair (!!!), so they're not going away that easily. Lest we forget, this is a team that definitely has the firepower to win out and slip into the playoff picture.

After dominating this series at the start, the Wildcats have found themselves on the losing end to the Lobos for three consecutive seasons. This is currently their longest active losing streak against a district opponent.

Don't be fooled by their record... Langham still has that explosive offense, featuring Paul Watson at the helm. Toneil Carter, one of the crown jewels of the Class of 2017 in Cy-Fair ISD, is the district's top returning rusher. Quartney Davis, a Texas A&M commit, continues the lineage of outstanding Lobo receivers, and he's making a strong case for the title of best wideout in the city of Houston and possibly the state. He's caught 42 passes this season, and 17 of those have gone for touchdowns. Davis is a gamebreaker in every sense of the word. Kellar and Grimaldo are the twin towers at both ends of their offensive line.

Michael Hoehner is a three-year starter at linebacker and also a standout in baseball. The Lobos' secondary will be led by Micah Pryor and Jordan Murray; both are returning starters.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

On double Homecoming Friday, it was the Lobos who would have a happy weekend as they took advantage of the Wildcats' 2nd-half miscues and outscored them 31-7 over the final 24 minute to send Woods to a 55-31 defeat. A minor consolation from that night was Nick Hooper breaking the Cy Woods single-game records for passing yards (448) and total yards (603).

For Freshman Games: Location of Langham Creek High School

Cy Woods 70, Cy Lakes 20: Happy Homecoming.

2015 Record: 2-4, 2-3 in District 17-6A

The Cy Woods Wildcats concluded its Homecoming Week festivities by erasing a 3-game losing streak with a 70-20 victory over the Cy Lakes Spartans on Friday. It's the 3rd time that the Cats have hit the 70-point mark in a single game.

The Cats took the ball to start the game and they proceeded to absolutely run the Spartans out of the Berry Center. I guess taking the ball in the 1st half has its virtues. Yes, this was clearly an inferior opponent, but this was by far the Wildcats' best outing on defense. The 11 kids on that side of the ball played with a true purpose. They saw their offense take the lead, and they fought tooth and nail to preserve that lead. This game was truly a team win. And now, it's time to keep this momentum rolling, because in terms of the playoff picture, they really don't have a choice.

On a more sobering note, my prayers go out to sophomore QB Jacob Kainer for a speedy recovery. Jacob was injured following a scramble in the 4th quarter and had to be stretchered off the field. These are fine young men who happen to be good football players. Here's to a full and speedy recovery for a promising young player. Losing Jacob is definitely a massive blow. This means that Bryson Powers is the only active quarterback on the roster. Jordan Johnson has played quarterback in the past, but he hasn't attempted a pass since he was the JV Cardinal QB in 2013. It'll be interesting to see what the coaches do in order to address this deficiency moving forward.

So, What Happened Was...

The Wildcats broke a 3-game losing streak in emphatic fashion by opening off the 2nd half of the regular season with a huge win on Homecoming.

It would've been nice to see them cut down on the turnovers, but 2 of the interceptions came off of deflections after Wildcat receivers couldn't hold on to the ball.

R.J. Harmon opened the scoring by slashing his way into the endzone from 26 yards out. Following a turnover, C.J. Jones added another score with a 23-yard run. Lakes got on the board as Tyrese Miller took a swing pass and then suddenly fired a strike to a wide-open Nate Green. That was a 52-yard play. It didn't take long for Woods to respond as C.J. added a receiving touchdown to his ledger; he slipped behind the Spartan defense and caught a bomb from Jacob Kainer and scored from 67 yards out. Bryson Powers followed by giving the Cats another possession with an interception, and he ended up finishing it with a 15-yard touchdown run. Keith Watson then picked off Ted Solomon and returned the INT 82 yards for another score, and finally, Jared Taylor caught a pass from Kainer and knifed his way to the endzone for a 49-yard score.

The 42 points scored by Woods in the opening 12 minutes is the most they have ever scored in any single quarter.

End 1st: Woods 42, Lakes 6

Both teams scored a touchdown in the 2nd quarter: Brandon DePrato blocked a punt, and Watson finally scooped up the loose ball and scored. Lakes' score came in the form of a 22-yard run from Ansar Richardson.

Halftime: Woods 49, Lakes 13

Woods got another defensive touchdown to open the half as Adrian Garcia and Brandon DePrato jarred the ball loose, and then Austin Greaves picked it up and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown. Much like he did in the 1st quarter, Jared caught a pass, this time from Bryson, and weaved his way into the endzone.

End 3rd: Woods 63, Lakes 13

Rashad Henry scored from 11 yards out for Lakes, and Matt Ficalora capped off the night with a 45-yard touchdown run.

Final: Woods 70, Lakes 20

Ground

The carries were spread all around, especially since the game was well in hand during the 2nd half. Matt Ficalora had a moment to remember late in the game: his first varsity touchdown was the Wildcats' final points of the evening. I still have no idea how he managed to slip across the congestion at the line of scrimmage, but he did, and he was off to the races.

Jack Barrientez actually finished the night as the leading rusher. The sophomore provided a glimpse into the future for the Cats.

Jack Barrientez: 6 carries, 64 yards
R.J. Harmon: 5 carries, 63 yards, TD
Bryson Powers: 5 carries, 35 yards, TD
Jacob Kainer: 5 carries, 21 yards
Matt Ficalora: 3 carries, 47 yards, TD
C.J. Jones: 3 carries, 40 yards, TD
Jordan Johnson: 1 carry, 2 yards

Air

Jacob Kainer showed off what he can do. Again, please keep him in your thoughts.

Bryson Powers: 3-5, 45 yards, TD, INT
Jacob Kainer: 5-9, 139 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

A couple of those interceptions came off of deflections from C.J. and Jared, two normally sure-handed receivers.

Jared Taylor: 3 catches, 78 yards, 2 TD
C.J. Jones: 2 catches, 76 yards, TD
Jordan Johnson: 2 catches, 18 yards
Jack Barrientez: 1 catch, 14 yards

Defense

I really like Collin Fewox. This sophomore safety plays with a fearlessness about him, which is sort of reminiscent of Clint Taylor. I can't speak to his coverage skills, which do look promising, but he's energetic, a hard hitter, and he's willing to help out against the run.

The defense has had its struggles in getting opposing offenses off the field, so why not try to force some turnovers? It's a pretty solid deal when the defense saves the offense the trouble of having to move the ball by scoring themselves.

Interceptions: Keith Watson 1 (returned 82 yards for a touchdown), Bryson Powers 1
Fumbles forced: Austin Greaves 1, Adrian Garcia 1
Fumbles recovered: Terrell Brown 1, Austin Greaves 1 (returned 67 yards for a touchdown), Keith Watson 1 (blocked punt returned 3 yards for a touchdown)
Sacks: Brandon Love 1 (7 yards lost)

Special Teams

Luis Reyes hit all 10 of his extra points. He's now 15 points away from tying Andrew Klink for the Woods record for most points scored by a kicker.

The return game was rather nondescript.

Kason Franklin blocked the extra point following Lakes' first score, and Brandon DePrato swatted a punt that turned into a Cy Woods touchdown after Keith Watson scooped up the loose ball.

Man of the Match

When you score 70, that means everything worked like a charm. I'll go with the entire team.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will return to Pridgeon Stadium on Friday, October 16, to take on the Langham Creek Lobos. They'll be the away team. Kickoff is at 7:00.

Know Your Enemy: Cypress Lakes Spartans

Week 7: Cypress Woods Wildcats vs. Cypress Lakes Spartans
7:00 PM, Friday, October 9, 2015
Homecoming VIII at the Berry Center

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats nearly erased a 33-14 halftime deficit against Creek, but... no cigar. Jacob Kainer was intercepted in the endzone by Chance Steverson, sending the Wildcats to a 40-35 defeat. Jordan Johnson racked up 157 receiving yards, including the longest play in Cy Woods history: a 94-yard touchdown reception.

The Enemy: Cypress Lakes Spartans

2014: 0-10, 0-9 (10th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs

Lakes season-to-date

W 68-38 @ Mayde Creek
L 52-3 vs. Cy Ranch
L 46-14 @ Cy Creek
L 38-0 vs. Cy-Fair
L 56-7 @ Langham Creek

(A Few) Players to Watch on the Other Side

ATH Ted Solomon, ATH Rashad Henry, DL Tyree Smith, RB Jibraaiyl Hopkins, WR R.J. Breggs, ATH Rajon Richardson, DB Brendon Lemon, LB Aaron Powell

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-0.

Previous Meetings

October 10, 2014: Woods 52, Lakes 10
September 28, 2013: Woods 34, Lakes 14
September 29, 2012: Woods 63, Lakes 13
October 6, 2011: Woods 63, Lakes 14
October 7, 2010: Woods 34, Lakes 0

2¢ on Lakes

2014 marked the 5th season of varsity football for both Cy Lakes and Cy Ranch, but the similarities end there. Throughout the course of the season, the gulf between the two progams expanded to unfathomable depths. While the Mustangs were playing for a state championship, the Spartans suffered the ignominy of a winless season, their 2nd in 5 years. Lakes has three 1-9 seasons to go along with their two 0-fers, so to say that it's been tough sledding for them is a massive understatement.

De'Aaron Fox's exploits on the basketball court have captivated the country, and the Spartans have transformed into one of the top basketball teams in the state. The 300 has provided an intimidating and unwelcome atmosphere to visiting teams during basketball season, and they travel extremely well. Spartan fútbol has also enjoyed a great deal of success as they've made deep runs in the playoffs in recent years. So... what's with Cy Lakes football? What will it take for the program to finally get off the ground?

As is the case with all projects that involve turning around a team (or in this case, getting it off the ground), changing the culture is always the first objective. One of the steps that the Spartans undertook in order to acheive that objective was to hire a new head football coach. Ronald Patton became the 2nd head coach in Cy Lakes football history in January. Coach Patton, formerly of Lamar Consolidated, brings a sense of familiarity with the district along with him. He grew up in the area (he is a Langham Creek alum) that is now zoned to Cy Lakes. He has also served as an assistant coach at Langham and Cy Ridge, where he was the defensive coordinator. Now, he is overseeing one of the biggest projects in Texas high school football: making Cy Lakes football competitive in one of the most intense districts in the state.

Everyone who follows football in this district knows that the Spartans have gone through 5 arduous years on the football field, and it is looking to be more of the same in 2015. But, I said this last year, and I'll say it again: No opponent can be taken lightly. Underestimating your opponent and thinking that you've got an easy win are the two biggest cardinal sins in sports.

Lakes has another sophomore at the helm of their offense. Ted Solomon had an outstanding varsity debut against Mayde Creek, but he's finding district play to be a completely different animal. He's a fine athlete who has recently moved over to defense in deference to a two-quarterback system featuring Tyrese Miller and Tyler Henderson. Rajon Richardson, a three-year starter, is elusive in the open field. Breggs and Green are two threats on the outside.

Aaron Powell and Tyree Smith will be looked to as leaders for the Spartan defense.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

The Wildcats crashed the Spartans' homecoming festivities as they raced out to a 28-0 halftime lead, going up by as much as 49-3 on their way to a 52-10 victory. Wade Carson had an outstanding game as he recorded 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks, while Randall Medlin chipped in with 5 tackles and a sack of his own. On the offensive side of the ball, Nick Hooper finished 10-13 for 196 yards and threw TD passes to Jordan Johnson and Tre' Hart.

For JV games: Location of Cypress Lakes High School

Cy Creek 40, Cy Woods 35: Almost.

2015 Record: 1-4, 1-3 in District 17-6A

Note: I didn't go.

So, the first half of this season is in the books, and I have to say, it hasn't been pretty. Through the first 5 games of the 2015 season, the Wildcats have:

- Had a sieve of a defense.
- Had to play from behind in every game.
- Allowed 234 points (most ever, through the first 5 games... and in any 5-game stretch in Cy Woods history)
- Allowed at least 30 points in every game (this has never happened in any 5-game stretch in Cy Woods football history before this season; they did allow 30+ in 4 straight last year, though)
- Committed 52 penalties (43 in district play surely has to be the most out of all 10 CFISD teams)
- Committed 13 turnovers (again, probably the most in the district)

You add all of those up and... you get a 1-4 record. And now, the Wildcats' playoff hopes are literally hanging by a sliver.

On Saturday, the Wildcats almost erased a 33-14 halftime deficit.... but that 1 score for Creek in the 2nd half proved to be the difference as they hung on for a 40-35 win. Had the Cougars not scored that touchdown, this would've been about the biggest comeback in Woods history. But instead.....

Having to play from behind and starting out slowly have been the stories of the season so far for Cy Woods. It's not like they're trailing 7-0 for 15 minutes, either. The Cats have consistently found themselves down multiple scores in every game this year, and well, if you've watched sports for a long time, those aren't components for success.

They beat Ridge as a team, but every loss has also been a team effort across the board. Costly turnovers from the offense. Defense ends up having to defend a short field, and then they can't get the opposing team off the field or keep them off the scoreboard. As a result, the hole ends up getting deeper. This cycle is freaking brutal.

But, I'm always the optimist. Despite all of this, nothing has been decided. Don't tell me it's over... it ain't over until the math says it's over. On a more positive note, it looks like the offense is clicking on all cylinders. Now if only they could start the clicking when the game starts....

The Cats' cardinal pants also made their debut and they looked so clean. I loved the white/cardinal look from the early days.

So, What Happened Was...

The Wildcats' opponent got the jump on them once again.

Luke Allen connected with Caleb Horn and Tre Earls for touchdown passes of 25 and 41 yards, respectively. Earls added a 7-yard TD run to put Creek up 21-0. Jordan Johnson put the Cats on the board with a 94-yard touchdown reception, and then Gabe Sequeira added a 31-yard field goal.

End 1st: Creek 24, Woods 7

Sequeira hit his 2nd field goal of the evening, this one from 30. Tre' Hart scored on a 39-yard catch. Allen found Horn for another touchdown, this one from 37 yards out.

Halftime: Creek 33, Woods 14

Bryson Powers' 6-yard run represented the only scoring play of the 3rd quarter.

End 3rd: Creek 33, Woods 21

Earls scored from 2 yards out to put the Cougars up 40-21. Suddenly, the Cats came alive in the final 5 minutes of the game. R.J. scored on a pass from 1 yard out, and they recovered the onside kick. Jacob Kainer then found Tre' from 33 yards out to make it a 5-point game. The Wildcats went to the well one more time and got another onside kick. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, as Kainer got picked off by Chance Steverson, sealing the Wildcats' fate.

Final: Creek 40, Woods 35

Ground

Again, Bryson Powers had most of the carries. I imagine that teams are gearing towards stopping R.J. and C.J. They're due to bust out any time.

Bryson Powers: 19 carries, 154 yards, TD
R.J. Harmon: 7 carries, 34 yards
C.J. Jones: 5 carries, 46 yards

Air

Bryson Powers.... or Brett Favre? This kid slings it like Colton Huntsman used to. Jacob Kainer almost slung his way into Cy Woods lore.

Bryson Powers: 20-37, 291 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT
Jacob Kainer: 1-3, 33 yards, TD, INT

Jordan Johnson's 94-yard touchdown catch is now the longest play from scrimmage in Cy Woods history. His 157 receiving yards is the highest output since Fredrick Anderson put up 164 against Langham Creek in 2010.

Jordan Johnson: 6 catches, 157 yards, 2 TD
Jared Taylor: 5 catches, 60 yards
C.J. Jones: 4 catches, 33 yards
Tre; Hart: 3 catches, 84 yards, 2 TD
R.J. Harmon: 1 catch, 1 yard, TD

Defense

The defense had no answer for Creek QB Luke Allen, who threw for some ungodly amount of yards in the 1st half. On the bright side, they only allowed 7 points in the 2nd half and held the Cougars to 73 yards rushing in this game. That total is a bit deceiving since the Cats got sliced through the air all evening, but if that's a positive sign, I'll take it. I'm all about trying to be positive here.

Wait a minute...  Creek got 30 first downs? That's what Varsity Wires said they had. I wasn't there, but if that number's true, then sheesh.

Special Teams

Luis Reyes may have missed a 24-yard field goal, but he hit all 5 of his extra points and successfully hit 2 onside kicks. He's proving to be the best onside kick artist in the district.

Man of the Match

Tre' Hart and Jordan Johnson get the nod. Tre' caught 2 touchdowns and recovered 2 onside kicks. Gotta love Tre' Hart.

It was a historic night for Jordan. Career-high in receiving yards, longest play in school history...

Looking Ahead

It's Homecoming Week!

The 8th Annual Cypress Woods High School Homecoming Game will take place on Friday, October 9 at 7:00 at the Berry Center. The Wildcats will play host to the Cypress Lakes Spartans.