2016 Season Preview

In February, I posted a look ahead to the 2016 season, from a Cy Woods perspective: who would be returning for the Wildcats, who are some new faces that could contribute, and what issues they would be facing. With the new season just around the corner, I wanted to compose another preview post, this time with a look at the rest of the district.

The talent in Cy-Fair ISD seems to get better and better every year. The great thing about this is that the talent seems to be spread all across the district, and no school consistently overpowers all the others. CFISD has sent football players to Division I schools in the past, but never at a rate like this. Although players like Toneil Carter, Brock Wright, R.J. Sneed, Trelon Smith et al. are not Wildcats, these four are all major Division I prospects, and they all play in Cy-Fair ISD, District 17-6A. Sure, there are many more heralded players all around Texas, but if you put all 32 6A districts in the state together, I would say that 17-6A would be in the top tier in terms of overall talent. Players like Carter, Sneed, Wright, Smith, and C.J. Jones are why every game in this district is a must-see.

There are very few districts in Texas, Class 6A or otherwise, that has as much parity as District 17-6A. Very few districts can match the competition level that CFISD provides week in and week out, and this parity makes for some truly compelling storylines, because district play is essentially the season here. The margin for error is razor-thin, and one mistake will definitely open the door for another team to sneak in.

District 17-6A at a glance

District 17-6A, which comprises the high schools of the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, has existed in its current configuration since 2010, when Cy Ranch and Cy Lakes played their inaugural varsity seasons. This will be the final realignment cycle where CFISD will be a 10-team district; in 2018, Cy Park and Bridgeland will join the fray in time for the next realignment. Per UIL regulations, this will require the district to be split, as the maximum amount of teams in a UIL district is 10.

Most playoff appearances: Cy-Fair, 17 entering 2016 season
Fewest playoff appearances: Cy Lakes, has never made playoffs

Best playoff run by a CFISD school: State runner-up (two times), Cy Ranch (2014) and Cy Falls (2006)
Best playoff run by a CFISD school in 2015: Cy Falls, Division I regional semifinalists, lost 28-21 to North Shore

Longest active playoff appearance streak: Cy-Fair, 6 (streak began in 2010)
Longest active playoff drought: Cy Springs, 12 seasons (last appeared in 2003)

Longest active winning streak in district games: Cy Ranch, 19 (last loss: September 20, 2014 vs. Langham Creek)
Longest active losing streak in district games: Cy Lakes, 20 (last win: October 26, 2013 vs. Cy Creek)

I've seen the preseason rankings from Varsity Wires, Dave Campbell's Texas Football, Friday Night Football (from The Old Coach), and Adam Coleman from the Houston Chronicle. Power rankings sure have a way of eliciting strong reactions from people (Really, Adam? 8th?), so I wanted to try something a little different. Instead of ranking the teams 1-10, I will separate them into tiers. Yes, that's a little lazy, but I am doing this to take into account the chaotic nature of this district, which makes putting a solid ranking on these teams next to impossible. For all I know, Woods could win the district and finish the regular season unbeaten. They could finish 3-7, too.

Also, I'm sorry if any of this information is not accurate. This is strictly based off of what information I have gathered.

Teams to Beat

I'd say that Cy-Fair and Cy Ranch will be the top two teams in District 17-6A in 2016. These two teams will meet in late September, and the winner of this game will likely have the inside track to win the district.

Ranch and Fair are basically mirror images of each other; they will come in to each and every game looking to establish their supremacy in the trenches. Both have a stable of running backs at their disposal, both possess smashmouth defenses.... and both are in search of a starting quarterback.

Cy Ranch

No doubt, Cy Ranch has been the class of the district over the past two seasons. I could be bitter, but I never played against them. The Mustangs have transformed from an also-ran into one of the top programs in the city. Can they keep that momentum going?

On offense, they'll have to replace their talisman, Collin Rock, who is now at SMU. Austin Goffney, an old friend, has been their #1 during 7-on-7 season, and he should be the favorite to start heading into the actual season. The tandem of R.J. Sneed and Keric Wheatfall will give opposing secondaries nightmares. Sneed is one of the top recruits in the country, but Wheatfall is a fine player in his own right. E.J. Thompson and Holden Gourley is a solid duo at running back; Thompson is probably one of the most underrated players in the district. Cole Blanton, Alex Dulevitz, and Samir Martula headline what is probably the district's best offensive line.

Ranch's defense has a little rebuilding to do, but Harrison Loveless, Lawson Pyles, and Amaud Willis-Dalton give them three cornerstones to build around. Willis-Dalton is not just one of the top defensive players in the district; he is a legitimate all-around talent. Alex O'Connor emerged as a key contributor as a sophomore as the Mustangs continue to churn out quality talent at the linebacker spot. Demari Lewis and Noah Routh return to the Mustang secondary, and they'll be counted on to provide leadership to what may be a young unit.

Cy-Fair

With a playoff spot at stake, the Bobcats had to find a passing game quickly, and it turns out they're not too shabby when they have to throw the ball. But, their identity has, and always will be, a run-first team. Cam Arnold started the final two regular season games and their playoff game and performed rather well, so he'll be counted on to provide a little balance to that run-first tendency.

Trent Kennedy is the next in a long line of outstanding Cy-Fair running backs, and he should build upon a breakout 2015. B.J. Chambers may be a wide receiver playing in a run-oriented offense, but he's shown that he isn't just on the field to keep opposing defenses honest; he is a legtimate big-play threat for the Bobcats.

And then, there's Brock Wright. He is the #1 rated tight end in the country, and for good reason; he's probably one of the most complete players in the country. Brock has already drawn Rob Gronkowski comparisons (definitely not for the off-field antics) in the passing game. In the running game, he is essentially a sixth lineman for the Bobcats, and his athleticism gives him the advantage over opposing defensive linemen and linebackers. Speaking of linemen, the Bobcats feature one of the best in the country; Austin Deculus will be heading to LSU, and he'll enter his third season as the leader of the Bobcats' offensive line.

The Bobcats struggled to score points last season; only Cy Lakes scored fewer points in 2015. However, their defense remained true to form, even with significantly less star power than in previous years. This is a unit that, as a whole, is greater than the sum of its parts. The underclassmen who played key roles on the Cy-Fair defense are primed to make star turns in 2016. The two underclassmen of note... Jace Bobo and Erick Hallett. Both featured prominently on defense as sophomores, and Bobo wound up sharing the district's Defensive Newcomer of the Year award with Cy Ridge's D'Juan Matthews. Hallett will join forces with Kyle Cervenka and Dylan Higgins to form a solid secondary.

Cy Ranch and Cy-Fair may employ similar styles of play, but I feel that the Mustangs' athletes will give them the edge.

Two playoff spots left. Who wants 'em?

The battle for the final two playoff spots in District 17-6A should be the most compelling storyline in 2016. It's really a shame that only four teams can advance, because all of the schools in this tier are good enough to make the playoffs if they were in the other Houston-area districts.

Cy Ridge

The Rams have not gotten much love from the likes of Dave Campbell's Texas Football or Friday Night Football (from The Old Coach); both of those publications have them finishing 7th and 8th in the district, respectively. That's a rather large slight to a team that returns significant experience on both sides of the ball.

In 2014, Trelon Smith, Kevin LeDee, TyRae Thornton, and D'Juan Matthews were sophomores who played prominent roles in a season that turned out to be a youth movement for the Rams, and they experienced more than their fair share of growing pains as they sputtered to a 2-8 record, the worst in Cy Ridge's history.

Two years later, these seniors are primed for one final run. Smith is the district's reigning offensive MVP, Matthews is a reigning Defensive Newcomer of the Year and the anchor of Ridge's defensive line, Thornton has evolved into a shutdown cornerback, and LeDee, coming off a season where he was a 1st-team All-District selection at wide receiver, has established himself as the #1 option in the Rams' passing game. There's no doubt that the time is now for the Cypress Ridge Rams.

Cy Creek

Cy Creek ended their playoff drought in 2015. They do have to bring in a new quarterback for 2016; Mateo Renteria is getting the first opportunity to replace Luke Allen, but having the best collection of offensive skill players in the district coming back with reinforcements is definitely going to ease his transition into the starting role.

Miles Battle may already be the most sought-after football player in Cy Creek history. He may get the majority of the attention on offense, but Kaleb O'Bryant, Mason Biggers, and Caleb Horn are all fine players as well; they have the ability to hurt opponents with their elusiveness and versatility. Among the reinforcements, Geonardo Sutton is an intriguing newcomer; he might be a name to remember in the coming years. Jack Hook impressed as a late-season call-up, and he'll look to make an impact in his first full season as a varsity player.

Jacari Tatum and Jowell Aponte, two imposing presences in the trenches, will enter their third years as the leaders of a Cougar defense that brings back some experience in the front seven. As a sophomore, Derek Craft emerged as a top performer at linebacker, and he'll team up with Dakwa Davis and Pryce Pearson once again. LaDarius Anthony will be counted on to play an integral role on a secondary that will be retooling after the departures of Chance Steverson, Trevien Thomas, and Antoine Small, among others.

Cy Falls

The Eagles will have to replace a record-setting quarterback in Casey Rosellini and a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Shannon Vaughns and Desmond Hite. They will also have to replace their offensive coordinator, Greg Rogers; Coach Rogers departed to become the first head coach at Cy Park. T.J. Goodwin is regarded as an emerging talent, but there will definitely be an adjustment period for him. Christian Anderson will also play a starring role in the Eagle offense after featuring as a reserve in 2015. There's no shortage of speed on the offensive end for Cy Falls; that's never really been an issue for them.

A smash-mouth defense that returns players like Blake Thompson, Kory Tolliver, Addy Bikacic, Davion Morris, and Cordell Ijoma, will definitely be their strength and should keep them in games, especially early in the season as the new faces on offense get themselves acclimated.

Langham Creek

The Lobos will still feature an outstanding offense, but having to replace the duo of Paul Watson and Quartney Davis will be the top priority. Fortunately for them, Toneil Carter is back for one last run. One of the top recruits in the country, Carter will be the workhorse of the Lobo offense, and he'll have to really carry this team, especially early in the season.

To be perfectly honest, I know almost nothing about what Langham will be bringing back on defense, probably because most of their starters from last year are all gone. Their secondary should be a strength; Jordan Murray is an All-District performer, and he'll be joined by Noah McGee and Nicky Diep, among others, and Chidi Ogbonnaya will be one to watch on the defensive line.

Cy Woods

A playoff berth is not totally out of the realm of possiblity for the Wildcats. At Cy Woods, the cupboard is never bare, and they will always have quality talent.

However, the talent is much more unproven than in seasons past, especially when it comes to the offensive skill players. The Wildcats will have to break in a completely new group of wide receivers, with Jack Barrientez being the lone holdover. Jacob Kainer gained some experience as the backup quarterback last season and has recovered extremely well from a horrific leg injury he suffered last season. Jacob is the Wildcats' top prospect in the class of 2018, and now, it is time for him to put his skills on full display.

The Wildcats have a brand-new cast of characters, and that means that they have kids who are eager to make a name for themselves. Semaj Trahan and Jake Tesch are two highly-touted sophomores on the offensive side of the ball who will be making their debuts this season.

Cy Woods' struggles on defense have been well-documented, and ultimately, how far this team goes is going to depend on whether they make any strides on that side of the ball. Kason Franklin and Myles Wilson are three-year starters, and the onus is on them to provide senior leadership. Collin Fewox is an emerging junior, and he'll step in at safety with Kason. However, the question marks in the secondary lie at the cornerback spots; it has been a revolving door there over the past few seasons. Expect to see some kids like C.J. and Jack spending some time in the secondary this year. On the defensive line, Tobi Orundami has to take the next step in his development; he has massive upside, and he definitely looks the part, but he must become a key player for this defense.

Long shots, but don't sleep on them

Cy Springs

Explosive offense, questionable defense. That sounds familiar. The Panthers, as they are currently constructed on offense, is very reminiscent of Cy Woods during the Colton Huntsman era. Taye Barber is a legitimate star in this district, and he has two dangerous weapons out wide in O'Shae Clark and Jah'marea Sheread. If there's a team in the district that definitely has an undisputed QB1, it's Cy Springs. The question is, will a running back emerge to help ease the burden on Barber?

In addition, no team in the district allowed more points last season than the Panthers, who allowed 30 or more points in 7 of their 10 games. Unsurprisingly, they lost all 7 of those games. Jared Simon will be counted on to help facilitate a turnaround, and Marcus Royal, a standout on the offensive line, could be called upon to play defense as well.

There is no doubt that the culture of the Cy Springs football program has changed for the better. However, two straight 3-7 seasons following two seasons of improving win totals suggest that the momentum has stagnated somewhat. It is time for the Panthers to cash in on their prodigious upside. If they can find a solution to their defensive issues, Barber can propel this team into the playoffs.

Jersey Village

After two straight 5th-place finishes in 2013 and 2014, the Falcons limped to a tie for 8th in 2015. In order to end a playoff drought that began in 2007, they might have to do it with defense. With Deshun Qualls, Rokeem Paul, and Austin Lynch departing, the Falcons are facing a massive rebuild on offense. In addition, they lost their top running back, Anthony Ajao, who transferred. Alec Wechsler will get the first opportunity to assume the controls under center. ATH LaDevin Bledsoe and RB Jireh Thompson have been noted as potential impact skill players, and Chris Paul will serve as the leader of the offensive line.

The Falcon defense also regressed badly in 2015, but they bring back the likes of Emerald Blueitt, Jacob Clarkson, and Greyson Newton. This trio should serve as solid building blocks for a defense that will be counted on to keep them in games.

Should probably look ahead to 2017... and probably beyond

Cy Lakes

Yes, the Spartans should bring up the rear in this district again. But, as I've said countless times before, no opponent, especially in this district, should be taken lightly. Lakes may be at least a couple more years away from mounting a legitimate challenge for a playoff spot, but there just might be a team that is foolish enough to think that the Spartans will be a guaranteed win for them.

They have a few weapons on offense with Ansar Richardson, R.J. Breggs, and Nate Green. Colin King was plagued by injuries last season, but he'll return to the helm of the Spartan offense. Ted Solomon began the year as the starting quarterback, and he's someone who can do a little bit of everything on both sides of the ball. On defense, they return one of the best secondary players in the district in Brenden Lemon.

A competitive Cy Lakes team will be great for this district. I hope those kids continue to work hard and continue to trust the process their coaches have laid out, and continue to trust in each other to do their part in building their program.

And there you have it... my season preview, and my two cents on all ten teams in the district. Good luck to everyone involved: players, coaches, sports medicine staff, administrators, etc. Here's to another outstanding football season in 17-6A.