Cy Creek 24, Cy Woods 23: Heart. Break. City.

2016 Record: 2-7. 2-6 in District 17-6A

Photo credit: Matt Ramos, The Crimson Connection

A long season just got a little bit longer, because despite a valiant effort, the Cy Woods Wildcats fell 24-23 to Cy Creek after Luis Reyes' 39-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left with eight seconds remaining in the game.

No Cy Woods football team had lost more than six games in a season... until now. To say that it's been a tough year is a rather large understatement.

With their fates already sealed, the Cats could have just gone through the motions in this game and been content with getting smacked 55-0. On the contrary, I did not see anybody quit in this game; they played as though they were still in a playoff chase, and it makes me sick to see them put forth that amount of effort, only for them to fall short of a victory.

Creek missed a game-winning field goal against Woods in my senior year (that one was not even close), so I suppose both teams are even now.

This was the first time that Woods went with the white/gold uniform combination, and it looked excellent. What was not excellent: the PA announcer. I was not aware that Cy Woods changed their mascot to the Tigers.

So, What Happened Was...

This game had a heated beginning. Tyler Redgrave got into it with Pryce Pearson during the opening kickoff, and Tyler ended up losing his helmet in the process. In retaliation, he ripped off Pearson's helmet and chucked it about ten yards. Obviously, his actions resulted in his ejection.

Hopefully this serves as a lesson for him. Things do get testy on the football field, but there are times where you just have to be the bigger man.

Jacob Kainer was picked off on the second play of the game, and the Cougars turned that into three points with a 22-yard field goal from Ryan Nealy. After Creek ran a fake punt on fourth down.... inside their own 15-yard-line and fumbled the ball away, Luis responded with a 31-yard field goal with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Yes, that fake punt was a thing that actually occurred in this game.

End 1st: Woods 3, Creek 3

Jack "Barren-tinez" scored twice in the second quarter; his first came on a 34-yard run. Then, with just over two minutes remaining, Brighton "Gullilckson" saw that Jack was totally uncovered, lobbed the ball to him, and Jack took it from there, scoring from 31 yards out. Creek found the endzone right before halftime as Miles Battle scored on a 14-yard pass from Mateo Renteria.

Halftime: Woods 17, Creek 10

Brighton scored on a two-yard run, which was the only scoring play of the third quarter. The extra point was not attempted due to a bad snap.

End 3rd: Woods 23, Creek 10

Battle scored twice in the fourth quarter, and both of his touchdown catches came on fourth-down plays. The first went for eight yards in the back corner of the endzone and it looked as though he was out of bounds. The official closest to the play did not see it that way, though, and the replay looked like it showed that he had a foot down. The second came when he caught a screen pass and outran everyone for a 42-yard touchdown. The extra-point attempt following that touchdown was moved back because of a false start, and the retry was nearly blocked by Tre Minix, but Nealy was able to convert the PAT.

Following a punt, the Wildcats regained possession with 2:45 left. Jacob Kainer did what he was supposed to do; put Woods in a position to win the game. It all fell to Luis Reyes, who came on for a 39-yard attempt to win the game. He was iced twice, and that strategy, unfortunately, paid off, because the kick went wide left.

The extra point that didn't get kicked turned out to be the difference in this game.

Also, the fourth quarter continues to be absolute torture for the Wildcats; they have now been outscored 117-36 in the final period this season.

Final: Creek 24, Woods 23


Ground

Jack Barrientez continues his star turn.

Jack Barrientez: 18 carries, 111 yards, TD
Jacob Kainer: 10 carries, 31 yards
Brighton Gullickson: 8 carries, 19 yards, TD
Jake Tesch: 1 carry, 4 yards

Air

Connor Faulk was targeted a fair amount in this game, especially when the Wildcats needed first downs, and he made the most of his chances; four of his six receptions resulted in first downs, and he was the team's leading receiver in this game. There is a lot of upside with this wide receiver group with him and the Sherrill twins; all three of them are just sophomores, and they are just scratching the surface of their potential.

Jacob Kainer: 11-21, 107 yards, INT
Brighton Gullickson: 5-10, 92 yards, TD
Jack Barrientez: 0-1

Connor Faulk: 6 catches, 58 yards
Jack Barrientez: 4 catches, 63 yards, TD
Matt Ficalora: 3 catches, 37 yards
Brennan Niles: 1 catch, 17 yards
Jake Fennis: 1 catch, 14 yards
Jake Tesch: 1 catch, 10 yards

Defense

Although the secondary had their hands full with Miles Battle, the defensive unit turned in an inspired performance. Collin Fewox was in on seemingly every play on Thursday. I really like what I saw from Collin in this game... he's fearless and he's playing with an edge that has been sorely missing from the Cy Woods defense for a few years now. He also intercepted a Mateo Renteria pass near the goal line to stop a potential Creek scoring drive, and Cody Eggleston also had an interception; he looked sort of surprised that the ball hit him in the hand at first, but he stuck with the play and was able to secure the ball.

Tackles

Collin Fewox - 15
Neil Chambers - 14
Cody Eggleston - 10
Tre Minix - 7
Johnathan Hunter - 5
Elijah Strang - 5
Micheal Young - 4
Evan Alexander and Collin Joyce - 3
Hunter Magallan, Myles Wilson, Ryan Kenny, and Christian Jones - 2
Connor Faulk, Adrian Venzor, Hunter Husbands, Trevor Reed, Trent Bird, and Ethan Agnew - 1

Interceptions 
Collin Fewox 1, returned 29 yards
Cody Eggleston 1

Fumbles recovered
Evan Alexander 1

Special Teams

Keep your head up, Luis. The great thing about this game is that no matter the result of your last run, reception, or kick, you will get another chance to do it again.

Luis also took a vicious hit on a punt after a bad snap forced him to scramble after the loose ball, and somehow he managed to get the kick away. No penalty was assessed because he became a runner when he ran to recover the ball and kicked it rugby-style. I'm amazed that (1) he was not seriously hurt, and (2) that kick was not blocked.

Luis Reyes: 1-2 FG (made 31, missed 39), 2-2 XP; 7 punts, 233 yards

Tre Minix: 2 kicks returned, 38 yards
Jake Tesch: 1 kick returned, 14 yards; 1 punt returned, 4 yards
Myles Wilson: 1 kick returned, 5 yards
Jake Fennis: 1 kick returned, 5 yards

Man of the Match

Without a doubt, Jack Barrientez has been the Wildcats' most valuable player this season.

An honorable mention goes out to Collin Fewox. That kid is tough, and he really plays with some reckless abandon.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will close out 2016 with a showdown against the Cy Ranch Mustangs at the Berry Center at 7:00 on Friday, November 4. Cy Woods will be the home team.

Know Your Enemy: Cypress Creek Cougars

Week 10: Cy Woods Wildcats @ Cy Creek Cougars
7:00 PM, Thursday, October 27, 2016
Pridgeon Stadium

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

On Homecoming, the Wildcats fell to Cy-Fair by a final of 35-17. This loss ensured that Cy Woods will finish with a losing season for just the second time in school history and also eliminated the Wildcats from playoff contention. Jack Barrientez ran for 96 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, but he failed to record a catch for the first time this season.

Now, all the Wildcats have left to play for is pride.

The Enemy: Cy Creek Cougars

2015 record: 7-5, 6-3 (4th) in District 17-6A
Lost to Strake Jesuit 44-28 in 6A Division II, Region III Area round

Cy Creek season-to-date: 3-5, 3-4 (5th) in District 17-6A

L 53-42 vs. Klein Oak
L 54-20 @ Langham Creek
W 53-49 vs. Cy Lakes
W 46-26 @ Cy Springs
L 58-20 vs. Cy Ranch
W 44-31 @ Jersey Village
L 27-20 vs. Cy-Fair
L 32-20 @ Cy Ridge

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-3.

Previous Meetings

October 3, 2015: Creek 40, Woods 35
October 3, 2014: Woods 35, Creek 21
November 1, 2013: Woods 21, Creek 14
November 2, 2012: Creek 39, Woods 14
October 21, 2011: Woods 49, Creek 31 (Homecoming IV)
October 22, 2010: Woods 61, Creek 35
October 9, 2009: Woods 21, Creek 20
October 10, 2008: Creek 54, Woods 25

Players to Watch

QB Mateo Renteria, RB/WR Jack Hook, WR Miles Battle, WR/RB Mason Biggers, WR/RB Kaleb O'Bryant, WR Geonardo Sutton, WR/RB Caleb Horn, DL Jacari Tatum, DL Jowell Aponte, LB Derek Craft, LB Dakwa Davis, DB Ladarius Anthony, DB Eric Harris

2¢ on Creek

The Cougars are loaded with skill players, but a suspect defense has befallen them in 2016.

Mateo Renteria has put up outstanding numbers, but his abysmal yards per carry figure comes from having to play the role that guys like Luke Allen and Chuckie Keeton played before him. Renteria is a great pocket passer, and that's where his talents are best utilized. Miles Battle is one of the top receivers in the state and is flirting with a 1,000-yard season. When his career at Creek is done, he may very well be the best skill player that the school has ever produced.

Kaleb O'Bryant, Mason Biggers, Jack Hook, and Caleb Horn are all players cut from the same mold, as they can all hurt opposing defenses with their versatility. Hook and Horn lead the Cougars in rushing, while Biggers and O'Bryant are threats in the return game. Hook is also second on the team in receiving yards and touchdowns, and Horn is second in receptions. Geonardo Sutton has become a key cog of this potent offense as a sophomore, and he'll be another youngster to watch in the coming years.

Jacari Tatum and Jowell Aponte are three-year starters on the line. Derek Craft leads the linebackers; he had a strong sophomore campaign in 2015 and currently leads the Cougars in tackles. He and Dakwa Davis are disruptive forces on the outside.

Ladarius Anthony is a part of a deep secondary, leading Creek with three interceptions. Eric Harris is a hard hitter. Alberto Walford has had a fine first season as one of the Cougars' key reserves. He's just a sophomore, while Harris and Anthony are juniors, so Creek's secondary has some legit talent. This is a physical group with some really solid tacklers; Harris ranks third on the team in tackles, while Trevis Earls, Nick Burns, and Anthony are all right behind him.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

The Cougars got the jump on the Wildcats with a 24-7 lead after the first quarter. However, Woods mounted a valiant and furious fourht-quarter rally that fell just short when a last-gasp heave from Jacob Kainer was picked off by Chance Steverson, preserving a 40-35 Creek victory. Jordan Johnson had 157 yards on six receptions and two touchdowns, one of which went for 94 yards, the longest play from scrimmage in Cy Woods history.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

Freshmen at Creek, JV at Woods. Game times are 5:00 and 7:00 on Wednesday.

Note: This will be the last game of the year for the freshmen.

Location of Cypress Creek High School

Cy-Fair 35, Cy Woods 17: Homecoming Crashed

2016 Record: 2-6, 2-5 in District 17-6A

Photo credit: Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

It's been a rough year for Cy Woods, and this 35-17 loss to Cy-Fair on Homecoming has condemned them to a losing season for the second time in school history. In addition, the Wildcats have been eliminated from playoff contention for a second consecutive year.

Well.... Cy Woods should probably consider looking ahead to 2017. A season like this has basically guaranteed that changes are coming to this program, right?

Also, football's dumb now. On a serious note, all programs go through down periods, and it looks like it is Cy Woods' turn to suffer this fate. All you can really do is hope that this downturn doesn't last long.

So, What Happened Was...

Trent Kennedy opened up the scoring with a 45-yard run with just over four minutes to go in the opening period. Less than 30 seconds later, Cy Woods responded with a three-yard run from Jack Barrientez.

End 1st: Woods 7, Fair 7

A 45-yard field goal from Luis Reyes gave the Wildcats their only lead of the game. Kennedy scored again from five yards out, and Cam Arnold threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brock Wright.

Halftime: Fair 21, Woods 10

Jacob Kainer's 11-yard touchdown run was the only scoring play of the third quarter.

End 3rd: Fair 21, Woods 17

The Bobcats put this game away thanks to a six-yard touchdown pass from Arnold to B.J. Chambers and a one-yard run by Kennedy.

Final: Fair 35, Woods 17

Ground

Cy Woods' longest run in this game? 74 yards. Their next-longest? 18. Jack made both of these runs. That 74-yard run is now the longest offensive play of the season for the Wildcats. Outside of those two plays, however, the Wildcats gained just 86 yards on 35 carries.

Jacob Kainer: 15 carries, 28 yards, TD
Nijah Surtain: 11 carries, 62 yards
Jack Barrientez: 9 carries, 96 yards, TD
Brighton Gullickson: 2 carries, -8 yards

Air

I've never seen a Cy Woods team have so much difficulty passing the ball. Jack failed to record a catch for the first time this season.

Jacob Kainer: 5-12, 68 yards, INT
Brighton Gullickson: 0-2

Jake Tesch: 1 catch: 20 yards
Cullen Sherrill: 1 catch, 14 yards
Nijah Suratin: 1 catch, 13 yards
Matt Ficalora: 1 catch, 11 yards
Brennan Niles: 1 catch, 10 yards

Defense

Myles Wilson has been the Wildcats' best defensive player by far. These kids are continuing to fight, but once again... they can only hold out for so long.

Tackles

Myles Wilson - 13
Neil Chambers - 11
Tre Minix, Evan Alexander, Hunter Husbands, and Cody Eggleston - 6
Collin Joyce - 4
Elijah Strang and Micheal Young - 3
Johnathan Hunter - 2
Matt Ficalora, Tanner Sherrill, and Trent Bird - 1

Sacks: Elijah Strang 1 (3 yards lost)

Special Teams

Luis Reyes scored five points with a 45-yard field goal and two extra points. The field goal is his longest since hitting a 48-yarder against Cy Lakes in 2014. Luis also successfully executed an onside kick and punted the ball four times; his longest boot of the night went for 61 yards.

Luis Reyes: 1-1 FG (made 45), 2-2 XP = 5 points; 4 punts, 205 yards (51.25 yards per punt), long of 61

Jake Tesch: 3 kicks returned, 64 yards; 1 punt returned, -2 yards
Nijah Surtain: 2 kicks returned, 33 yards

Key Stat

Third down has haunted the Wildcats all season, and in this game, it was no different.

Cy-Fair went 6-11 when facing third down. By contrast, Cy Woods was just 1-9.

Man of the Match

Give Jack Barrientez the ball.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will take on Cy Creek at Pridgeon Stadium on Thursday at 7:00. Cy Woods will be the visiting team in this game.

Know Your Enemy: Cy-Fair Bobcats

Week 9: Cy Woods Wildcats vs. Cy-Fair Bobcats
7:00 PM, Friday, October 21, 2016
Homecoming IX at Pridgeon Stadium

Photo credit: Don Carson

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats got themselves off the mat, topping Cy Lakes 36-33 to snap a four-game losing streak. Jack Barrientez accounted for 165 yards of offense and scored three touchdowns, and Jacob Kainer threw for 241 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Myles Wilson had 13 tackles, and Collin Fewox had 11; Collin also secured the win with an interception. 

It's Homecoming at the Woods! It's also the first game in a rather tough stretch to end the year; the Cats will take on the other three playoff teams from 2015 to close out this campaign, and in order for them to make the playoffs, they'll need to win all three of these games and have a bunch of results from around the district to go their way. So far, I'm not seeing any scenarios that will result in Cy Woods making the playoffs. Isn't it fun when you don't control your destiny?

The Enemy: Cy-Fair Bobcats

2015 record: 6-5, 6-3 (4th) in District 17-6A

Lost to Eisenhower 36-28 in 6A Region III, Division I Bi-district round

Cy-Fair season-to-date

L 23-20 vs. The Woodlands

W 44-13 @ Cy Lakes

W 57-21 vs. Cy Springs

L 24-17 @ Cy Ranch

W 45-3 vs. Jersey Village

W 35-16 vs. Cy Ridge

W 27-20 @ Cy Creek

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-3.

Previous Meetings

October 22, 2015: Woods 44, Fair 7

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

Players to Watch

QB Cam Arnold, RB Trent Kennedy, WR B.J. Chambers, TE Brock Wright, OL Austin Deculus, DL Hunter Adams, LB Jace Bobo, LB Dylan Higgins, LB/DB Zach Nelson, DB Kyle Cervenka, DB Erick Hallett, DB Taylor Gray

2¢ on Fair

Ah... Cy Woods' original rivals. Although Cy-Fair disdain has taken a backseat to Cy Ranch disdain, this game has always had an emotionally charged atmosphere, because, in case you have forgotten, Cy Woods originally consisted of kids who would have gone to Cy-Fair (I was in that group) and sophomores who attended Cy-Fair, but lived in the new Cy Woods attendance zone. 

It's been a while, but I haven't forgotten the fact that Cy-Fair accused Cy Woods of being copycats and stealing their tradition when they first met on the football field.

With the Bobcats, you pretty much know what they will do on offense. On the other hand, trying to stop them is an entirely different story since they are so effective at what they do. Cam Arnold has been an effective signal-caller and has provided some balance to the Bobcats' offensive attack, and he has two legit weapons in B.J. Chambers and Brock Wright. Chambers really caught my eye during 7-on-7 season as he hauled in literally everything that was thrown his way. Brock Wright is headed to Notre Dame and is essentially Rob Gronkowski 2.0. Christian Richmond hasn't featured much in the offense yet, but this sophomore has shined in the return game and, well... you've probably already seen this punt return, but here it is again. He'll be one to watch in the coming years.

Let's be real though... Cy-Fair has always prided itself on its run game, and they have yet another fine running back in Trent Kennedy, who seized the starting job as a sophomore, and now as a junior, he's become one of the top offensive players in the district. Blake Faecher, who is also known for his baseball prowess, will also feature in the running game, and Jaelon Woods is another sophomore who's also waiting in the wings. Paving the way for the Bobcat running backs is an imposing offensive line led by the LSU-bound Austin Deculus, who has started every game since he was a sophomore. 

Cy-Fair still had the best defense in District 17-6A last season despite having to replace some marquee names. These kids definitely made a name for themselves last season. Now, they're all one year older, and once again, they are the district's best defense in terms of both yardage allowed and points allowed. The Bobcats have solid players at every level of their defense. Hunter Adams, Derrick Jackson, and Arnold Crayton man the trenches. Dylan Higgins and Kyle Allison lead the linebackers. Jace Bobo shared the district's Defensive Newcomer of the Year award with Cy Ridge lineman D'Juan Matthews last year. Patrick Atkinson has also emerged as a playmaker, and Allison is a super-utility player of sorts; he can line up anywhere in the Bobcat defense.

Erick Hallett is a hawk in the secondary and has also returned a punt for a touchdown this year. While Hallett is the hawk, Kyle Cervenka is the headhunter. He and Higgins both lead the Bobcats in tackles this season. Taylor Gray, who was last year's starting quarterback, has made a seamless transition to the secondary and leads them with three interceptions. Zach Nelson is also another utility-type player who can play any of the secondary spots. 

Last Time These Two Teams Met

In one of the more shocking results in 17-6A last season, the Wildcats totally dominated the Bobcats in all facets of the game and cruised to a 44-7 victory. Cy Woods winning may not have been a massive surprise, but the manner in which they won was definitely the story. Jack Barrientez caught six passes, including his first touchdown at the varsity level, for 95 yards, and C.J. Jones ran for 180 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

The JV teams will play at Cy-Fair and the freshmen are at Woods. Game times, as always, are 5:00 and 7:00.

Location of Cy-Fair High School

Haha, that's funny.

Cy Woods 36, Cy Lakes 33: Off the Canvas

Record: 2-5, 2-4 in District 17-6A

Photo credit: Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

The Cypress Woods Wildcats snapped a school-record-tying four-game losing streak by snatching a 36-33 victory over Cy Lakes from the jaws of defeat onThursday at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium.

No doubt, the Cats needed this win to at least bring back some positive feelings. It's definitely a relieving feeling when a long losing streak is stopped, and to their credit, they've continued to fight, even through the countless lapses. 

Yes, I think this team is better than their 2-4 record in district play, but I'll save that rant for another day.

So, What Happened Was...

Tyrese Miller connected with Reginald Breggs on a 16-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring. However, the Cats swiftly responded as Jacob Kainer found Jake Fennis for a 66-yard score. Just before the end of the opening quarter, Jack Barrientez caught a five-yard touchdown. 

End 1st: Woods 14, Lakes 6

Ansar Richardson scored on a 13-yard run to cut the Wildcats' lead to two points, and then Jack caught a six-yard touchdown pass, his second of the evening. The Spartans got on the board right before halftime thanks to a two-yard touchdown pass from Miller to Colin King.

Halftime: Woods 21, Lakes 19

Jack was intercepted by Julian Hall, who returned it for a pick-six to put Lakes in the lead. He atoned for that miscue with a 68-yard touchdown, and on the ensuing PAT, Matt Ficalora scored two points. The Spartans regained the lead thanks to a three-yard scoring run by King.

End 3rd: Lakes 33, Woods 29

The Spartans downed a punt at Cy Woods' one-yard line with three minutes remaining in the game. On the first play of the drive, Jack busted loose for a 42-yard run. With the Cats facing a 4th & 13, Jacob managed to gain 14 yards. Four plays later, Nijah Surtain caught a screen pass from Jacob and scampered 32 yards for the game-winner with 23 seconds left. 

Collin Fewox sealed the deal by picking off a desperation heave from King.

Final: Woods 36, Lakes 33

Ground

Running backs running the ball. Hmm... hope this concept catches on. Jack's 68-yard touchdown run is the Wildcats' longest running play of the season. Only one of his carries in this game resulted in a loss of yards. In fact, the Wildcats only had four running plays in which they lost yards. I think that's ideal.

Jacob Kainer: 10 carries, 34 yards

Jack Barrientez: 7 carries, 123 yards, TD

Nijah Surtain: 6 carries, 56 yards

Air

This was the second game in which Jacob threw four touchdowns. Julian Hall picked off both Jacob and Jack, and he returned Jack's interception for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Jacob Kainer: 16-28, 264 yards, 4 TD, INT

Jack Barrientez: 0-1, INT

This game was also the first time that someone other than Jack led the team in receptions. Well... he and Nijah tied for the lead in this one. 

Brennan Niles became the second player to reach double figures in receptions and the second player to surpass 200 receiving yards this season. His 46-yard catch in the 3rd is now his longest grab of the year.

Nijah Surtain: 6 catches, 71 yards, TD

Jack Barrientez: 6 catches, 42 yards, 2 TD

Brennan Niles: 2 catches, 70 yards

Jake Fennis: 1 catch, 66 yards, TD

Cullen Sherrill: 1 catch, 15 yards

Defense

Myles Wilson continues to make his presence felt on defense. I've watched him for almost four years, and he has the ability to play at the next level. Collin Fewox finished with 11 tackles and the decisive interception. 

Tackles

Myles Wilson - 13

Collin Fewox - 11

Collin Joyce and Elijah Strang - 10

Neil Chambers - 9

Cody Eggleston - 8

Evan Alexander - 7

Micheal Young and Christian Jones - 4

Tyler Redgrave and Trent Bird - 3

Chris Statom - 2

Tre Minix, Jack Barrientez, and Blake Brown - 1

Fumbles forced: Collin Fewox and Neil Chambers - 1 apiece

Interceptions 

Collin Fewox - 1, returned 18 yards

Micheal Young - 1, returned 21 yards

Special Teams

Luis Reyes went 4-4 on his extra point attempts, and his only punt of the night traveled 41 yards. When he isn't called on to punt often, that's usually a good sign. All but one of his kickoffs went for touchbacks.

Jake Fennis: 3 kicks returned, 31 yards

Nijah Surtain: 1 kick returned, 17 yards

Tre Minix: 1 kick returned, 14 yards

Micheal Young: 1 kick returned, 11 yards

Jack Barrientez: 1 punt returned, 0 yards

Man of the Match

Without a doubt, Jack Barrientez has been the Wildcats' best offensive player this season. With 165 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, he gets the nod here.

Jacob showed tremendous poise in directing the offense on the game-winning drive. He's a good player; that's why he's the starting quarterback. Once he reins in the turnovers, that is when he can be considered great.

Looking Ahead

It's Homecoming at the Woods. In the ninth Homecoming football game, the Wildcats will take on the Cy-Fair Bobcats at Pridgeon Stadium on Friday, October 21 at 7:00. Naturally, they will be the home team.

Know Your Enemy: Cypress Lakes Spartans

Week 8: Cy Woods Wildcats @ Cy Lakes Spartans
7:00 PM Thursday, October 13, 2016
Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Stadium

Photo credit: Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats lost 27-10 to Cy Falls, giving the Eagles their first win of the season and the Wildcats their fourth consecutive loss, which ties a rather undesirable record. Matt Ficalora caught a 32-yard touchdown pass for the only Cy Woods touchdown.

Now, the Cats will have to contend with a Cy Lakes program that looks to be finally getting themselves off the ground after six torturous seasons.

At this point, I just hope that the kids just play hard. That's really all I'm expecting from here on out.

The Enemy: Cypress Lakes Spartans

2015 record: 1-9, 0-9 (10th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs

Cy Lakes season-to-date

W 33-21 @ Mayde Creek
L 44-13 vs. Cy-Fair
L 53-49 @ Cy Creek
W 31-14 vs. Cy Falls
L 43-30 @ Cy Ridge
L 69-25 @ Langham Creek

All-Time Series


Cy Woods leads 6-0.

Previous Meetings


October 9, 2015: Woods 70, Lakes 20 (Homecoming VIII)
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

(A Few) Players to Watch

QB Tyrese Miller, RB Ansar Richardson, WR Ted Solomon, ATH Colin King, WR Reginald Breggs, WR Nate Green, DB Brenden Lemon, DB Julian Hall, LB Frank Reed, LB Al'qwaylon Fils

2¢ on Lakes

For better or for worse, the path of the Cy Lakes football program will always be tied to Cy Ranch's path in some way, shape, or form. Both of these schools began competing in varsity football in 2010, and while Ranch has turned into one of the state's top programs, it has been infinitely rougher sailing for Lakes, a team that entered this season with just five wins in six seasons.

In 2016, however, Spartan football has become one of the feel-good stories in the early going of this year in Cy-Fair ISD athletics, and one of the chapters in this story involves snapping a 22-game losing streak in district play dating back to the end of the 2013 season.

You may be tempted to scoff at the fact that this is the first time that Cy Lakes has won more than one football game in a season, or that this feel-good story involves a team that still has a losing record on the season. If you are thinking about scoffing... please don't. One could probably argue that Cy Lakes should be a .500 team right now. Personally, I've found myself rooting for them a little bit this year, because a good Cy Lakes team simply makes this district better.

Whatever Coach Patton is preaching to his team, they are all in on his philosophy, and day by day, they are changing the perception of Cy Lakes football. By all accounts, they're not content with winning just two games. Although, realistically, a playoff spot may be out of reach for 2016, they could mount a legitimate challenge for one as soon as next season.

Tyrese Miller, a left-hander, saw some playing time as a sophomore last year. Now, he has taken the reins of the offense as the #1 quarterback. Colin King and Ted Solomon, who were the previous two starting quarterbacks, still play integral roles in the Spartan attack. King, a three-year letterman, has shown off his versatility at all of the offensive skill positions. Solomon has formed a solid tandem with Nate Green at the receiver spots, which also features a deep threat in Breggs. Solomon also doubles as the punter, and he is second in the district in average yards per punt.

Brenden Lemon, who was the Spartans' only non-honorable mention All-District pick (he was a 2nd-team selection) last season, is one of five players in the district with three interceptions. He leads a secondary that also includes Julian Hall, who has two picks of his own, D'Andre David, and Braelon Herman, a three-year starter. Frank Reed and Al'qwaylon Fils lead a linebacking corps with pretty good depth; Allen Moreira, Tyler Dudley, Emmanuel Iruru, and Jude Keelen will also feature at the second level of the Spartan defense.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

It was a happy homecoming for the Wildcats as they stormed out to a 42-6 lead after the first quarter and strolled to a 70-20 victory. Jared Taylor caught three passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns, and C.J. Jones ran for a touchdown and caught another touchdown.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

Freshmen at Lakes, JV at Woods. Game times are 5 and 7 on Wednesday.

Location of Cypress Lakes High School

Cy Falls 27, Cy Woods 10: ***Simulate to End of Season***

2016 record: 1-5, 1-4 in District 17-6A

The Wildcats were shackled on offense in a 27-10 loss to Cy Falls on Friday, sending them to a fourth consecutive defeat, which, unfortunately, ties the longest losing streak in Cy Woods football history. It is also the first time that the Wildcats have lost four games in a row in the same season. And now.... the possibility of a playoff drought is one step closer to reality.

They have given two previously winless teams their first wins of the season. I.... I just can't right now.

So, What Happened Was...

Luis Reyes opened the scoring with a 21-yard field goal. However, Chhay Hok put the Eagles in front with a 14-yard touchdown run.

End 1st: Falls 7, Woods 3

Jordan Ramos' 12-yard touchdown pass from T.J. Goodwin was the only scoring play of the second quarter.

Halftime: Falls 14, Woods 3

Christian Anderson scored the only points of the third quarter with a three-yard run.

End 3rd: Falls 20, Woods 3

Brighton Gullickson connected with Matt Ficalora on a 32-yard touchdown pass for Cy Woods' only touchdown of the game. Sadly, Devon Hayward sealed the victory by picking off Brighton and returning the interception 52 yards for the final score of the evening with three minutes left.

Final: Falls 27, Woods 10

Ground

Not much to report here.

Jack Barrientez: 11 carries, 27 yards
Jacob Kainer: 5 carries, 25 yards
Brighton Gullickson: 3 carries, 0 yards
Semaj Trahan: 2 carries, 7 yards

Air

Another multi-interception outing for the signal-callers.

PSA: Turnovers kill.

Jacob Kainer: 11-19, 124 yards, INT
Brighton Gullickson: 6-11, 92 yards, TD, 2 INT
Semaj Trahan: 0-1

Jack Barrientez: 5 catches, 53 yards
Angel Laca: 3 catches, 37 yards
Jake Fennis: 2 catches, 44 yards
Matt Ficalora: 2 catches, 36 yards, TD
Bobby Dodson: 2 catches, 16 yards
Brennan Niles: 1 catch, 16 yards
Tanner Sherrill: 1 catch, 12 yards
Sam Landingham:1 catch, 2 yards

Defense

Well, they held an opponent to fewer than 30 points for the first time this season. I suppose there's that.

Special Teams

Luis Reyes hit a 21-yard field goal and his only extra point opportunity of the game.

Man of the Match

I guess I'll go with Matt Ficalora for scoring the Cats' only touchdown.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will kick off Week 8 of District 17-6A football as they take on the Cy Lakes Spartans at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium. Kickoff is at 7. Cy Woods will be the visitors in this game.

Know Your Enemy: Cypress Falls Golden Eagles

Week 7: Cy Woods Wildcats vs. Cy Falls Golden Eagles
7:00 PM, Friday, October 7, 2016
Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Stadium

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

Langham Creek scored on its first five offensive series and returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a 62-35 victory. Cullen Sherrill's two catches both went for touchdowns, so there's that.

Well, on to the second half. The Wildcats are looking for something... anything, to get themselves back in the District 17-6A playoff picture.

The Enemy: Cypress Falls Golden Eagles

2015 Record: 10-3, 7-2 (2nd) in District 17-6A

Lost 28-21 to North Shore in 6A Division I, Region III semifinal

Cy Falls season-to-date

L 25-0 @ Alief Taylor

L 26-7 @ Cy Ranch

L 22-14 vs. Langham Creek

L 31-14 @ Cy Lakes

L 41-24 vs. Cy Springs

All-Time Series

Cy Falls leads 5-3.

Previous Meetings

September 17, 2015: Falls 57, Woods 20
September 20, 2014: Woods 48, Falls 47
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
November 8, 2008: Woods 70, Falls 20

Players to Watch

QB T.J. Goodwin, RB Christian Anderson, RB Jordan Ramos, RB Chhay Hok, ATH Starrland Baldwin, DL Cordell Ijoma, DL Kory Toliver, LB Blake Thompson, LB Addy Bikacic, DB Davion Morris, DB Levi Fields

2¢ on Falls

One year after they were the last Cy-Fair ISD team standing, the Eagles are in danger of being the first team eliminated from playoff contention. This is a matchup pitting the district's worst offense (Cy Falls) and the worst defense (Cy Woods) against one another, so something's got to give...

The Eagles' defense has definitely been their strength this season, and they have standouts at all three levels. Cordell Ijoma and Kory Toliver are imposing presences in the trenches. Blake Thompson set the Cy Falls single-season record for tackles last season, and he is arguably the face of Cy Falls' defensive unit. He'll be joined by Bikacic and Tommy Dinh, among others. Davion Morris, a three-year letterman, is the leader of the Eagles secondary; he and Cy Ranch's Rance McInnis currently lead the district with three interceptions apiece.

On the other hand, Cy Falls has a brand-new cast of characters on offense, and they have yet to score 100 points on the season. They have to replace two 1,000-yard rushers (Desmond Hite and Shannon Vaughns), a three-year starter at quarterback (Casey Rosellini), and a three-year starter at cornerback and wide receiver (Jorren Pollard). In addition, they also lost their offensive coordinator.

T.J. Goodwin has shown flashes, but he's enduring growing pains as a sophomore. To replace Hite and Vaughns, the Eagles have a three-back rotation of Christian Anderson, Chhay Hok, and Jordan Ramos. Hok is also the team's leading receiver. Starrland Baldwin can make an impact anywhere on the field, whether on offense, defense, or the return game.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

Desmond Hite and Shannon Vaughns went on a rampage in a 57-20 Cy Falls victory. They both ran for well over 100 yards with three touchdowns, and Hite also caught a touchdown pass. That is probably all you really needed to know about this game.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

The JV will play at Cy Falls, while the freshmen will be at Cy Woods. Game times are 5:00 and 7:00 on Thursday.

Location of Cypress Falls High School

Langham Creek 62, Cy Woods 35: September Doldrums

2016 record: 1-4, 1-3 in District 17-6A

Photo credit: Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

For a second consecutive year, the Cypress Woods Wildcats are in a mid-season swoon. At times, they have looked excellent. At other times, they've looked completely incapable of keeping pace with the opposition, and unfortunately, there have been more occurrences of the latter. In the first game of Week 6 in District 17-6A, the Wildcats looked as though they were simply unable to match Langham Creek's intensity in a 62-35 loss, dropping them to 1-4 on the season and 1-3 in district play.

This.... this is what growing pains on offense and a defense that still has the inability to keep opposing offenses off the scoreboard, gets you. This is an offense that has nine sophomores seeing playing time. Sounds a lot like the Astros in the second half of this season. They're fighting, and that is commendable, but at 1-3, the Cats are really up against it now. They just haven't been able to put a complete football game in the last two weeks, and now a third consecutive defeat has them at the brink, meaning that the only way for them to salvage any hope for the playoffs is if they win out. Never say never, though.

You may think that I'm the mouthpiece for the coaches, but honestly (seriously), I was not overly optimistic about this team heading into the season. They simply have too many questions, and too few, if any, of them have been answered so far.

If (I won't say when just yet) the Cats are formally out of the playoff picture, I wouldn't be surprised if they shift straight to youth movement mode to see what they have for 2017... then again, they're basically undergoing one on offense right now. As an alum, of course I want this team to do well. I do realize that missing the playoffs isn't the end of the world, either. Regardless of how this season turns out, I'm still very interested in seeing how the youngsters develop. There is hope... maybe not for this year, but surely for the future.

So, What Happened Was...

Toneil Carter opened up the scoring with an eight-yard run, and Jack Barrientez put Cy Woods on the board with a five-yard run to tie the game. However, it only took one play for Langham to regain the advantage, as Reagan Coburn scored on a 56-yard pass from Chris Herron, who scored on a seven-yard run shortly before the end of the first quarter.

End 1st: Langham 20, Woods 7

Cullen Sherrill scored the first points of the second quarter by catching his first touchdown pass of the evening, a 22-yard connection with Jacob Kainer. Herron responded by finding Praise Okorie for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Jacob fired a 15-yard touchdown pass to Brennan Niles, giving him a touchdown reception for the second straight week. However, the wheels fell off for them to end the half, as Chase McCray scored on a nine-yard run and Paul Darks returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown.

Halftime: Langham 41, Woods 21

Cullen's second touchdown reception of the evening was the only scoring play in the third quarter.

End 3rd: Langham 41, Woods 28

The Lobos snuffed out a fake punt attempt, and Herron capped off the Lobos' ensuing drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Golden Eke. Nijah Surtain scored on a four-yard run, but Langham buried the Cats with a 29-yard touchdown run from Toneil Carter and a 21-yard pick-six from Brad Pinkerton.

Final: Langham 62, Woods 35

Ground

On a more positive note... welcome back, C.J. His presence in the offense was sorely missed, and while he didn't score in this game, he was able to break off some nice runs. He will likely have to take his game to unprecedented heights to help keep this team in the picture.

Congratulations to Nijah Surtain for scoring his first touchdown at the varsity level.

C.J. Jones: 11 carries, 90 yards
Jacob Kainer: 14 carries, 54 yards
Nijah Surtain: 5 carries, 14 yards, TD
Bobby Dodson: 3 carries, 9 yards
Luis Reyes: 2 carries, 8 yards
Jack Barrientez: 2 carries, 7 yards
Brighton Gullickson: 3 carries, 2 yards

Air

Four interceptions, two pick sixes.... definitely not ideal. Just a rough night against the defense that leads the district in interceptions. Brighton Gullickson got the start, and he played a few series before Jacob assumed control of the offense the rest of the way.

All but one of Cullen Sherrill's catches have resulted in touchdowns this season.

Jacob Kainer: 18-34, 262 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT (2 returned for touchdowns)
Brighton Gullickson: 2-4, 7 yards, INT
Jack Barrientez: 0-1

Jack Barrientez: 7 catches, 59 yards
Tanner Sherrill: 4 catches, 92 yards
Brennan Niles: 2 catches, 32 yards, TD
Cullen Sherrill: 2 catches, 28 yards, 2 TD
Nijah Surtan: 2 catches, 10 yards
Matt Ficalora: 1 catch, 35 yards
C.J. Jones: 1 catch, 8 yards
Connor Faulk: 1 catch, 5 yards

Defense

Can't pin two pick-sixes on the defense, but Langham Creek scoring on their first five offensive possessions of the game... definitely not ideal. The Wildcats didn't have an answer for Chris Herron in this game.

Neil Chambers and Collin Fewox delivered solid performances; Collin recorded six tackles, two of which resulted in a loss of yards, and one was a sack. Neil had two sacks and recovered a fumble.

Tackles

Elijah Strang: 7
Myles Wilson and Collin Fewox: 6
Kason Franklin: 5
Tory Spears and Neil Chambers: 4
Eron Vanduren: 3
Hunter Husbands, Collin Joyce, Cam Howland, Connor Faulk: 2
Hunter Magallan, Micheal Young, Brighton Gullickson, Ellington Shepard, Jack Barrientez, and Tyvon Alexander: 1

Sacks

Neil Chambers: 2, 14 yards lost
Collin Fewox: 1, 6 yards lost

Fumbles Recovered

Neil Chambers: 1

Special Teams

Luis Reyes hit all five of his extra points and punted the ball three times for 104 yards.

Jake Tesch had a 28-yard kick return, his longest of the year.

Jake Tesch: 3 kicks returned, 54 yards
Nijah Surtain: 2 kicks returned, 31 yards
C.J. Jones: 2 kicks returned, 21 yards
Jake Fennis: 1 kick returned, 12 yards
Bobby Dodson: 1 kick returned, 6 yards

Man of the Match

I guess..... Cullen Sherrill? Yeah, I'll go with Cullen.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will open up the second half of their schedule with a tilt against the Cypress Falls Golden Eagles at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium on Friday, October 7, at 7:00. Cy Woods is the home team in this game.