Cy Woods 35, Cy Ridge 34: Thrilling End

2017 Record: 1-1

Photo by Tom Dendy

Jack Barrientez darts upfield on his way to the end zone.

Hello, win column.

The Cypress Woods Wildcats escaped Pridgeon Stadium with a 35-34 victory over the Cypress Ridge Rams to record their first victory of the 2017 campaign.

With this win, the Cats snapped a four-game losing streak dating back to the end of last season which was extended to four when they lost to Springs to begin this season. They also erased a double-digit deficit to win a game for the first time since 2015 against... Cy Ridge.

Big victory over a solid Ridge team that still has plenty of returning talent from a 4th-round playoff team last season. I expect them to still remain in the playoff hunt down the road. This gives the Cats positive momentum heading into Homecoming and is also a massive confidence boost for a sophomore quarterback who was starting his first varsity football game. Jackson Jones showed great poise and certainly was not intimidated by a solid Rams defense. After a dearth of explosive plays against Springs, the offense rebounded with three scoring plays of over 50 yards. Woods ran the triple option as well as any team could, especially in the second half, where they dominated the time of possession.

This was a "character win" for the Cats: their character was on full display as they came back from a 21-6 halftime deficit and kept the Rams off the scoreboard for much of the second half. Last year, that deficit would have widened significantly in the second half. The Cats turned the tables in the final 24 minutes by outscoring the Rams 29-13. The Cats had two scoring drives of 15 (this one began in the third quarter) and 16 plays in the fourth quarter... which set the stage for a frantic and thrilling conclusion in which both teams scored two touchdowns apiece in two minutes. The difference in this game was a failed two-point conversion that would have given Ridge the lead after they had scored with 1:28 left in the game to cut the Woods lead to one point.

In this district, every game matters, especially in this abbreviated season. Had the Cats been in Ridge's situation at the end of last night's game, I'm sure they would have gone for two. I respect Coach Thiebaud's decision to go for the win. I'm also glad that the Cats foiled his team's bid to win the game.

Cy Woods did not commit a single penalty in this game. I believe that is the first time that this has occurred.

Scoring Summary

Jack Barrientez opened the scoring by slicing and dicing his way into the end zone from 51 yards out. Unfortunately, Jared Swonke banged the ensuing extra point off the left upright. Noah Smith busted loose for a 35-yard touchdown run and the Rams converted their extra point.

End of 1st Quarter: Ridge 7, Woods 6

The second stanza belonged to Cy Ridge. On 4th and 20, Justice Porter rolled out to his right and connected with Jakobe Jackson for a 30-yard touchdown pass to start the quarter. Porter snuck in from less than a yard out on another fourth down. Matt Roberts stole a little momentum for Woods with an interception in the endzone after Ryan Gilcrease tipped the ball.

Halftime: Ridge 21, Woods 6

The Cats ended the first half by forcing a turnover, and they started the second by forcing a turnover. Mac Bird jarred the ball loose from Ridge running back Leslie Wellington and Tyler Redgrave pounced to give Cy Woods the ball. On their first possession of the second half, Jackson Jones floated a ball to Cullen Sherrill, who took it 50 yards for a touchdown.

End of 3rd Quarter: Ridge 21, Woods 13

Jackson capped off a 15-play drive that started with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter with a 4-yard touchdown run. He was stopped just before crossing the goal line on the two-point conversion attempt, so the Cats still trailed 21-19. The defense forced a three-and-out, and the offense proceeded to go on a 16-play drive that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown run for Arkievrick Vitatoe and a two-point run from Jackson that gave Cy Woods a 27-21 lead with 3:23 to play. So, all the Cats needed to do was play sound, smart football for the final 3:23. Ehh... what happened next wasn't the best example of sound, smart football.

The ensuing kickoff from Swonke went out of bounds. Porter then completed all five of his passes, the last of which was a 17-yard strike to Noah Smith, who still found the end zone despite having four Wildcats trying to bring him down.

The next Cy Woods offensive drive did not start out well as Jack was forced out for a 4-yard loss on first down. No matter... one play later, he caught a pass from Jackson and scored from 68 yards out with exactly two minutes to go. Once again, Jackson got the two points.

The Rams had one last answer, though... on another fourth down, Porter found Jakobe Jackson again, and Jackson outran everyone on his way to a 67-yard touchdown reception. On the ensuing two-point conversion, the Cats made the one stop they had to make as they repelled Smith from the goal line to preserve a 35-34 lead.

Final: Woods 35, Ridge 34

Ground

Bobby Dodson wasn't as effective in getting chunks of yardage as he was against Cy Springs, but he did not fumble. Christian Scott had a couple of nice runs on pitchouts.

All statistics are from Varsity Wires and are unofficial.

Jack Barrientez: 7 carries, 69 yards, TD
Bobby Dodson: 15 carries, 51 yards
Jackson Jones: 13 carries, 35 yards, TD; 1 fumble lost
Christian Scott: 5 carries, 34 yards
Darion Morgan: 5 carries, 15 yards
Arkievrick Vitatoe: 4 carries, 12 yards, TD
Connor Faulk: 2 carries, 3 yards
Team: 3 carries, -3 yards; Jackson kneeled three times at the end of the game

Air

I'm still trying to get used to seeing a Cy Woods football team throw the ball four times in a football game. No, that is not a typo; the Cats only had four passing attempts all evening.

Fortunately, two of those attempts were complete and they both resulted in touchdowns.

Jackson Jones: 2-4, 118 yards, 2 TD

Sherrill Twins Touchdown Reception Tracker

Cullen 5
Tanner 0

Jack Barrientez: 1 catch, 68 yards, TD
Cullen Sherrill: 1 catch, 50 yards, TD

Defense

The defense was not exactly placed in ideal positions, especially in the first half. They stepped up in a huge way in the second half before cracking a little towards the end. Fortunately, they made the most important stop of the night to keep the Cats in the lead.

Getting opponents off the field in the later downs has been an Achilles' heel for years for the Cy Woods defense. They allowed the Rams to convert 6 of 12 third down opportunities and all four of their fourth-down situations on Friday. In fact, three Ridge touchdowns came on fourth down. That simply cannot continue if the Cats want to have success this season.

Tackles

Mac Bird - 13 (5 assisted, 5.5 for loss)
Jack Barrientez and Matt Roberts - 6 each (Jack's all solo; Matt 3 assists)
Colin Paterson - 4 (2 assisted)
Six Wildcats with 3 - Collin Fewox, Clancey Hall, Ryan Gilcrease (all solo; Collin and Ryan had 1 tackle for loss), Jozef Taylor (1 assisted, 1 for loss), Jackson Hosemann (2 assisted), Austin Kennedy (all assisted)
Three Wildcats with 2 - Derrick Brooks, Trevor Reed, Tyler Redgrave (1 assisted)
Four Wildcats with 1- Omar Acosta, Max Sweet, Jackson Turnbow (all solo), Cam Sowell (assisted)

Fumbles: Collin Fewox and Mac Bird both forced a fumble. Tyler Redgrave recovered the one Mac forced.

Interceptions: Matt Roberts 1, returned for 1 yard

Special Teams

Not the greatest night on this front. Jared Swonke's first extra point hit the post. One of his kickoffs went out of bounds and Ridge took advantage with a touchdown. Arkievrick Vitatoe dropped the ball on a kickoff, and Cam Sowell had a couple of sophomore moments; he fielded a kick and stood there for the Rams to nail him and he was also supposed to be on the field for a punt late in the fourth quarter, which forced the Cats to burn a timeout and resulted in him receiving a severe chewing-out session from Coach Zachos during the stoppage.

Jared Swonke: 1-2 XP
Greg Blaser: 2 punts, 60 yards, long of 43

Arkievrick Vitatoe: 2 kicks returned, 27 yards
Jack Barrientez: 1 kick returned, 23 yards
Cam Sowell: 1 kick returned, 0 yards

Men of the Match

Three Cats share the honors: Jack Barrientez, Jackson Jones, and Mac Bird.

Jack is one of the gutsiest kids I've seen in a Wildcat uniform. No question, he left it all out on the field. 140 total yards (he had a 23-yard kick return), two touchdowns, and six tackles out of the secondary... the Cats needed all of his contributions on Friday.

Mac Bird turned in another outstanding performance on defense as he basically lived in the Ridge backfield all night. Mac has 25 tackles in the first two games and eight have resulted in a loss of yards. He has proven to be a legitimate disruptive force for the Wildcat defense in the early going.

Welcome to the big leagues, Jackson Jones. As long as Jacob Kainer is out, you're the man. Every second you spend on the field will be valuable as you continue to develop as a football player. Jackson wasn't counted on to do everything, but he performed capably and showed why he is considered a top prospect for the Wildcats.

Looking Ahead

It's Homecoming at the Woods!

In the tenth Cypress Woods Homecoming football game, the Wildcats will take on the Jersey Village Falcons at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium on Friday, September 29 at 7:00 PM.