6:30 PM, Thursday, September 14, 2017
Pridgeon Stadium
Photo by Billy Schuerman
This is also the 212th post on the blog.
The Cypress Woods Wildcats were originally supposed to start the 2017 season against Klein Collins on September 1, but Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Texas coast and threw everyone into flux; the first two weeks of the season were canceled, which means that all ten teams in District 17-6A will now have a nine-game season consisting solely of district contests.
Hopefully, the start of the high school football season is another sign of normalcy returning. However, there are still many in our community who are still picking up the pieces and still in need of our help. In addition, towns such as Rockport, Refugio, Corpus Christi, Victoria, and Beaumont/Port Arthur all bore the brunt of Harvey's fury. As Texans, we look out for our own. Please, don't forget the communities of the Texas coast.
I'm sure that area charities are still accepting donations. Houstonia Magazine has a list of local charities that you can donate to. Also, there are many, many opportunities to contribute financially toward the Harvey recovery. For starters, there is J.J. Watt's Houston Flood Relief Fund and Mayor Sylvester Turner's Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. And if you wish to volunteer, here are several Texas organizations that you can contact. This recovery will take a long time so do what you can, give what you can.
Now... on to football. Cy Woods and Cy Springs will open up the 2017 football season in District 17-6A on Thursday.
The Enemy: Cypress Springs Panthers
2016 record: 3-7, 2-7 (t-7th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs
All-Time Series
Cy Woods leads 9-0.
Previous Meetings
September 9, 2016: Woods 69, Springs 34
November 7, 2015: Woods 49, Springs 39
November 6, 2014: Woods 70, Springs 44
October 4, 2013: Woods 57, Springs 14 (Homecoming VI)October 5, 2012: Woods 48, Springs 13
November 5, 2011: Woods 47, Springs 0
November 6, 2010: Woods 51, Springs 41
October 16, 2009: Woods 23, Springs 13
October 17, 2008: Woods 48, Springs 14 (Homecoming I)
Players to Watch
DB Leon O'Neal, QB Xayvion West, ATH Taye Barber, WR Jah'marae Sheread, DL Josh Jolivette, LB Chandler Ojiaku, DL Jose Cirlos, DL Kolbi Lewis
2¢ on Springs
The Panthers have been regarded as a sleeping giant, but three straight 3-7 seasons following two years of improving win totals may have stagnated their momentum somewhat. Springs is still loaded with tremendous upside, but moral victories don't guarantee a playoff berth, and they feel that they are well past the "moral victory" stage. With dynamic athletes like Leon O'Neal, Taye Barber, and Jah'marae Sheread, 2017 may be the best chance for the Panthers to end the district's longest active playoff drought. One thing is for sure: these are not the Cy Springs Panthers who routinely brought up the rear in Cy-Fair ISD football.
Springs boasts one of the most explosive trios in the city in West, Sheread, and Barber. Xayvion West is the district's leading returning passer, and he didn't even enter last season as their starting quarterback. Barber, a TCU commit, has taken extremely well to a super-utility role that has maximized his impact on games. Sheread, who is also a serious threat in the return game, is coming off a 1,000-yard season. The three of them should put up obscene numbers in 2017.
Where the Panthers finish this season will most likely hinge on how well their defense, which turned in one of the worst performances in CFISD football history in 2016, improves in 2017. They were the only team in District 17-6A to allow more than 500 points last season. They'll turn to Leon O'Neal to lead the defense. O'Neal led the district with 147 total tackles last year. He is also one of the country's most highly-sought after recruits and pledged to Texas A&M in the offseason. With 8 returning starters on the defensive side of the ball, Springs leads the way in that category, so that should certainly help facilitate a turnaround.
Last Time These Two Teams Met
Cy Woods lit up the new-look Pridgeon Stadium, racing out to a 62-21 lead after three quarters and cruising to a 69-34 victory. Jacob Kainer threw for 303 yards and five touchdowns and added 128 yards and three more touchdowns on the ground.
Sub-Varsity Game Information
JV teams play at Cy Springs, while the freshmen are at home. Game times are 5:00 and 7:00 on Wednesday.
Location of Cypress Springs High School
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