Sunday, August 26, 2018

Know the Enemy: Cypress Ridge Rams

Week 1: Cypress Woods Wildcats vs. Cypress Ridge Rams
6:00 PM Saturday, September 1, 2018
Pridgeon Stadium

Photo by Tom Dendy

Football has returned and a new decade of Cy Woods football has dawned.

Normally, this would be a district game. But, the UIL's realignment has split Cy-Fair ISD into two separate districts for athletics. And so for the first time ever, the Cypress Woods Wildcats will take on a Cy-Fair ISD school in a non-district contest.

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Cypress Woods Wildcats fell 21-17 to the hated Cypress Ranch Mustangs in the 2017 regular-season finale for both teams. This was definitely a game in which the Cats had opportunities to win, but unfortunately, the Mustangs invoked some kind of black magic that allowed them to get the victory somehow. Well actually, they converted a couple of interceptions into touchdowns. A missed field goal gave Woods one final shot to steal the game, but they were stopped on fourth down to end it.

Jacob Kainer threw a 99-yard touchdown pass to Jack Barrientez on the first play of the game, setting a new school record for longest play from scrimmage.

The Enemy: Cypress Ridge Rams

I don't recall the name of the school district to which they belong.
District 17-6A
2017 record: 1-8, 9th in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 6-4.

Previous Meetings

September 22, 2017: Woods 35, Ridge 34
September 17, 2016: Ridge 36, Woods 21
September 11, 2015: Woods 59, Ridge 31
September 13, 2014: Woods 59, Ridge 28
September 19, 2013: Woods 28, Ridge 26
September 20, 2012: Ridge 54, Woods 21
October 29, 2011: Woods 45, Ridge 13
October 30, 2010: Woods 49, Ridge 40
September 25, 2009: Ridge 46, Woods 20 (Homecoming II)
September 26, 2008: Ridge 43, Woods 41

Players to Watch

I don't know whether any of them have changed numbers this season.

Noah Smith - SR ATH, most likely QB
Leslie Wellington - JR RB
Tristian Fletcher - SOPH RB
Lejune Patterson - JR WR
Kade Barnes - JR DB
JeVaun Dabon - JR DB
Branden Nguyen - SR DB
Michael Rich - SR LB
Tyler Cockle - SR DL/TE
D.D. Redmond - SR DL/LB
Vernon Broughton - JR DL

2¢ on Ridge

One year after enjoying the thrill of the most successful season in program history in which they advanced to the fourth round of the playoffs, the Rams crashed to the bottom of the standings in 2017 with a single, solitary victory over Cy Lakes serving as the barrier between them and the ignominy of a winless season.

Cy Ridge has a few pieces to build around as they look for another playoff bid and it starts with Noah Smith. Smith has served as a super-utility player on offense for three years but now he will engineer the Rams' offensive attack. Wellington and Fletcher, who saw plenty of playing time as a freshman, will platoon at running back. Patterson will likely be one of Smith's primary targets in the passing game and at 6-3, he'll have an advantage over his defender.

The Rams always seem to have quality players on the defensive side of the ball, especially in their front seven. Tyler Cockle, another three-year letterman, will team up with D.D. Redmond, Mike Rich, Centarus Smith, and Vernon Broughton, who transferred in from Spring Woods. Broughton, one of the top juniors in Texas, is a huge pickup for an already talented defense. Cockle is also listed as a tight end in the team preview in Dave Campbell's Texas Football, so expect to see him play offense when the situation warrants it. Branden Nguyen led the Rams in tackles last season as an outside linebacker; he's moving to the secondary where he'll lead a talented cast that includes JeVaun Dabon and Kade Barnes. Dabon, who might be Ridge's top prospect in the Class of 2020, impressed immensely after working his way into the starting lineup last season.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

A frenzied finish in the fourth quarter saw the Wildcats emerge with a 35-34 victory after they thwarted a two-point conversion that would have given the Rams the lead in the final minute of regulation. Jack Barrientez ran for 69 yards and a touchdown and also caught a screen pass and ran 68 yards for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

Freshmen at Woods, JV at Ridge. Game times are 4:30 and 6:30 on Thursday.

The Rams only had one JV team last season, so it is possible that there will only be one JV game.

UPDATE: Per Angel Verdejo, the JV Gold (B) will play Humble on Thursday at 4:30 at Woods. The freshman gold team will travel to College Station High School to take on the Cougars at 4:30.

Location of Cypress Ridge High School



For Freshman Gold team: Location of College Station High School

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