Ten Years, Ten Best Players - #2: Bryce Callahan

The countdown of the ten best players from the first decade of Cy Woods football is almost complete. This man is the first person from Cypress Woods High School to rise to the top level of the sport.

Yes, he is the first Wildcat to play in the National Football League. He's #2 on this list mainly because I didn't want to mess with the numbering format. This is more of a 1A/1B type of thing.

#2, or #1: Bryce Callahan, DB, 2008-09

College: Rice (2010-15)

Pro: Chicago Bears (2015-18), Denver Broncos (2019-present)

First photo taken by Don Carson. Last two photos from Getty Images; sources included in links.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Accolades at Cy Woods

Most career interceptions (13)

Most career return touchdowns (4)

1st-team All-District 15-5A, 2008 and 2009

PFWA 1st-Team All-State, 2009

THSCA All-Star, 2009

Accolades at Rice

2nd all-time in interceptions (13)

Sporting News Freshman All-American, 2011

Conference USA All-Freshman, 2011

Honorable Mention All-Conference USA, 2011

2nd-team All-Conference USA, 2013-14

Armed Forces Bowl, 2012

Conference USA champion, Liberty Bowl - 2013

Hawaii Bowl, 2014

East-West Shrine Game, 2015

Bryce Callahan was special. The things he did on the field were absolutely insane. Returning punts, ball-hawking in the secondary, burning everyone as a receiver... Bryce was a game. changer. He was also a track star for the Wildcats, although to be honest, that sort of bored him. If he really, truly set his mind to it, he probably would've been a state qualifier in the sprints and jumps.

He intercepted six passes in 2008 and picked off seven more in 2009. He returned a punt for a touchdown in year one and took three more back to the house the next year. The first year was just a preview of what was in store for Cy-Fair ISD football. Once he assumed his final form, he was an absolute terror for opposing teams.

After Cy Woods, Bryce Callahan signed to play football at Rice and played a starring role during one of the most successful periods of Rice Owls football. He redshirted his first season but eventually, he became a leader of the Owl defense. Despite his success at the college level, Bryce went undrafted.

However, he wouldn't have to wait very long for a shot at the NFL as he signed with the Bears shortly after the draft. He was actually waived midway through his rookie season, but he fought for his place in the league and hasn't looked back since. 

Once upon a time, Bryce Callahan dazzled under the lights of Pridgeon Stadium and the Berry Center. Now, ten years later, he's taking on greats such as Aaron Rodgers and Larry Fitzgerald and Adrian Peterson. 

He's on his path to stardom, I'm just a regular guy who happened to play with a future NFL player. I'm glad that I could play a small role in his road to the league. Always got love for my brothers and I'll be keeping track of his career, wherever it may take him.

Know the Enemy: Bye

Week 10: Cypress Woods Wildcats (6-3, 5-2) vs. Bye
12:00 AM Sunday, October 28, 2018

Photo by Tom Dendy

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Cats lost 45-21 to Cy Ranch. Can we move on now?

In the penultimate week of the 2018 regular season, the Wildcats will match up against another formidable opponent in Bye. Before we take a look at this juggernaut, let's look at the current situation in District 14-6A and District 13-6A.

Bold - team has clinched a playoff berth

Italics - team is in a playoff spot but has not clinched a berth

Strike - team is eliminated from playoff contention

District 14-6A

1. Cy Ranch (8-0, 6-0)

2. Tomball Memorial (7-1, 5-1)

3. Cy Woods (6-3, 5-2)

4. Langham Creek (4-4, 4-2)

5. Bryan (4-4, 3-3)

6. Cy Lakes (4-5, 3-4)

7. Bridgeland (2-6, 1-5)

8. Cy Springs (1-7, 1-5)

9. Cy Park (0-8, 0-6)

Well, since there's no game to preview this week, here's a recap of what happened in Week 9 in District 14-6A.

Last Week in District 14-6A

Bye: Bridgeland

Bryan 36, Cy Springs 0 - Vikings cruised to a win and held Springs to 37 yards. At one point, the Panthers had -50 yards of offense in the first half.

Tomball Memorial 56, Cy Park 14 - This game was actually tied for like two minutes in the second quarter until TMHS woke up and devoured the Tigers.

Langham Creek 14, Cy Lakes 9 - The Spartans were on the cusp of possibly clinching their first-ever playoff berth... only to lose this game in the most soul-crushing way possible. They were about to get the ball back on a punt with about 1:25 left to attempt a game-winning drive... and then they got called for roughing the punter. 

Langham got the ball back, ran out the clock, and they are now in a playoff spot after starting district play 0-2. Tsk, tsk... should've finished the job, Tomball Memorial.

Cy Ranch 45, Cy Woods 21 - No comment.

This Week in District 14-6A

Bye: Cy Woods

Friday

Langham Creek vs. Cy Park, 7:00 at CF-FCU

Bryan vs. Cy Ranch, 7:00 at Merrill Green

Tomball Memorial vs. Cy Springs, 7:00 at Tomball ISD Stadium

Saturday

Bridgeland vs. Cy Lakes, 1:00 at CF-FCU

District 13-6A

1. Vandegrift (8-0, 6-0)

2. Cedar Ridge (6-2, 5-1)

3. Hendrickson (5-2, 4-2)

4. Round Rock (5-3, 4-2)

5. Stony Point (5-3, 3-3)

6. McNeil (4-4, 3-3)

7. Westwood (4-4, 2-4)

8. Vista Ridge (1-8, 1-6)

9. Leander (1-8, 0-7)

Last Week in District 13-6A

Stony Point 42, McNeil 21

Hendrickson 47, Vista Ridge 7

Westwood 49, Leander 27

Cedar Ridge 70, Round Rock 56 - this game was tied at 35... after the first quarter.

This Week in District 13-6A

Bye: Vista Ridge

Westwood vs. Stony Point

Round Rock vs. Hendrickson

Vandegrift vs. Leander

McNeil vs. Cedar Ridge

The games to watch here are Westwood/Stony Point and Round Rock/Hendrickson. If Stony Point beats the Warriors, the loser of the RR/Hendrickson game will find themselves tied at 4-3 and in fourth in district with the Tigers. However, the Tigers lost to both of them, so I doubt that the outcomes will have any major consequences on the playoff picture.

Stony Point also closes out the season against Vandegrift so they most likely won't have any further part in the proceedings. Meanwhile, Round Rock will play McNeil and should probably win that one comfortably. Hendrickson is probably expected to walk through Vista Ridge, so it looks like the top four in District 13-6A is set.

Cy Ranch 45, Cy Woods 21: *confused face emoji*

2018 Record: 6-3, 5-2 in District 14-6A

Photo by Tom Dendy

Photo gallery for this week's games, including JV game

Sigh. Once again, the Cypress Woods Wildcats were defeated by the Cypress Ranch Mustangs in football. It's the fifth straight year that this has happened, making this the longest losing streak to a single opponent in Cy Woods football history.

This game finished 45-21. And it started so encouragingly too!

Ranch did their damage in the first half, parked the bus in the second half, and the Cats tried with all their might but it wouldn't budge.

Alright, I'm over this game. I never played against Cy Ranch so this game has minimal impact on me emotionally. And, at the end of the day, it's high school football. There's absolutely no need for me to get overly upset over it. They got beat by a better team. It happens. Whatever.

Now that this game is over with, everyone on both sides can get back to being friendly, or as close to it as possible, with each other. I don't envy the Cy Woods parents who will have to deal with the same old talk from their Ranch acquaintances for the fifth year running, however.

Game Summed Up in an Image I Found on the Internet

All this time I thought this was a frown. Turns out it's actually a confused face.

What Happened

No comment.

Link to box score - stats from Varsity Wires.

Man of the Match

Jake Tesch. His nine catches in this game are tied for the second-most in a game in Cy Woods history.

Looking Ahead

After nine straight weeks of football, the Cypress Woods Wildcats will finally have a week off. The Wildcats will return to action on Thursday, November 8, when they face the Bryan Vikings at Pridgeon Stadium to close out the regular season.

Ten Years, Ten Best Players - #3: Daylan Skidmore

The #3 player on the countdown of the ten best players from the first decade of Cy Woods football is the greatest linebacker in Cy Woods history. The previous sentence was not an opinion.

#3: Daylan Skidmore, LB, 2009-11

College: Harding

Photo by Don Carson

I'm highly sure that Daylan Skidmore is Cy Woods' all-time leader in tackles and tackles for loss. 

That picture probably sums Daylan up. For two years, he was the heart and soul of the Wildcat defense. He served as a team captain in both of his full seasons on the varsity and also earned 1st-team All-District 17-5A honors in 2010 and 2011.

Alright, by now, you probably know that I'm pretty lazy, so I will just copy what I said about him in his entry in the All-Time roster.

Daylan Skidmore truly embodied what it means to be a Wildcat football player. He was, without a doubt, the face of Cy Woods football as a senior. Even as an underclassman, he took the initiative and stepped up to become a leader for Cy Woods football. He was tenacious and one of the most fearless players on the field. Daylan was someone who commanded respect, and indeed, he is still well-respected by his peers and held in high regard by the coaches at Cy Woods. I'm glad that I had the opportunity to call him a teammate.

Every Wildcat who plays defense should aspire to play with the passion that Daylan Skidmore did. He refused to let his opponent beat him. When that happened, though, he picked himself up and looked to return the favor. And he did just that every single time.

Know the Enemy: Cypress Ranch Mustangs

Week 9: Cypress Woods Wildcats (6-2, 5-1) @ Cypress Ranch Mustangs (7-0, 5-0)
1:00 PM Saturday, October 27, 2018
Cy-Fair FCU Stadium

Photo by Tom Dendy

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Cypress Woods Wildcats made short work of Cy Springs with a 36-7 victory that secured their first winning season since 2014. Cameron Sowell caught two touchdown passes and Carson Danner ran for 134 yards and three touchdowns as the Wildcats won their fifth game in a row.

Next up... the rivalry game.

Alright, Cats. You've had this game circled on the calendar since the schedule came out. You said you wanted Ranch. You've waited a year to get your hands on them.

Well... now it's time. Are you going to be the ones who will write the next chapter in this rivalry? Or are you going to let them write one for the fifth consecutive year? No team has beaten Cy Woods five years in a row. That's one of the things at stake in this game, along with the Wildcats' five-game winning streak.

Before we take a look at the Stangs, here is a current look at the District 14-6A picture, and also, a look at District 13-6A as well.

District 14-6A

Current playoff teams in italics. A team that's been stricken has been eliminated from playoff contention. I think it might be safe to eliminate Springs, Bridgeland, and Park from the picture.

I believe that the winner of this game and Tomball Memorial can clinch playoff spots with wins this week. If Cy Woods continues to occupy a playoff position at season's end, their path will not change: they will be the #1 seed for the district in the Division I bracket as they are (1) the largest school in District 14-6A by enrollment and (2) they own the tiebreakers over Cy Lakes and Langham Creek by winning the head-to-head matchups.

1. Cy Ranch (7-0, 5-0)
2. Cy Woods (6-2, 5-1)
3. Tomball Memorial (6-1, 4-1)
4. Langham Creek (3-4, 3-2)
5. Cy Lakes (4-4, 3-3)
6. Bryan (3-4, 2-3)
7. Cy Springs (1-6, 1-4)
8. Bridgeland (2-6, 1-5)
9. Cy Park (0-7, 0-5)

Last Week in District 14-6A

No shockers here... the teams that were expected to win all won.

Bye: Cy Ranch

Friday
Cy Woods 36, Cy Springs 7
Bryan 42, Cy Park 7
Tomball Memorial 28, Cy Lakes 14

Saturday
Langham Creek 53, Bridgeland 13

This Week in District 14-6A

Bye: Bridgeland

Thursday
Cy Springs vs. Bryan, 7:00 at CF-FCU
Cy Park vs. Tomball Memorial, 7:00 at Pridgeon

Friday
Cy Lakes vs. Langham Creek, 7:00 at CF-FCU

Saturday
Cy Ranch vs. Cy Woods, 1:00 at CF-FCU

Friday's game between Lakes and Langham will essentially decide the final playoff spot in District 14-6A. The math hasn't officially eliminated Bryan yet but taking down Ranch and Woods to finish the season may be too tall of an order.

Now, let's look at the other half of the bi-district pairing in District 13.

District 13-6A

District 13-6A consists of schools from Round Rock ISD, Leander ISD, and one Pflugerville school (Hendrickson).

Vandegrift sits atop the district and they have a bye this week. They'll be the #1 seed in the Division II bracket. The other three playoff spots are all up in the air since Cedar Ridge and Round Rock are both tied at 4-1 while Pflugerville Hendrickson and McNeil are both sitting at 3-2. Stony Point finds themselves on the outside looking in and although the math hasn't officially eliminated them yet, they will also need a few miracles to steal a playoff spot.

1. Vandegrift (8-0, 6-0)
2. Cedar Ridge (5-2, 4-1)
3. Round Rock (5-2, 4-1)
4. Hendrickson (4-2, 3-2)
5. McNeil (4-3, 3-2)
6. Stony Point (4-3, 2-3)
7. Westwood (3-4, 1-4)
8. Vista Ridge (1-7, 1-5)
9. Leander (1-7, 0-6)

All Week 9 games in District 13-6A will take place on Friday at 7:00. The Cedar Ridge/Round Rock game is the one to watch as it will most likely determine Cy Woods' first-round opponent.

Bye: Vandegrift

Stony Point vs. McNeil
Hendrickson vs. Vista Ridge
Leander vs. Westwood
Cedar Ridge vs. Round Rock

The Enemy: Cypress Ranch Mustangs

2017 Record: 8-3, 7-2 (2nd) in District 17-6A
Lost 55-7 to Katy in 6A Division I, Region III area round

Cy Ranch season-to-date

W 32-21 vs. Cinco Ranch
W 25-21 @ Austin Westlake
W 31-24 vs. Langham Creek
W 52-10 vs. Bridgeland
W 45-14 @ Cy Lakes
W 51-10 vs. Cy Park
W 56-14 @ Cy Springs

The Mustangs were off last week.

All-Time Series

Ranch leads 5-3.

Previous Meetings

November 11, 2017: Ranch 21, Woods 17
November 4, 2016: Ranch 52, Woods 13
September 26, 2015: Ranch 44, Woods 25
September 27, 2014: Ranch 38, Woods 35
October 19, 2013: Woods 54, Ranch 0
October 20, 2012: Woods 40, Ranch 37 (OT)
September 23, 2011: Woods 68, Ranch 21
September 24, 2010: Ranch 38, Woods 35

Players to Watch

Logan McDougald - JR QB #10
Willie Eldridge - JR RB #5
Elias Pino - JR RB #11
Justin Carmouche - SR RB #1
C.J. Hardy - SR WR #2
Jarred Jones - SR DL #94
Travis Arey - SR LB #33
Christian Richards - JR LB #27
Gerard McKnight - SR LB #16
Rance McInnis - SR DB #7
Grant Saracene - SR DB #15
Keaton Dickey - SR DB #26

2¢ on Ranch

Before I begin...

Although it hasn't been as heated as it was at the beginning of the decade, if you think that the enmity between these two schools has been extinguished... you'd be surprised. In the coming years, however, Bridgeland will definitely be a bigger target for Ranch's ire. Many of the kids on both sides of this rivalry have friends who go to the other school so quite a few friendships will be put on hold for this week...

Cy Ranch has proven that their run to state in 2014 was no fluke because they've legitimately transformed themselves into one of the top programs in Texas.

The Mustangs were favored to challenge for the district championship with Langham Creek entering this season, but they left the Lobos in the dust a long time ago. They managed to escape Austin with a win over Westlake, who lest we forget, was a semifinal team from last year. Then, they proceeded to stun Langham with two touchdowns in the last 45 seconds or something like that to open up district play.

Lucky? Sure. But good teams can manufacture their own luck. Great teams capitalize on every break they get and that's what Ranch has been doing for years. The Mustangs have taken the Cy-Fair formula and have run it as well as, and at times even better, than the Bobcats.

The running game takes center stage for the Mustangs with the tandem of Elias Pino and Willie Eldridge. Pino was the Offensive Newcomer of the year in District 17-6A last season. Justin Carmouche's emergence gives Ranch another weapon in the backfield. Logan McDougald is a dependable quarterback and he's taken full control of the reins in his first full season as a varsity player. C.J. Hardy is the Mustangs' top receiver by far and he can make some big plays out wide. Keep an eye out for Edwin Smith, though. He's a 6-5 sophomore who has huge upside.

The one thing that stands out about Ranch's defense is that they not only have playmakers at all three levels, but they have tremendous depth at each level as well. Anyone who steps in on defense for them can make plays.

Jarred Jones is a disruptor in the trenches. Blane Channel got a taste of the varsity level as a freshman and he's emerged as a starter in his sophomore year. Logan Stiba and Devante Keys have become key role players on the defensive line.

Gerard McKnight has shown a penchant for blowing up plays in the backfield as he leads District 14-6A in tackles for loss and sacks. McKnight has solid support with Travis Arey, Chris Lane, Brett Wilson, and Christian Richards.

Rance McInnis is a three-year starter in the Ranch secondary and is the leader of a deep and talented group that also features Urijah Morrow, Nick Sanchez, Marquis Watson, Grant Saracene, and Keaton Dickey. Saracene is also a serious threat in the return game as he's returned three punts for touchdowns this season.

Dickey, a move-in who has become yet another playmaker for the Ranch defense, has football ingrained in his blood. His grandfather, Eldridge Dickey, was the first African-American quarterback to be selected in the first round of an AFL or an NFL draft when the Raiders, who were in the AFL at the time, selected him 25th overall in 1968.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

A couple of touchdown passes from Logan McDougald in the second half sunk the Wildcats on the final day of the 2017 season as Cy Ranch came away victorious in the series for the fourth straight year, winning this one by a final of 21-17. This was yet another game in 2017 in which Cy Woods emerged victorious in everything... except the final score. A missed field goal in the final 1:30 gave the Wildcats a chance to possibly steal this game, but it was not to be.

Jackson Jones ran for 100 yards on 29 carries. Jacob Kainer fired a 99-yard touchdown pass to Jack Barrientez on the first play of the game.

Forget everything that has happened over the last four years. The only thing that matters is what happens after 1:00 on Saturday. I've said it before and I'll say it again... rivalry history only matters for 364 days a year. The day of the game is different. Who will write the next chapter in this book?

Sub-Varsity Game Information

Freshmen at Ranch, JV at Cy Woods. Game times are 4:30 and 6:30 on Thursday. Cy Ranch has one JV team, so the JV Gold team will play Klein at 4:30.

Location of Cypress Ranch High School

Cy Woods 36, Cy Springs 7: One Step Closer

2018 Record: 6-2, 5-1 in District 14-6A

Photo by Tom Dendy

Photos for this week's games

You know... I think I like seeing Cy Woods in Region II again.

On a rainy Friday night at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium, the Cypress Woods Wildcats had little trouble with the Cypress Springs Panthers as they strolled to a 36-7 victory to clinch their first winning season since 2014 and also move one step closer to the playoffs. This was also Cy Woods' tenth victory over Cy Springs, making the Panthers the first team to suffer ten defeats to them.

Before we get into any discussion about what lies ahead after the regular season, let's focus on the games that have actually been scheduled.

The Cats did what they were expected to do and soundly defeated a team that was clearly inferior to them. Really not much to say about this game.

Oh, wait. There are a few atmosphere-related observations I had after the weather delay. Only the WildThings and the Cy Woods cheerleaders stuck around for the entirety of the game; both teams' bands, the Cadettes, and the Panteras all left at halftime. As a result, it was near-dead silence after play resumed and the atmosphere had the vibe of a scrimmage. I think this was the first game in which I could hear the on-field chatter from both sidelines.

Game Summed Up in an Image I Found on the Internet

What Happened

Cy Woods made short work of an inferior opponent for the second straight week.

Cameron Sowell opened the scoring when he got behind the Panther secondary and caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Carson Danner. Near the end of the first quarter, Danner scored twice on runs of 11 and five yards.

End of 1st Quarter: Woods 20, Springs 0

Danner scored from three yards out midway through the second quarter. Miguel Romero busted through the middle and ran 52 yards untouched for Cy Springs' only score of the evening. Sowell responded by scoring on a 55-yard pass.

Halftime: Woods 33, Springs 7

Severe weather in the third quarter ended up delaying this game for an hour and once play resumed, the Wildcats wanted to end it as quickly as possible. Gustavo Olmedo's 27-yard field goal near the end of the third quarter was the only scoring play of the second half. The kick hit the left upright but ended up going in off the carom.

Final: Woods 36, Springs 7

Ground

Carson Danner did his thing as usual. Danner now has 18 rushing touchdowns this season and he is the first player in District 14-6A to score 100 points. The Wildcats gained yards on all but one running play in this game.

All stats, as always, are from Varsity Wires.

Carson Danner: 25 rush, 134 yards, 3 TD
Trayse Holmes: 10 rush, 51 yards
Darion Morgan: 10 rush, 37 yards
Jake Tesch: 7 rush, 64 yards
Christian Scott: 4 rush, 30 yards
Tre Mejia: 2 rush, 17 yards
Jackson Jones: 2 rush, 10 yards

Air

Cameron Sowell caught two passes and both of his receptions resulted in touchdowns. The one interception that Danner threw came off a deflection that was snatched out of the air by Chris Anaba.

Carson Danner: 4-11, 108 yards, 2 TD, INT

Cameron Sowell: 2 catches, 88 yards, 2 TD
Jake Tesch: 1 catch, 22 yards
Christian Scott: 1 catch, -2 yards

Defense

The Panthers failed to complete a pass and 52 of the 99 yards they recorded came on one play, which resulted in a touchdown. That was pretty much the only thing that went wrong for Cy Woods all night.

This is the first time in school history in which a Cy Woods opponent finished with zero passing yards in a game. Cy Springs attempted nine passes and all of them were incomplete. Well, one of those pass attempts was completed... to Nolan Authorlee, who plays for Cy Woods. Authorlee, who also recovered a fumble on the first play of the second half, now has three interceptions on the season.

Seventeen Wildcats recorded at least one tackle and Austyn "Buster" Cohrs led the way with five. Jason Christenson was in the backfield all evening and he came away with a couple of sacks. Chris Agnew also had a sack in the first quarter.

Special Teams

For the second straight week, the Wildcats did not punt. Gustavo Olmedo hit a 27-yard field goal and finished 3-4 on extra points.

Jake Tesch returned one kickoff for 23 yards.

Man of the Match

When a defense holds its opponent to less than 100 yards in a game... it was a pretty solid night.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will take on the hated Cy Ranch Mustangs on Saturday, October 27 at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium in a day game. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM. Cy Woods will be the visitors.

Ten Years, Ten Best Players - #4: Nick Hooper

Number four in the countdown of the ten best players from the first decade of Cy Woods football is a guy whose name appears quite a bit in Cy Woods' record book.

#4: Nick Hooper, QB, 2011-14

College: Texas A&M (as a student)

Photo by Cameron Brooks

Notable Games

2011 vs. Cy Springs - 7 rush, 101 yards, TD; first freshman to appear in a regular-season game for Cy Woods, first freshman to score a touchdown at the varsity level for Cy Woods

2012 vs. Cy Ranch: helped lead Wildcats to an overtime win after Mason Roberts went down with an injury

2013 vs. Cy Springs: 13-19, 334 yards, 3 TD; 16 rush, 68 yards, TD

2014 vs. Cy Ridge: 12-16, 356 yards, 5 TD

2014 vs. Langham Creek: 27-37, 448 yards, 2 TD, INT; 22 rush, 155 yards, 2 TD - school record for passing yards in a game and total yards in a game

2014 vs. Cy-Fair: 15-23, 254 yards, TD, 3 INT; 28 rush, 93 yards, 3 TD; game-winning 6-yard TD run in overtime

Records held at Cy Woods

Most rushing touchdowns in a single season (includes playoffs) - 22, 2014

Most rushing attempts in a single season and career - 224 (2014), 490

Most passing yards in a game - 448, 2014 vs. Langham Creek

Most offensive yards in a game - 603, 2014 vs. Langham Creek

Nick Hooper might have been the closest thing to Colton Huntsman. The moment he set foot into Cy Woods, he was destined to become the next big thing for the Wildcats. Like Colton, Nick could beat opponents as a gunslinger or a runner. Pick your poison...

Hooper took a rather circuitous path towards becoming the starting quarterback: he made his varsity debut deep in a blowout win as a running back. He began his sophomore year as a starting wide receiver and the third-string quarterback behind Nate German and Mason Roberts. When Mason was knocked out of the Cy Ranch game with an injury, Nick stepped in and led the Cats to a victory over a hated rival.

Nick engineered one of the most explosive offenses in school history. With weapons such as R.J. Harmon, C.J. Jones, Jared Taylor, Tre' Hart, and Jordan Johnson, the 2014 Cy Woods Wildcats lit up the scoreboard on a weekly basis, ultimately falling just five points shy of a school record. 

Nick Hooper received offers to play college football from a number of programs, but in the end, he elected to go to A&M strictly as a student. I think he would have done well for himself had he decided to play college football.

Know the Enemy: Cypress Springs Panthers

Week 8: Cypress Woods Wildcats (5-2, 4-1) vs. Cypress Springs Panthers (1-5, 1-3)
7:00 PM Friday, October 19, 2018
Pink Out at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium

Photo by Tom Dendy

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

Last Thursday at Pridgeon Stadium, the Cypress Woods Wildcats made quick work of the Cypress Park Tigers with a 61-7 victory. Christian Scott ran for 78 yards and two touchdowns and also caught a couple of passes for 25 yards. Nolan Authorlee stood out on special teams as he blocked two field goal attempts. Authorlee also intercepted a pass, his second pick of the season.

The Wildcats will now gear up for a Friday night showdown looking to do something they've never had to do: avenge a loss to the Cypress Springs Panthers. Before we take a look at Cy Springs, let's take a look at the current situation in District 14-6A.

And... if this game didn't take place on Friday, I probably would have been at Pridgeon to watch the Jersey Village-Cy Falls game.

District 14-6A

Current playoff teams in italics. A team that's been stricken has been eliminated from playoff contention.

1. Cy Ranch (7-0, 5-0)
2. Cy Woods (5-2, 4-1)
3. Tomball Memorial (5-1, 3-1)
4. Cy Lakes (4-3, 3-2)
5. Langham Creek (2-4, 2-2)
6. Bryan (2-4, 1-3)
7. Cy Springs (1-5, 1-3)
8. Bridgeland (2-5, 1-4)
9. Cy Park (0-6, 0-4)

Last Week in District 14-6A

Bye: Langham Creek

Thursday
Cy Lakes 3, Bryan 0
Cy Woods 61, Cy Park 7

Friday
Tomball Memorial 59, Bridgeland 21

Saturday
Cy Ranch 56, Cy Springs 14

No, that Lakes/Bryan final score is not a typo.

This Week in District 14-6A

Bye: Cy Ranch

Friday
Cy Woods vs. Cy Springs, 7:00 at CF-FCU
Bryan vs. Cy Park, 7:00 at Merrill Green
Tomball Memorial vs. Cy Lakes, 7:00 at Tomball ISD Stadium

Saturday
Langham Creek vs. Bridgeland, 7:00 at CF-FCU

The Enemy: Cypress Springs Panthers

2017: 4-5, t-5th in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for Playoffs

Cy Springs season-to-date

1-5, 1-3 in District 14-6A

L 47-10 vs. Pearland
L 35-14 @ Katy Taylor
L 40-32 @ Bridgeland
L 28-7 vs. Cy Lakes
W 37-30 @ Cy Park
L 56-14 vs. Cy Ranch

It all unraveled for the Panthers in the second quarter on Saturday as Cy Ranch scored 42 points to take a 49-0 lead by halftime. Cy Springs got a couple of touchdowns late but never threatened the Mustangs, who won 56-14.

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 9-1.

Previous Meetings


September 14, 2017: Springs 27, Woods 9

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

Roman Anderson - SR RB #3
Kevonne Hyde - SR WR/RB #4
Miguel Romero - SR RB #6
Keimontra Washington - SR DL #9
David Perez - SR DL #58
Isaiah Darton - SR LB #28
Johnathan Bloom - JR DB #27
Chris Anaba - SR DB #5
Myles Mass - SR DB #10
Darius Allen - JR DB #14

2¢ on Springs

The Panthers looked poised to finally break Cy-Fair ISD's longest active playoff drought in football behind Leon O'Neal, Taye Barber, Jahmarae Sheread, and Xayvion West, four of the top players in the district. Unfortunately, they couldn't get over the hump. It feels like we were waiting for them to finally break into the top four in the all-CFISD district from 2014 up until last year. O'Neal, Barber, Sheread, and West have all moved on and the Panthers are now undergoing another rebuild.

Keimontra Washington and David Perez will lead the Panthers in the trenches and Isaiah Darton is one of their playmakers in the second level; he leads the district in sacks. The real strength of Springs' defense, however, is in their secondary. Myles Mass leads the group and he's a solid corner, but Johnathan Bloom is a true impact player. He was a first-team All-District selection at linebacker as a sophomore and now he's probably their best player. Bloom has two interceptions as a safety this year. Darius Allen and Chris Anaba have also emerged as playmakers in the secondary.

Daunte Ward is the quarterback of the Panthers' run-heavy attack. They've found modest success in the run game, but it feels like there are way too many cooks in that kitchen. Roman Anderson and Miguel Romero are the Panthers' top two running backs, but Cameron Jackson, Terrance Sneed, David Booker, Ugo Ishiekwene, Caleb Palmer, and Kevonne Hyde will also see time in the backfield. The passing game is virtually non-existent, however, which is pretty crazy considering that Donnell Dunn was putting up 200-yard receiving games almost effortlessly a few years ago.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

In the very first game of the 2017 season in District 17-6A, the Panthers defeated the Wildcats for the first time ever, winning by a final score of 27-9. Bobby Dodson ran for 77 yards on 14 carries. Jack Barrientez scored the Wildcats' only touchdown of the game on a three-yard run in the third quarter.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

Freshmen at Woods, JV at Springs. Cy Springs only has one JV team.

Location of Cypress Springs High School

Ten Years, Ten Best Players - #5: Isaiah Battle

Halfway home. The next player to be featured in the countdown of the ten best players from the first decade of Cy Woods football is a game-breaking wideout and probably one of the most clutch players in program history.

#5: Isaiah Battle, WR, 2008-09

Colleges: Blinn, Texas State

Cy Woods accomplishments

- Unanimous 1st-Team All-District 15-5A, 2009
- District 15-5A Offensive Player of the Year, 2009

- Texas Sports Writers Association Third-Team All-State, 2009
- Houston Chronicle Second-Team All-Greater Houston, 2009
- School's all-time leader in receiving yards (1,224)
- Most receiving yards in a season (1,109, 2009)
- Most receptions in a season (66, 2009)
- 2nd all-time in receptions (73)
- Most receptions in a game (10, 2009)

Notable Games

2009 vs. Klein Oak - 6 catches, 147 yards, 2 TD
2009 vs. Cy Creek - 8 catches, 153 yards, TD
2009 vs. Langham Creek - 6 catches, 168 yards, 2 TD
2009 vs. Cy Falls - 10 catches, 163 yards, TD
2009 vs. Dallas Skyline - Game-winning 44-yard TD reception with 0:31 left in game

When the Cypress Woods Wildcats needed a big play through the air, they turned to Isaiah Battle. We called him Predator, and for good reason. Isaiah was cold-blooded and he had evil intentions every time he caught a pass. Without a doubt, he was the most dominant wide receiver in Cy Woods football history.

Not only was Isaiah dominant, we knew that he would show up during the biggest games. He helped lead the Wildcats down the field during the game-winning drive against Cy Creek. He tore Klein Oak apart and that was a game in which Oak was favored by 40 points. But his shining moment in a Cy Woods uniform came in the third round of the playoffs against Skyline. With the game tied with less than a minute remaining in regulation, he cemented his status as a great when he caught a Colton Huntsman pass and dashed into the end zone with what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown, giving the Wildcats their payback over the Raiders.

Isaiah was a unanimous first-team All-District 15-5A selection in 2009 and was named Offensive Player of the Year. He also earned third-team All-State honors and also received an invitation to play in the Bayou Bowl, a post-season All-Star game featuring high school players from Texas and Louisiana.

Isaiah Battle is the only Cy Woods player to record over 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. He might be the only person to accomplish this feat for a while. That's alright, though. Among Cy Woods wide receivers, Isaiah Battle has no peers. He is the greatest wide receiver in Cy Woods football history.

Cy Woods 61, Cy Park 7: A Stroll Through the Park

2018 record: 5-2, 4-1 in District 14-6A

Photo by Tom Dendy

Photos for this week's games

The Cypress Woods Wildcats started off Week 7 in District 14-6A by trouncing the Cypress Park Tigers 61-7 in the first-ever meeting between both schools in varsity football.

To be honest, I don't really have anything insightful to say about this game. This was a game that the Wildcats were expected to win convincingly and they did just that. They've taken care of business this month and now they find themselves entrenched in the top four in District 14-6A.

This was the Wildcats' fourth consecutive victory, giving them their longest winning streak since 2011. Cy Woods won eight straight that season. The 54-point margin of victory is the Cats' second-biggest margin of victory in a single game and also ties their largest win in a district game. The other game in which they won by 54 points? The 54-0 demolition of Cy Ranch in 2013.

Game Summarized By an Image I Found on the Internet

"Cy Woods won?"

What Happened

This was a game that the Wildcats were expected to win convincingly and they did just that.

After forcing a three-and-out on the first series of the evening, the Cats wasted little time in opening the scoring as Jake Tesch caught a Carson Danner pass and took it 42 yards to the end zone. Two minutes later, Christian Scott scored on a 19-yard run. Danner scored from one yard out to extend the Cy Woods lead to 20-0 and the rout was on.

Well... not quite. Sergio Small busted through the middle and outran everyone for a 52-yard touchdown to get Park on the board. The rout resumed when Tesch returned the ensuing kickoff 61 yards. One play later, he found himself in the end zone again following a 21-yard run.

End of 1st Quarter: Woods 27, Park 7

Christian Scott scored on another run midway through the second quarter, this time from 13 yards. Jackson Jones got in from one yard just before halftime.

Halftime: Woods 40, Park 7

With a massive lead, the Cats essentially shifted into "get out of here as quickly as possible" mode in the second half and everyone got a chance to appear in this game. Tre Mejia scored on an 18-yard run in the third quarter. In the fourth, Jones scored on a 13-yard run and Pearson Chesnutt capped off the evening with an 82-yard scoring run with less than five minutes remaining in the game.

Final: Woods 61, Park 7

Ground

About the only thing that went wrong for Cy Woods in this game was losing a couple of fumbles.

Carson Danner was held to just one touchdown in this game. The Cats didn't need to rely on him too much, though. He now has 15 rushing touchdowns on the season and he has three more games remaining (not talking about what comes after just yet) to reach the single-season record of 22, set by Nick Hooper in 2014.

Congratulations to Jeshurun "JJ" Williams on his varsity debut. JJ is a sophomore running back, so look for him to form a potent combo with his classmate, Trayse Holmes, in the coming years.

All statistics, as always, are from Varsity Wires.

JJ Williams: 7 rush, 32 yards
Darion Morgan: 7 rush, 9 yards
Christian Scott: 6 rush, 78 yards, 2 TD
Jackson Jones: 5 rush, 40 yards, 2 TD
Tre Mejia: 4 rush, 49 yards, TD
Trayse Holmes: 4 rush, 25 yards
Carson Danner: 4 rush, 24 yards, TD
Konner Sabrsula: 2 rush, 13 yards
Pearson Chesnutt: 1 rush, 82 yards, TD
Jake Tesch: 1 rush, 21 yards, TD

Air

Danner's arm was not really needed in this game.

Carson Danner: 4-7, 98 yards, TD

Christian Scott: 2 catches, 25 yards
Jake Tesch: 1 catch, 42 yards, TD
Konner Sabrsula: 1 catch, 31 yards

Defense

The defense allowed only one big play and it was Sergio Small's touchdown run. Other than that, the Tigers didn't have much going for them, even in the second half.

23 Wildcats recorded at least one tackle in this game and there was a three-way tie for the lead: Trajan Armstrong, Mac Bird, and Caleb Rutherford all finished with eight tackles on the evening. Trajan was playing his first varsity game after getting moved up, so congratulations to him on making his varsity debut.

Nolan Authorlee had an interception and Rutherford also recovered a fumble.

Special Teams

Nolan Authorlee blocked two field goal attempts, making him the first player in Cy Woods history to block more than one field goal in a single game.

Gustavo Olmedo went 7-9 on extra points. I think we can chalk up the first miss to a bad hold. It's the first two extra points he's missed since Spring and he's been a dependable option, so I won't complain.

Jake Tesch: 1 kick returned, 61 yards; 1 punt returned, 7 yards

Men of the Match

The entire team gets the nod for this week.

Special shoutouts go to Trajan Armstong for leading the team in tackles in his first varsity game and Nolan Authorlee for blocking two field goals and intercepting a pass.

Alright, let's move on to next week.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will face the Cypress Springs Panthers at 7:00 on Friday, October 19 at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium. Cy Woods will be the home team in this contest. Don't forget to wear pink...

Know the Enemy: Cypress Park Tigers

Week 7: Cypress Woods Wildcats (4-2, 3-1) @ Cypress Park Tigers (0-5, 0-3)
6:30 PM Thursday, October 11, 2018
Pridgeon Stadium

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

On Homecoming Friday at Pridgeon Stadium, the Cats almost squandered a 30-point lead in the fourth quarter to a Cy Lakes team that had one final kick left in them. Fortunately, Cy Woods was able to stave off the Spartans' upset bid and escaped with a 63-55 victory.

Carson Danner ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 183 and three touchdowns. Darion Morgan had 163 rushing yards, 89 of which came on the longest touchdown run in Cy Woods history. Cameron Sowell caught two passes and they both resulted in touchdowns. On defense, Mac Bird had a dozen tackles to lead the way.

Next up for the Cats is another first: the first matchup with Cy-Fair ISD's other varsity football debutant, the Cypress Park Tigers. Before we take a look at the Tigers, here are the current standings in District 14-6A and the current situation in the district.

District 14-6A

Standings

Current playoff teams in italics.

1. Cy Ranch (6-0, 4-0)
2. Cy Woods (4-2, 3-1)
3. Tomball Memorial (4-1, 2-1)
4. Cy Lakes (3-3, 2-2)
5. Langham Creek (2-4, 2-2)
6. Bryan (2-3, 1-2)
7. Cy Springs (1-4, 1-2)
8. Bridgeland (2-4, 1-3)
9. Cy Park (0-5, 0-3)

Last Week in District 14-6A

Langham Creek 28, Tomball Memorial 21
Cy Ranch 51, Cy Park 10
Bryan 42, Bridgeland 21
Bye: Cy Springs

Langham Creek knocking off Tomball Memorial gave them another lifeline in the playoff chase.  Ranch is the only team I would consider to be a lock for the playoffs at this point unless some cataclysmic event just tanks them. Tomball Memorial is in a good position but the loss will probably force them to wait a little longer for their gratification. So, that leaves Woods, Lakes, Langham, and possibly Bryan to duke it out for the last two spots. Woods definitely has the upper hand as they own the tiebreakers over Lakes and Langham.

This Week in District 14-6A

Bye: Langham Creek

Thursday
Cy Lakes vs. Bryan, 7:00 at Cy-Fair FCU

Friday
Bridgeland vs. Tomball Memorial, 7:00 at Cy-Fair FCU

Saturday
Cy Springs vs. Cy Ranch, 7:00 at Cy-Fair FCU

The Enemy: Cypress Park Tigers

First varsity season.

This will be the first meeting between Cy Woods and Cy Park. The Tigers will be the 31st team to face Cy Woods in football.

Cypress Park High School opened in 2016 with only freshmen. Opening with just one grade would, in a sense, ensure that the efforts to build its traditions would be wholly organic. There are also a few people currently on the Cy Park faculty who have Cy Woods connections.

Another Wildcat football alum will be taking on the Wildcats this week: Hayden Dobbs, a 2009 Cy Woods graduate, will be facing his old school for the first time as a Cy Park coach. Hayden was a team captain and a starting linebacker on the very first Cy Woods varsity football team and went on to play college football at McNeese State University in Lake Charles. Hayden is also on the cover page of the blog this year.

Also, Mrs. (Crystal) Romanelli, a former Cy Woods teacher who switched to the administration route and is now an assistant principal at Cy Park, will be pitted against her husband, Coach (Marcus) Romanelli, Cy Woods' strength and conditioning coach. And finally, Mr. (Chris) Hecker, Cy Park's principal, is a former Cy Woods assistant principal; he served in that capacity when Cy Woods first opened.

Oh, one last note. Park is singular. Like, one park.

Cy Park season-to-date

L 29-7 @ Klein Cain
L 47-0 vs. Cy-Fair (game called at halftime - severe weather)
L 54-7 @ Cy Lakes
L 37-30 vs. Cy Springs
L 51-10 @ Cy Ranch

The Tigers went up against the other Goliath of Cy-Fair ISD football, Cy Ranch, and well, they underwent another bloodletting, losing 51-10. At least they got that over with.

Players to Watch

Michael Tolbert - JR QB #2
Blasco Tipps - JR RB/DB #3
Sergio Small - JR RB/LB #24
James LeBlanc - JR RB/DB #23
Raymond Sims - SOPH LB/RB #32
Carl Jenkins - JR DB #25
Jasper Warren - JR DB/WR #20
Bryan Gutierrez - JR OL/DL #55
Elijah Steen - JR OL/DL #63
Mark Preston - JR OL #62

2¢ on Park

In contrast to Bridgeland, Cy Park's introduction to varsity football at the 6A level has been significantly more arduous. Mrs. Romo says that this season is essentially a learning year for the Tigers. They're pretty much using this year to learn what it takes to compete in Class 6A.

I watched their game against Lakes and they might have had 30 kids dressed for that game. And then... they saw a couple of key players go down with injuries during the course of that game. The Tigers will play hard, but they're also playing two games at once: the football game, and the numbers game. The numbers game is significantly more ruthless. Because of the severe lack of depth, everyone plays both ways.

Despite all of that, the kids don't seem discouraged and there is no shortage of excitement... there was a fair amount of students in the Park section when they played Lakes and almost all of them stayed through until the end. Fortunately for Park, it sounds like they have been able to build enough depth to where they can promote a couple of kids from the JV.

Probably the best news for them is that one of the players they lost against Lakes, Sergio Small, is now healthy. Small, who was also a regional qualifier in wrestling, is the heart and soul of this Tiger team. He's their leading rusher and he busted out for 208 yards against Cy Springs. James LeBlanc is Park's leading receiver out of the backfield. He is one of only four players to catch a pass for the Tigers. The Tigers will have to get something going in the passing game with Michael Tolbert. Blasco Tipps has some big-play ability of his own; he had a 60-yard touchdown run against Ranch and also returned a blocked extra point kick against Springs.

Carl Jenkins, one of the few players who plays on one side of the ball for Park, is listed at 5-1 and he embodies the Mark Twain quote "it's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." Jenkins leads the Tigers in tackles from his safety spot. They also have a couple of promising inside linebackers in Raymond Sims and Omega Goodlette. Bryan Gutierrez and Elijah Steen will anchor both lines for the Tigers.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

Freshmen at Park, JV at Cy Woods.

Freshman game times are 4:30 and 6:30 on Wednesday. There will be one JV game at 6:30.

Location of Cypress Park High School

Cy Woods 63, Cy Lakes 55: Happy Homecoming.

2018 Record: 4-2, 3-1 in District 14-6A

Photo by Tom Dendy

Photo gallery for this week's games

For senior football players, the Homecoming game is definitely one of the most important on the schedule, dwarfed in significance only by the rivalry game and (if their team qualifies) the playoffs. For their school, the outcome of the game essentially defines the mood for the weekend. A win and everyone's happy. A loss... well, dampens the mood of the festivities. Cy Woods lost on Homecoming during my senior year and the aftermath was thoroughly unpleasant. We didn't just lose, Ridge gave us a beating. To top it all off, Homecoming was the first district game that year so we were already starting off on the wrong foot.

Fortunately for the Class of 2019 at Cypress Woods High School, they guaranteed themselves a happy Homecoming weekend with a 63-55 victory over Cy Lakes on Friday, extending their winning streak to three games.

This game looked like it was going to be easy... until it stopped being easy when Lakes hit back in the second quarter. The Cats re-established control in the third quarter and thought that they could salt this one away by just getting a few stops and burning some clock in the fourth. Simple, right?

Well... in that final quarter, the Spartans decided that they would not be content to just take their loss and move on to next week. That provided some, shall we say, tense moments to close things out.

Cy Woods lit up the scoreboard to the tune of 63 points and 667 yards of offense. But, Lakes came to play as well, even if their comeback bid ultimately fell short. That definitely was not the Cy Lakes that we were accustomed to seeing during the all-CFISD district years in which they'd routinely lose by 30-40 points. The culture of that program has changed dramatically for the better and they believe that they can be a playoff team. Seeing a 30-point lead nearly vanish is definitely not ideal, but to me, Cy Woods withstood two huge haymakers from Cy Lakes in this game and as a result, they're sitting at 3-1 after the first half of district play.

We are really seeing just how significant that victory over Langham Creek was from an emotional standpoint for the Cats because it absolutely got their season back on track. They have two more games left in this slightly easier mid-season stretch, so they have two more chances to really solidify their chances for a return to the playoffs. Of course, they've got to win those games.

Game Summarized by an Image I Found on the Internet

What Happened

Cy Woods got the ball to start this game but Christian Scott misjudged the flight of the ball on the opening kickoff and as a result, the Cats had to start at their own 11. Ultimately it didn't matter because Darion Morgan scored on an 89-yard run on the first play of the game. After the Spartans turned the ball over on downs, the Cats marched down the field and Carson Danner capped off the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jake Tesch.

Lakes responded by getting on the board with a three-yard touchdown run from Khaliq Mateen. Earlier in that drive, Mateen completed a pass to Quintavien Smith, who somehow slipped out of a couple of tackles along the sideline and dashed into the red zone to set up the score. Cy Woods answered that score with a touchdown of their own as Danner found the end zone from 21 yards out.

End of 1st Quarter: Woods 21, Lakes 7

The first play of the second quarter was a Cy Lakes punt. A couple of personal fouls aided the Cats' next drive, which was capped off by a four-yard touchdown run from Tre Mejia. However, Lakes hit back with 45 and 41-yard touchdown runs from Sean Hunter. Hunter's first touchdown run capped off a one-play drive; the second touchdown came after Kyree Anderson picked off a pass from Danner. On the very first play of Woods' next drive, Kyvon Highsmith single-handedly ended it by ripping the ball from Danner as he was getting ready to hand it off to Morgan and then he rode the momentum of the pile to put the Spartans at the door once again. On fourth down, Smith made a diving grab to secure Mateen's pass for a 14-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, so the Cats stayed in front.

Woods responded with a five-yard touchdown run from Trayse Holmes and on the final play of the first half, Danner hit Cameron Sowell for a 41-yard touchdown. It's the second time this season that Danner found Sowell for a touchdown pass right before halftime.

Halftime: Woods 42, Lakes 26

Cy Lakes came up empty to start the second half and the Cats opened up the scoring in the final 24 minutes when Jake Tesch scored on an eight-yard run. The defense got another stop and then Danner connected with Sowell for another touchdown pass, this time from 32 yards. Unfortunately, Jarel Lewis had a 50-yard run to start Lakes' next drive and after a facemask penalty, he capped it off with a 13-yard touchdown. Danner had a 50-yard touchdown run wiped out by a penalty, but he still ended up getting his touchdown from five yards.

End of 3rd Quarter: Woods 63, Lakes 33

On the first play of the final quarter, Thaddrick Johnson was left completely uncovered and he walked into the end zone after catching Mateen's pass. On the Cats' next possession, Lakes scored again when Anderson, who had the interception earlier in the game, scooped up an errant pitch and took it 33 yards for another touchdown. Woods forced a three-and-out and lined up for a field goal after their drive stalled. Unfortunately, the kick was blocked and Eamon Perry picked up the loose ball and ran 70 yards for yet another touchdown. The Spartans got the two-point conversion to cut the Cy Woods lead to eight. The Cats managed to pick themselves up, however, and successfully ran out the clock to escape with the victory.

Final: Woods 63, Lakes 55

Ground

It was yet another monster night on the ground for the offense as they ran for 484 yards. This, however, is still short of the school-record 504 they put up against Jersey Village in that crazy 74-73 game back in 2015. However, Darion Morgan set a new school record for the longest scoring run with his 89-yard run on the first play of the game. The previous record was an 88-yard run by Mason Roberts against Cy Ranch in 2012.

Carson Danner added two more touchdowns on the ground to give him 14 on the year.

Stats from Varsity Wires.

Carson Danner: 26 rush, 181 yards, 2 TD
Darion Morgan: 14 rush, 163 yards, TD
Trayse Holmes: 8 rush, 42 yards, TD
Christian Scott: 5 rush, 42 yards
Jake Tesch: 4 rush, 21 yards
Tre Mejia: 3 rush, 33 yards, TD
Jackson Jones: 2 rush, 1 yard

Air

Christian Scott had his hands on the ball but got dispossessed of it before he completed the action of making the catch. Kyree Anderson snatched it out of the air and gave the Spartans the ball.

I wonder how Cameron Sowell would have fared in the old offense. He's definitely emerging as a #1 receiver in a run-dominant offense.

Tre Mejia: 3 catches, 31 yards
Cameron Sowell: 2 catches, 73 yards, 2 TD
Connor Faulk: 2 catches, 30 yards
Christian Scott: 1 catch, 23 yards
Jake Tesch: 1 catch, 14 yards, TD
Darion Morgan: 1 catch, 12 yards

Defense

For the first time this season, the Wildcats did not force a turnover on defense. They also got put into some tough positions because of offensive miscues and the Spartans turned all three Cy Woods turnovers into 19 points.

But, yeah... gotta find a way to pick up the offense by stopping them.

Eighteen Wildcats recorded at least one tackle and Mac Bird led the way with 12. Apparently, he had a little friendly wager going with Lakes linebacker Malik Green for this game. That was what was relayed to me by his dad. Unfortunately for Mac, Malik ended up as the winner as he posted 18 tackles.

Special Teams

Lakes also turned a blocked field goal into eight points. Gustavo Olmedo successfully converted all nine of his extra-point attempts.

Cy Lakes kicker Joseph Staiano has been in that position for three years and he's gotten better each year. His first two kickoffs really messed with the Wildcat return unit and really put the offense in tough positions early.

Carson Danner punted once and it traveled 30 yards.

Christian Scott: 2 kicks returned, 18 yards
Reagan Simmons: 2 kicks returned, 13 yards
Chase Richter: 1 kick returned, 18 yards
Pearson Chesnutt: 1 kick returned, 9 yards

Man of the Match

Darion Morgan for setting a record. He showed no lingering effects of whatever was keeping him out of the Bridgeland game on that run. Even outside of that run, he was still getting good chunks of yardage so he's definitely doing his job on the offense. All 14 of his rushing attempts resulted in gains.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will kick off Week 7 in District 14-6A as they take on the Cypress Park Tigers at Pridgeon Stadium on Thursday, October 11 at 6:30 PM. Cy Woods will be the visitors in this game.