Monday, August 26, 2019

Know the Enemy: Cypress Ridge Rams

Week 1: Cypress Woods Wildcats @ Cypress Ridge Rams
6:30 PM, Thursday, August 29, 2019
Pridgeon Stadium

Photo by Tom Dendy

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

On November 10, 2018, the Cypress Woods Wildcats made their return to the Texas High School Football playoffs after a four-year absence. Unfortunately, they failed to win their bi-district playoff game for the first time in school history as the Round Rock Dragons came to Cy-Fair FCU Stadium and escaped with a 56-49 victory. Special teams proved to be the culprit as Round Rock managed to return two kickoffs back for touchdowns.

Darion Morgan ran for 217 yards and a touchdown. Mac Bird had eleven tackles and forced a fumble in his final high school football game. Chase Richter had ten tackles.

A new chapter of Cy Woods football has begun and the Class of 2020 will be authoring this latest installment.

The Enemy: Cypress Ridge Rams

2018 Record: 7-3, 5-3 (5th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs

The Rams actually finished in a tie for fourth with Cy Creek, but they lost the tiebreaker to the Cougars when they lost 37-7 in a game where they committed seven turnovers. This resulted in them being the only Cy-Fair ISD school from 17-6A to miss out on the playoffs. Creek, on the other hand, wound up advancing to the fourth round of the playoffs in the Division II bracket. Oh, what could have been.

New Cy Woods defensive coordinator Brad Beerwinkel will face his former team for the first time. Before joining the Cats, Coach Beerwinkel was on the Rams' staff for the last eleven seasons.

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 6-5.

Previous Meetings


September 1, 2018: Ridge 47, Woods 21
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

Vernon Broughton - SR DL #45
Je'vaun Dabon - SR DB #28
Kade Barnes - SR DB #7
Ja'Nyus Morgan - SR DL #8
Centarus Smith - SR DL #44
Le'juene Patterson - SR ATH #2
Tristian Fletcher - JR RB #25
Leslie Wellington - SR RB #1
John Moten - SR WR #5

2¢ on Ridge

It's a new era for the Cypress Ridge Rams. Coach Thiebaud has retired and in steps Andrew Shanle. Coach Shanle was formerly the defensive coordinator at Cy Ranch and his defenses consistently ranked as one of the top units in the city. In his first season at the helm, he inherits a roster that is primed to challenge Cy-Fair for the District 17-6A crown.

The Rams have always had talent on the defensive side of the ball... but this year, they have a player who is surely their most heralded recruit since Russell Shepard. Vernon Broughton, who committed to Texas earlier this summer, has been rated as one of the top defensive linemen in the country by virtually every college football recruiting service you can think of since his sophomore year at Spring Woods. Once he was eligible to play for Cy Ridge, he showcased the potential that has made him so highly regarded. Now with a full season ahead, Broughton will be counted on to lead the Ram defense.

Broughton may be the star attraction but he's got an excellent supporting cast on the line in Ja'Nyus Morgan and Centarus Smith, who were both All-District selections in 2018. Meanwhile, in the secondary, Je'vaun Dabon and Kade Barnes are a couple of impact players. Dabon, one of the best safeties in Houston, recently committed to Texas Tech. He's coming off a junior season in which he picked off five passes and is also their leading returning tackler. Barnes is a Yale pledge who was a second-team All-District selection last year; he forced a couple of fumbles and also picked off a pass. The linebackers need a little rebuilding, but Daniel Zarate has some experience in a reserve role; he'll be counted on to lead what might be an inexperienced unit.

Noah Smith's departure leaves the Rams needing to replace their primary offensive playmaker. Smith did a little bit of everything; he was a dual-threat quarterback and also played a little wide receiver. Le'juene Patterson and Jaelon Madden both saw time at quarterback in 2018; Patterson spent most of last year as a receiver. Whoever wins the battle will have John Moten as a primary target; Patterson might turn out to be the top receiving option himself. The Rams have an experienced tandem at running back with Leslie Wellington and Tristian Fletcher; Wellington is a three-year letterman while Fletcher has been on the varsity since his freshman year. They'll get plenty of protection from Raymundo Martinez and Clint Freeman.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

In the 2018 season opener for both teams, the Rams scored 19 points in the final 45 seconds of the first half to seize control of the game. The Wildcats never really threatened and the Rams wound up running away with a 47-21 victory. Jackson Jones scored on a one-yard run but the Cats were stifled on offense as they were held to just 220 yards on the night. To add insult to injury, Jackson also threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown... and also got hurt. Chase Richter had seven tackles, recovered a fumble, and intercepted a pass.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

Cy Ridge only has one JV and one freshman team. As a result, the Gold (B) teams will be playing different opponents. The freshmen are on the road for their first high school football game; the B-team will travel to Westfield while the A-team will head to Cy Ridge. On the other hand, the JV Gold team will play Klein Cain.

Game times are 4:30 and 6:30 on Wednesday.

Location of Westfield High School



Location of Cypress Ridge High School


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