Know the Enemy: Bridgeland Bears

2019 Regular Season, Week 5: Cypress Woods Wildcats (2-2, 2-0) vs. Bridgeland Bears (4-0, 2-0)
7:00 PM Friday, September 27, 2019
Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Stadium

Photo by Tom Dendy

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Cats had to wake up bright and early on Saturday because their game against Langham Creek, which was originally supposed to take place on Thursday, was postponed due to Imelda. Despite the change in the schedule, they shook off the lethargy and took care of business in a 31-14 victory. Jackson Jones threw touchdown passes to Konner Sabrsula and Cameron Sowell, while Colton Morris had seven tackles to lead the way on defense, which held the Lobos to just 126 yards of offense on the afternoon.

Now, the Cats get to tussle with a second-year program that has firmly announced their arrival on the Texas High School Football landscape. On their Homecoming game. This should be fun. Or not!

District 14-6A

Current Standings

1. Bridgeland (4-0, 2-0)

2. Cypress Lakes (3-1, 2-0)
3. Cypress Woods (2-2, 2-0)

4. Tomball Memorial (3-1, 1-1) 

5. Cypress Ranch (2-2, 1-1)
6. Bryan (1-2, 0-1)

7. Cypress Park (0-3, 0-1)

8. Cypress Springs (0-4, 0-2)

9. Langham Creek (0-4, 0-2)

Week 4 Results

Bye: Cypress Park

Friday, September 20

Tomball Memorial 40, Bryan 0

Cypress Lakes 27, Cypress Springs 7

Saturday, September 21

Cypress Woods 31, Langham Creek 14

Bridgeland 48, Cypress Ranch 14

Week 5 Schedule

Bye: Tomball Memorial

Thursday, September 26

Cypress Ranch (2-2, 1-1) vs. Cypress Lakes (3-1, 2-0), 6:30 at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium 

Friday, September 27

Bryan (1-2, 0-1) vs. Langham Creek (0-4, 0-2), 7:00 at Merrill Green Stadium

Cypress Woods (2-2, 2-0) vs. Bridgeland (4-0, 2-0), 7:00 at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium

Saturday, September 28

Cypress Springs (0-4, 0-2) vs. Cypress Park (0-3, 0-1), 6:00 at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium

I think we're going to learn a lot about this district this week. We will see whether Cy Lakes is for real or if Ranch can rebound from that debacle against Bridgeland. 

Can Bryan get on the board in district play to keep pace in the early playoff race? I know they've got the defense to stay in games, but their offensive issues are well-documented. It's unlikely that they'll lose against a rebuilding Langham Creek squad, but those issues on offense mean that there's a greater than 0% chance that they could lose. 

And finally, I feel like Park is going to get that long-awaited first win on Saturday.

The Enemy: Bridgeland Bears

2018 Record: 3-7, 2-6 (7th) in District 14-6A

Did not qualify for playoffs

Bridgeland season-to-date

W 70-17 @ Waltrip

W 54-7 vs. Stratford

W 38-0 @ Cypress Springs

W 48-14 vs. Cypress Ranch

The Bears (I apologize for my language) administered an epic ass-kicking to Cy Ranch with a wire-to-wire 48-14 victory. There was blood everywhere. Bridgeland slugged Ranch in the mouth and the Mustangs just could not mount a response. 

Connor Weigman went 34-42 for 384 yards and four touchdowns through the air, putting up one of the most impressive displays of passing I've ever seen at any level of football. Ranch was expected to provide a stiff test for the Bears, who walked over Waltrip, crushed a Stratford team that could legitimately challenge for a playoff spot in District 17-6A, and blanked a Cy Springs team that might end up going winless. 

Well, they certainly aced that test. 

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 1-0.

Previous Meeting

September 29, 2018: Woods 56, Bridgeland 14

Players to Watch

Conner Weigman - SOPH QB #15

Finn Nicholson - JR QB/WR #8

Mason Culton - SOPH RB #27

Gavan Kaspar - JR RB/DB #11

Dylan Goffney - JR WR #5

Atrevion Hunter - JR WR #7

Mine Imarah - JR DL #50

Charles Moore - JR LB #41

Connor Motsinger - JR LB #33

Jack Grier - JR DB #24

Weston Cadena - SR DB #23

Bryce McMorris - JR DB #4

2¢ on Bridgeland

The Bridgeland Bears are making some serious moves in Year Two. Apparently they decided to stop listening to the memo that their time hasn't quite come yet. They've parlayed the incredible summer they had towards transforming into a budding juggernaut. They were the first team to qualify for this year's State 7-on-7 Tournament and in College Station, they advanced to the semi-finals of the Consolation bracket before ultimately bowing out to Round Rock. I have to say, I'm legitimately impressed.

I didn't even know that it was possible for them to have a quarterback better than Finn Nicholson, but Conner Weigman has absolutely taken the district by storm. He completely dissected Ranch's secondary and with the way he was slinging the ball, it really looked like he was playing 7-on-7 football. We know what Dylan Goffney brings to the table as one of the state's top junior receivers, but Atrevion Hunter is another home run threat in the slot. Honestly, right now it doesn't matter who lines up at receiver for the Bears because Weigman can turn any of them into a threat. It could be Hunter Wallis. Maybe it'll be Andrew Maleski or Dylan Crippen. It could even be Nicholson, who's now a wideout thanks to Weigman's emergence. Goffney might have another 200-yard game in him before season's end.

The Bears don't run much, but Mason Culton and Jerrell McWilliams can keep opposing defenses honest. Culton has also established himself as a factor in the passing game as he's hauled in a couple of touchdown catches. The line, led by John Hughes and Brian Cisneros on the left side, has done a tremendous job of keeping Weigman's pocket clean and that's a huge reason why he's carving up everybody. The Bears have a plethora of weapons on offense and they definitely remind me of the early Cy Woods teams.

While all of the attention is being (deservedly) heaped on the Bears' rendition of the Greatest Show on Turf, the defense has also stepped up their game big-time. Mine Imarah was probably their best defensive lineman in 2018 (at least when I saw them play Woods) and he's one of the many Bears who are breaking out. Of his 18 tackles this season, six have resulted in a loss and that also includes a sack. Charles Moore has also turned into a disruptive force on the outside and he's also gotten some time as a defensive end in passing situations. Gavan Kaspar, last year's starting running back, moved to the secondary and he's shown that he's just a fine football player no matter the position, showcasing his playmaking ability on defense to add to an already formidable backline of Bryce McMorris, Weston Cadena, Jack Grier, and Kamryn Amao. McMorris and Cadena come into this game leading the Bears in tackles.

Additionally, Tyler Slusher has also become an asset for Bridgeland in the kicking game and he's gotten plenty of work thanks to his offense. He's hit all five of his field goal attempts and has 27 extra points.

And to think... this isn't even their final form.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

Riding high off their dramatic victory over Langham Creek, the Wildcats made short work of the Bears in a 56-14 victory. The only points that Bridgeland scored came on a gift fumble that Carson Danner lost in the end zone in the second quarter and their first drive of the second half. 

Cy Woods outgained Bridgeland 578-162 on offense; Trayse Holmes ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Jacob Tesch ran for 121 and a touchdown and also had 73 receiving yards and caught a touchdown pass. Carson Danner threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns and added 83 yards and three more scores on the ground. On defense, Ty Foster had a couple of sacks and recovered a fumble, while Jackson Hosemann had two interceptions.

I'm thinking that this year's game will take on a different tune.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

Freshmen at Woods, JV at Bridgeland. Game times, as always, are 4:30 and 6:30. 

Location of Bridgeland High School