Cypress Woods Wildcats (8-3) vs. The Woodlands Highlanders (7-4)
7:00 PM Friday, November 22, 2019
Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Stadium
Photo courtesy of Phlox Photography.
Previously on Cy Woods Football...
The Cats knocked off Cedar Ridge 42-28 for their first playoff victory since 2014. Jackson Jones went 7-16 for 208 yards and threw two touchdowns and also ran for 54 yards and two more scores in his first game back from injury. Trayse Holmes had 123 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Jason Christenson had 1.5 sacks while Tyler Sherrill, Chris Agnew, and Austyn Cohrs all had a half-sack.
Cy Woods' next challenge comes in the form of a longtime power in Texas high school football, The Woodlands Highlanders. When you get to the second round, there are no "bad" or even "mediocre" teams. Everyone will be giving the Cats their best shot from here on out.
Bi-District results
Allen 55, Sachse 20
Rockwall 47, Harker Heights 7
Cypress Ranch 38, Stony Point 24
Klein Oak 47, Aldine MacArthur 17
Prosper 24, Wylie 0
Mesquite 52, Killeen Shoemaker 6
Cypress Woods 42, Cedar Ridge 28
The Woodlands 17, Spring 0
Area pairings
Allen vs. Rockwall, 8 PM Friday 11/22, AT&T Stadium
Cypress Ranch vs. Klein Oak, 3 PM Saturday 11/23, Waller ISD Stadium
Prosper vs. Mesquite, 7 PM Friday 11/22, Eagle Stadium, Allen
Cypress Woods vs. The Woodlands, 7 PM Friday 11/22, Cy-Fair FCU Stadium
The Enemy: The Woodlands Highlanders
2019 Record: 7-4, 5-3 (4th) in District 15-6A
The Woodlands season-to-date
L 17-16 vs. Cy-Fair
W 31-10 @ Lamar
W 20-14 @ Oak Ridge
W 34-7 vs. College Park
L 21-10 @ Klein Oak
L 28-14 vs. Klein Cain
W 31-7 @ Klein
W 31-16 vs. Conroe
L 20-13 @ Klein Collins
W 38-21 vs. Klein Forest
W 17-0 @ Spring
This is the first-ever meeting between Cy Woods and The Woodlands. The Highlanders are the 35th team to take on the Wildcats.
Players to Watch
Malik Johnson - SR WR #2
Bryeton Gilford - SR RB #5
Jett Duncan - SR OL #70
Caleb Fox - SR DL #90
Simon Cruz - SR DL #99
Cannon Starcke - SR LB #11
Kennedy Stewart - SR DB #1
Abb Acuff - SR DB #8
Carter Doucet - SR DB #14
Fabrizio Pinton - SR K/P #80
2¢ on The Woodlands
The Woodlands is perennially one of the top programs in the state of Texas. However, they've hit a bit of a rough patch this season, mainly due to some injuries to key players and inconsistency on offense. However, they're getting some of those key players back, like the explosive Malik Johnson. Bryeton Gilford, the Highlanders' feature back for three years, has battled issues all season ranging from injury to off-field matters, but he's been welcomed back to the fold.
Teddy Knox, a highly-touted move-in from Louisiana, has also made an impact in his first season in Texas, but unfortunately, he's injured. Ben Mills and Peyton Janecek have both platooned at quarterback, but they're both hurt. Mills was injured last week against Spring and his status for this game is unknown. Janecek's status is also unknown. Cody Howard, a junior, will have his turn to lead the Highlander offense. In addition to Johnson, he'll have some solid targets in Jack Calhoun, Cole Dodson, Connor Stockerl, and Matt Bulovas to fall back upon. Howard is also committed to Baylor for baseball, so this kid isn't just some random who's getting thrown into the fire.
The Highlander offensive line is the same as always. Big, beefy, and at least one Division I player. This year's anchor is Jett Duncan, a North Texas commit. Cody Johnson, an FCS commit to Fordham, and Titan Tucker, a junior, will also feature up front.
To be in this position despite all of the injuries they've endured and the issues they may be facing off the field is a testament to The Woodlands' long-standing excellence as a program. They've been in "next man up" mode for much of this season, and yet... here they are. This is a team that has certainly been here before and they're starting to remember who they are as a program.
The Highlanders' calling card is a smashmouth defense that has yet to allow 30 points in a game this season; the 161 points they've given up puts them in the top 20 in Class 6A. Caleb Fox is the anchor of TWHS' defensive line and he blows up plays with regularity. It's an imposing front six with Fox, Simon Cruz, and Will Krotee on the line while Cannon Starcke, Blane Corekin, and Noah Polotko man the second level. Abb Acuff, Carter Doucet, and Kennedy Stewart lead a battle-tested secondary that will also feature Ethan Winfield, the youngest son of 14-year NFL veteran Antoine Winfield. One of the NFL's best cornerbacks in the 2000s, Winfield recorded over 1,000 tackles and intercepted 27 passes for Buffalo and Minnesota.
Fabrizio Pinton is one of the top kickers in the country and he can hit from anywhere. In fact, he nailed a 55-yarder at the buzzer to beat Cedar Ridge in this round last year. With the game on the line, he's their man.
In this matchup, Cy Woods will certainly be the underdog again, but the Cats have never been the type of team to back down from a challenge. Let's roll.
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