The next edition of Wildcats Through the Years takes a look back on the 2015 Cypress Woods Wildcats football team.
Summary
Record: 5-5, 5-4 (5th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs
Points scored: 444 (44.4 per game)
Points allowed: 407 (40.7 per game)
Largest margin of victory: 50 vs. Cy Lakes (70-20)
Largest margin of defeat: 37 vs. Cy Falls (20-57)
Most points scored: 73 vs. Jersey Village
Most points allowed: 74 vs. Jersey Village
Fewest points scored: 20 vs. Cy Falls
Fewest points allowed: 7 vs. Cy-Fair
Individual records set
Most points scored by a kicker (career): Luis Reyes, 143
Most rushing yards in a game: C.J. Jones, 346 vs. Jersey Village
Most receiving touchdowns (career): Jordan Johnson, 14 (tied record)
Most receiving touchdowns (single season): Jordan Johnson, 10 (tied record)
Longest scoring play from scrimmage: Jordan Johnson, 94-yard TD reception vs. Cy Creek
Team records set
Most points scored in a game: 73 vs. Jersey Village
Most points allowed in a game: 74 to Jersey Village
Statistical Leaders
Passing: Bryson Powers, 93/174 (53.5%), 1546 yards, 19 TD, 10 INT
Rushing: C.J. Jones, 108 carries, 948 yards (8.8 yards per carry), 10 TD
Receiving: Jordan Johnson, 25 catches, 710 yards (28.4 yards per catch), 10 TD
Interceptions: Keith Watson, 2
Schedule and Results
Week 1: L 62-21 vs. Klein Collins (game played at NRG Stadium)
Week 3: W 59-31 vs. Cy Ridge (Berry)
Week 4: L 57-20 @ Cy Falls (Berry)
Week 5: L 44-25 vs. Cy Ranch (Pridgeon)
Week 6: L 40-35 @ Cy Creek (Pridgeon)
Week 7: W 70-20 vs. Cy Lakes (Homecoming VIII @ Berry)
Week 8: W 48-33 @ Langham Creek (Pridgeon)
Week 9: W 44-7 vs. Cy-Fair (Berry)
Week 10: L 74-73 vs. Jersey Village (Pridgeon)
Week 11: W 49-39 @ Cy Springs (Berry)
The Rundown
The 2015 Cypress Woods Wildcats nearly overcame a 1-3 start in district play to sneak into the playoffs. Unfortunately, that slow start, and a lackluster defense, were the main factors that prevented them from advancing to the playoffs.
Entering the season, the Cats had questions to answer on the offensive side of the ball, especially with Nick Hooper, a two-year starter at quarterback, departing. Ultimately, Bryson Powers won the quarterback battle, while Austin Goffney, who saw playing time in the first 3 games of the season, wound up transferring. Sophomore Jacob Kainer showed his upside before he went down with an injury. Entering the season, R.J. Harmon and C.J. Jones were touted as the best running back tandem in the district. However, while C.J. continued to build upon his breakout 2014, R.J. was sidetracked by various nagging injuries and never got to truly display his skills in his final season.
The Wildcats returned 3 of their 4 starting receivers from 2014; Jordan Johnson, Jared Taylor, and Tre' Hart. Jared and Tre' had solid seasons, but Jordan was simply on another level. Had the passing game been utilized more often, he would have shattered Isaiah Battle's records.
Skylar Schulz, the lone returning starter on the offensive line, was joined by Jonathan Laven, Mario Treviño, Ryan Kenny, and Josh Beardmore.
The defense struggled mightily in 2015; they only held two of their opponents to 20 points or less. The Cats actually allowed more points in the regular season (407) than they did in 2014 (360), a season in which they ended up allowing 455 points, the most in school history.
Kason Franklin and Myles Wilson were joined in the secondary by Ryan Olvera, Terrell Brown, James Fontenot, and a promising sophomore in Collin Fewox. Brandon DePrato, Keith Watson, and Austin Greaves returned to lead the linebacking corps. Neil Chambers emerged as a key contributor out of the middle linebacker spot. Caleb Smith, Jordan Frazier, Adrian Garcia, Stace Ivie, and Tobi Orundami were the main defensive linemen.
Week 1: L 62-21 vs. Klein Collins (Game played at Reliant Stadium)
Chapter 8 of Cy Woods Football began on August 29, 2015 at Reliant Stadium. Unfortunately, the Wildcats were completely dominated in all facets of the game as they had no answer for the Tigers' vaunted running game falling 62-21 in their first game of 2015. Bryson Powers scored the first points of the season on a 2-yard run in the 1st quarter. Tre' Hart provided a bright spot as he put up 128 receiving yards, including a 56-yard touchdown reception in the 3rd quarter.
Week 3: W 59-31 vs. Cy Ridge
The Cats managed to bounce back from their Opening Day drubbing with a win to open up district play, despite a lethargic start to this game. After falling behind 21-7 following the first quarter, the Wildcats outscored Ridge 52-10 over the final three quarters to secure their first win of the season. C.J. Jones had 4 receptions for 103 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Bryson Powers finished 14-18 through the air for 223 yards and 5 touchdowns. On defense, Kason Franklin returned an interception 96 yards for a touchdown, and Brandon DePrato recovered a fumble in the endzone for another Woods score.
Week 4: L 57-20 @ Cy Falls
I did not attend this game due to prior commitments, but Desmond Hite and Shannon Vaughns wreaked havoc against a hapless Wildcat defense.
Week 5: L 44-25 vs. Cy Ranch
The Wildcats fell behind early to their hated rivals, Cy Ranch, and never seriously threatened the Mustangs. They had a better showing in the 2nd half of this game, but a 28-6 halftime deficit proved to be too much to overcome. Bryson had 176 passing yards and 2 touchdowns and added 117 more yards on the ground. R.J. Harmon had a rushing and a receiving touchdown; he had 67 receiving yards and 73 rushing yards.
Week 6: L 40-35 @ Cy Creek
The Cats' slide continued against the Cougars, who jumped out to a 33-14 halftime lead. Woods fought back valiantly, but a last-gasp heave from Jacob Kainer was picked off by Chance Steverson, sealing the Wildcats' fate. Jordan Johnson caught 6 passes for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns; his 94-yard touchdown reception in this game is now the longest play in Cy Woods history. Tre' Hart also caught 2 touchdown passes and also recovered 2 onside kicks as the Wildcats mounted a furious rally late in the ballgame.
Week 7: W 70-20 vs. Cy Lakes (Homecoming VIII)
The Cats snapped their 3-game losing streak in emphatic fashion with a 70-20 victory over Cy Lakes on Homecoming weekend. Eight different players scored touchdowns for the Wildcats; Keith Watson scored once on defense with an 82-yard interception return and once on special teams when he recovered a blocked punt at the Spartans' 3-yard line. Jared Taylor caught 3 passes for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Matt Ficalora scored his first touchdown at the varsity level with a 45-yard run that represented the final Wildcat scoring play of the evening.
The Cats also set a new school record for scoring in a single quarter with 42 in the 1st quarter.
Week 8: W 48-33 @ Langham Creek
Once again, Cy Woods the playoffs for the playoffs. Their first test was a Langham Creek squad featuring two of the state's most dynamic players in Quartney Davis and Toneil Carter. The specter of a 3-game losing streak to the Lobos also loomed large for Woods, but the Cats exorcised those demons with a 48-33 victory to give their faint playoff hopes a massive boost. C.J. and Bryson ran roughshod on the Langham defense; C.J. ran for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Bryson, who also threw 2 touchdown passes to Jordan Johnson, ran for 159 and 2 touchdowns. The Cats committed 19 penalties in this game, but they did not turn the ball over, either.
The defense bent, but it did not break. They also kept the Lobos off the scoreboard in the 3rd quarter, which proved to be the difference in this game.
Week 9: W 44-7 vs. Cy-Fair
This iteration of the Battle of the Cats was firmly in Cy Woods' favor, as they absolutely dominated the Bobcats in all facets of the game in a 44-7 victory that seemed even more lopsided than the score itself. Unlike last year's tilt, overtime was not needed.
Both of Jordan Johnson's catches resulted in touchdowns, and C.J. continued to be C.J., tearing the Bobcat defense apart for 180 yards and a touchdown.
Week 10: L 74-73 vs. Jersey Village
This game was played almost 8 months ago, and I'm still in shock. It was definitely a game that might not happen for at least another decade. A historic night on offense for the Wildcats was all for naught as eternal nemesis Deshun Qualls stuck a dagger in Woods' playoff hopes by successfully converting a 2-point conversion to put the Falcons up 74-73 with 1:09 left in the game. The Cats' last-ditch effort went for naught, and their playoff fate effectively fell into the Falcons' hands; a Jersey Village win over Cy-Fair the following week would give them the final playoff berth in District 17-6A. Unfortunately, the Falcons failed to do the Wildcats a solid, losing 21-13.
C.J. Jones ran for a school-record 346 yards and scored 4 rushing touchdowns for the second time in his career. Jordan Johnson caught 4 passes for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns; in this game, he tied the Cy Woods single-season and career records for touchdown receptions. Bryson ran for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns. And yet, all of that offensive production was not enough for the Wildcats to get the win. Sports can be terrible, sometimes.
Week 11: W 49-39 @ Cy Springs
Sadly, Cy-Fair's win over Jersey Village eliminated the Wildcats from playoff contention. However, the Class of 2016 ended their time as Wildcat football players on a positive note as they topped Cy Springs 49-39 on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Berry Center. With no quarterback, C.J. Jones basically functioned as the offense. He was 4-10 as the quarterback, but 3 of those completions were touchdowns. C.J. also ran for 141 yards and 2 scores. Keith Watson, in his final game, most likely set a school record with 4 sacks in this game.
A non-playoff season is definitely an unusual event for Cy Woods football. As I said following the season finale, it's never fun when your fate is out of your hands, like it was with the 2015 Wildcats.
Despite missing the playoffs, a few players emerged as key contributors for the Wildcats, most notably Jacob Kainer, Jack Barrientez, Collin Fewox, and Neil Chambers. The Cats also have some top prospects like Semaj Trahan and Jake Tesch waiting in the wings, as well. C.J. Jones, Kason Franklin, and Myles Wilson will be counted upon to assume leadership roles for the Cats as they head into 2016. Missing the playoffs can put a huge chip on one's shoulder, and I hope that the players returning to the program use 2015 as motivation. As Wildcat football players, they know that they have a tradition to restore and uphold. I expect them to do more than their part in the preseason so that they can experience playoff football once again. They will have to do more, because the other teams in Cy-Fair ISD are getting better every year, and as they found out in 2015, there is almost no margin for error in a district that is as competitive as 17-6A. Slow starts can be reversed, but more often than not, it can really put a team in a bind, because they don't have any leeway to slip up again.
The next chapter will cover the 2016 Cy Woods football team.
Showing posts with label C.J. Jones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label C.J. Jones. Show all posts
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Monday, February 1, 2016
Looking Ahead to 2016
The road to the 2016 season for Cy Woods began when their game with Cy Springs ended on November 7. For the first time since 2012, and for only the 2nd time in 8 seasons, the Wildcats did not make the playoffs.
"When you lose, you get to do it all over again. Funny thing is... when you win, you get to do it all over again. That's sports. Renewal is guaranteed."
Considering how the Rockets have been so thoroughly underwhelming, and the Texans are... well, content with being on the treadmill of mediocrity, there isn't much to get amped up about in Houston sports. Spring Training is around the corner, though, so there's that.
Sorry, got off track there. What will the 2016 season have in store for Cy Woods?
2015 record by team
Varsity: 5-5, 5-4 (5th) in District 17-6A
JV Cardinal (A): 5-5, 5-4
JV Gold (B): 2-8, 2-7
Freshman Cardinal (A): 7-3, 7-2
Freshman Gold (B): 4-6, 4-5
Combined record: 23-27, 23-22 in district games
Who's coming back?
Italics = will be a junior in 2016
QB Bryson Powers
QB Sean Despres
QB Jacob Kainer
RB C.J. Jones
RB/WR Jack Barrientez
WR Matt Ficalora
OL Chris Salinas
OL Mario Treviño
OL Cameron Howland
OL Ryan Kenny
OL David Heskin
OL Tim Dendy
K Luis Reyes
DL Tobi Orundami
DL Chris Statom
DL Cody Eggleston
LB Neil Chambers
LB Elijah Strang
LB Trent Bird
DB Kason Franklin
DB Collin Fewox
DB Myles Wilson
On the returners
Bryson Powers, C.J. Jones, Kason Franklin, Myles Wilson, and Luis Reyes will enter their senior years as the veterans of this program, as they will be 3-year lettermen. During their time as Wildcat football players, these four guys have seen just about everything, and they have experienced almost every emotion on the spectrum: The ecstasy of making the playoffs and seeing a community rallying to support their teammates and them during a 3-deep run when they were sophomores. Then, as juniors, they endured the agony of missing out on those festivities while 4 rival schools reveled in the occasion at their expense. Now, as seniors, they will be expected to assume leadership roles as they look to make one last playoff run. I'm sure that they, along with the Class of 2017, would like one final playoff run to finish high school. Who knows where that run could take them... of course, they have to get there first.
Having their starting backfield back for one more run will be a huge boost for the Cats. Bryson returning under center will provide some much needed stability to a passing game that will be surrounded by uncertainty (see below).
Neil Chambers was probably the Wildcats' best linebacker in 2015. He showed an outstanding competitive streak and he has a mentality that sort of reminds me of Dominique Robertson, a linebacker who was a teammate of mine back in ancient times. I think Neil has the potential to become one of the district's best defensive players, and I expect that he'll make that leap forward in 2016.
For the returning lettermen, missing the playoffs left a bitter taste in their mouths. This isn't something that occurs on a regular basis at Cy Woods. Hope they do whatever it takes to ensure that it doesn't become the norm.
This program was built on four tenets: Character, Attitude, Trust, and Success. The offseason following a non-playoff season will definitely put the collective character of the returning players in the program to the test, and also raises a couple of burning questions; Do they have the right attitude in order right the ship, and do the kids trust each other to do their part in righting the ship?
Possible contributors in 2016?
My commitments precluded me from watching any sub-varsity games, so any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Semaj Trahan (will be a sophomore in 2016) - Dynamic dual-threat quarterback, probably the Wildcats' top prospect in the Class of 2019
Cullen and Tanner Sherrill (sophomores) - Identical twin brothers, wide receivers; both possess excellent size and are also promising baseball players. They should be even stronger, and even better with an offseason under their belts.
Jake Tesch (sophomore) - Running back continuing a family legacy that began with Gary. Jake is built more like Taylor, his other older brother, but I've heard that he's the fastest of the three. Could make the move to wide receiver.
Khari Keaton (junior) - From what I have heard, he is probably the smartest kid in his class. He has played every skill position on offense, so he has upside as a utility player.
Brock Gunderson (sophomore) - Comes from a family of athletes (and giants, in general). His older brother, Cole, was a two-year starter at center for Cy Woods, so he has a great mentor to help him take on the rigors of varsity competition.
Jake and Brock both played in the season finale against Cy Springs, which gave them their first opportunities to audition for roles in 2016.
Issues that need addressing
1. The defense
Cy Woods' defense will probably never be confused for Katy's defense. Let's just get that out of the way. At the pace they were playing early in the season, they probably would have allowed over 500 points after giving up 455 a year before. The Wildcats ended up allowing 407 points in the 2015 season; among the 10 schools in District 17-6A, only Cy Lakes allowed more points. The Wildcats also allowed the most yards out of any team in the district. Most of that came through the air, where they were the absolute worst in that regard. Against the run, they ranked a paltry 7th.
The last two seasons for Cy Woods has been characterized by a conspicuous (and, at times, appalling) lack of defense. This surely has to be perplexing, especially because Coach Faith was a defensive coordinator prior to becoming the head coach at Cy Woods. I am very much interested in seeing how he will address the woes that have afflicted the Wildcat defense in the spring, and whether the changes (after allowing 400+ points 2 years in a row, there will definitely be changes) he has implemented in the offseason can effectively carry over once the season begins.
2. Wide receivers
With Tre' Hart, Jared Taylor, and Jordan Johnson all graduating, C.J. Jones is the top returning receiver for the Wildcats. In fact, only two players who caught a pass in the 2015 season for Cy Woods will be returning: C.J., and Jack Barrientez.
Jack is just one of two returning receivers for Cy Woods; the other, Matt Ficalora, was the only wide receiver who was called up during the season. Matt did not catch a pass, but he did score a rushing touchdown against Cy Lakes.
Basically, the Wildcats are going to be breaking in a completely new group of receivers in 2016, which will put the onus on some of these underclassmen to grow up in a hurry.However, Bryson Powers will be back to commandeer the offense, so his presence should provide a huge boost for the passing game. In addition, C.J. is a proven dual-threat out of the backfield, and he'll be a valuable target in the passing game, especially early on.
3. Starting slow/Falling behind early and often
The offense struggling to find its way during the first half of the season really exacerbated the deficiencies on the defensive side of the ball, and this basically meant that the Wildcats constantly had to trudge up a mountain that seemed to get bigger and bigger by the second. They were behind by double digits in the first half in each of their first 5 games, and they only came back to win one of those games (they trailed Ridge 21-7 after the 1st quarter of that game and ultimately won it 59-31).
So, what's the lesson here? Falling behind by multiple scores, especially in the first half, is not a desirable situation.
4. Discipline
Over the last two seasons (23 games total), Cy Woods has had 9 games in which they committed more than 10 penalties. I'm not sure how often that happened in the first 6 seasons, but I don't recall Woods ever getting penalized at such an alarming rate until now.
In the 2015 season, the Wildcats were penalized 107 times for 960 yards. I know there were some downright awful calls, but some of these penalties were completely avoidable, as well. I believe that both of those figures led the district, and those aren't the statistics where Cy Woods should be leading.
In their 74-73 loss to Jersey Village, they were whistled for 16 infractions, and they were flagged 13 times in a 40-35 loss to Cy Creek. This isn't an issue that has bugged them exclusively in losses; they've been flagged regularly, even in their wins. When they beat Langham, they were penalized 19 times. They also beat Cy Falls 48-47 in 2014 in spite of 19 penalties.
What's the root of this problem? This lack of discipline didn't just sprout overnight. I'm not going to expend energy pointing fingers at people behind a computer screen, because that's just petty and unnecessary. The Wildcats have won games in spite of penalties, but more often than not, flags have cost them dearly. Good teams find ways to overcome their miscues, but when they can't... the end result is usually pretty ugly.
On Realignment
Every two years, the UIL, which is the governing body for public high school athletics in the state of Texas, conducts a process called realignment.
If you want to delve deeper, here is a PDF direct from the UIL on how they will be conducting realignment. Even better... here is a primer provided by The Old Coach.
Given that Cy-Fair ISD is currently a district of 10 high schools, they will not have to be split between districts. Even though Cy Park is opening in 2016, this will not affect the composition of the district, as Park will be playing in Class 5A (2nd-largest classification) and won't have varsity football until 2018. However, when Park and high school #12 both have varsity sports, splitting the district will be required because of UIL regulations.
After much deliberation, the UIL has determined that:
The status quo is good enough for Cy-Fair ISD, as it will remain in District 17-6A and Region III for the next two years. Here are the 10 Cy-Fair ISD high schools, ranked by enrollment.
In the playoffs (for all sports), Cy-Fair ISD will be paired up in bi-district with a new-look District 18, which is now occupied by Houston ISD schools. In the previous realignment, 18-6A was shared by Aldine and Spring Branch schools; they have now moved over to Region II. As a result, HISD, which was previously in District 20, has taken their place.
A matchup with Katy is still possible, because Katy ISD and Strake Jesuit remained in District 19. Taking HISD's place in District 20 is Fort Bend ISD.
Here are all 32 Class 6A districts straight from the source itself, the UIL: http://www.utexas.edu/uil/alignments/2016/FB-BB-6A-2016.pdf
"When you lose, you get to do it all over again. Funny thing is... when you win, you get to do it all over again. That's sports. Renewal is guaranteed."
Considering how the Rockets have been so thoroughly underwhelming, and the Texans are... well, content with being on the treadmill of mediocrity, there isn't much to get amped up about in Houston sports. Spring Training is around the corner, though, so there's that.
Sorry, got off track there. What will the 2016 season have in store for Cy Woods?
2015 record by team
Varsity: 5-5, 5-4 (5th) in District 17-6A
JV Cardinal (A): 5-5, 5-4
JV Gold (B): 2-8, 2-7
Freshman Cardinal (A): 7-3, 7-2
Freshman Gold (B): 4-6, 4-5
Combined record: 23-27, 23-22 in district games
Who's coming back?
Italics = will be a junior in 2016
QB Sean Despres
QB Jacob Kainer
RB C.J. Jones
RB/WR Jack Barrientez
WR Matt Ficalora
OL Chris Salinas
OL Mario Treviño
OL Cameron Howland
OL Ryan Kenny
OL David Heskin
OL Tim Dendy
K Luis Reyes
DL Tobi Orundami
DL Chris Statom
DL Cody Eggleston
LB Neil Chambers
LB Elijah Strang
LB Trent Bird
DB Kason Franklin
DB Collin Fewox
DB Myles Wilson
On the returners
Neil Chambers was probably the Wildcats' best linebacker in 2015. He showed an outstanding competitive streak and he has a mentality that sort of reminds me of Dominique Robertson, a linebacker who was a teammate of mine back in ancient times. I think Neil has the potential to become one of the district's best defensive players, and I expect that he'll make that leap forward in 2016.
For the returning lettermen, missing the playoffs left a bitter taste in their mouths. This isn't something that occurs on a regular basis at Cy Woods. Hope they do whatever it takes to ensure that it doesn't become the norm.
This program was built on four tenets: Character, Attitude, Trust, and Success. The offseason following a non-playoff season will definitely put the collective character of the returning players in the program to the test, and also raises a couple of burning questions; Do they have the right attitude in order right the ship, and do the kids trust each other to do their part in righting the ship?
Possible contributors in 2016?
My commitments precluded me from watching any sub-varsity games, so any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Semaj Trahan (will be a sophomore in 2016) - Dynamic dual-threat quarterback, probably the Wildcats' top prospect in the Class of 2019
Cullen and Tanner Sherrill (sophomores) - Identical twin brothers, wide receivers; both possess excellent size and are also promising baseball players. They should be even stronger, and even better with an offseason under their belts.
Jake Tesch (sophomore) - Running back continuing a family legacy that began with Gary. Jake is built more like Taylor, his other older brother, but I've heard that he's the fastest of the three. Could make the move to wide receiver.
Khari Keaton (junior) - From what I have heard, he is probably the smartest kid in his class. He has played every skill position on offense, so he has upside as a utility player.
Brock Gunderson (sophomore) - Comes from a family of athletes (and giants, in general). His older brother, Cole, was a two-year starter at center for Cy Woods, so he has a great mentor to help him take on the rigors of varsity competition.
Jake and Brock both played in the season finale against Cy Springs, which gave them their first opportunities to audition for roles in 2016.
Issues that need addressing
1. The defense
Cy Woods' defense will probably never be confused for Katy's defense. Let's just get that out of the way. At the pace they were playing early in the season, they probably would have allowed over 500 points after giving up 455 a year before. The Wildcats ended up allowing 407 points in the 2015 season; among the 10 schools in District 17-6A, only Cy Lakes allowed more points. The Wildcats also allowed the most yards out of any team in the district. Most of that came through the air, where they were the absolute worst in that regard. Against the run, they ranked a paltry 7th.
The last two seasons for Cy Woods has been characterized by a conspicuous (and, at times, appalling) lack of defense. This surely has to be perplexing, especially because Coach Faith was a defensive coordinator prior to becoming the head coach at Cy Woods. I am very much interested in seeing how he will address the woes that have afflicted the Wildcat defense in the spring, and whether the changes (after allowing 400+ points 2 years in a row, there will definitely be changes) he has implemented in the offseason can effectively carry over once the season begins.
2. Wide receivers
With Tre' Hart, Jared Taylor, and Jordan Johnson all graduating, C.J. Jones is the top returning receiver for the Wildcats. In fact, only two players who caught a pass in the 2015 season for Cy Woods will be returning: C.J., and Jack Barrientez.
Jack is just one of two returning receivers for Cy Woods; the other, Matt Ficalora, was the only wide receiver who was called up during the season. Matt did not catch a pass, but he did score a rushing touchdown against Cy Lakes.
Basically, the Wildcats are going to be breaking in a completely new group of receivers in 2016, which will put the onus on some of these underclassmen to grow up in a hurry.
3. Starting slow/Falling behind early and often
The offense struggling to find its way during the first half of the season really exacerbated the deficiencies on the defensive side of the ball, and this basically meant that the Wildcats constantly had to trudge up a mountain that seemed to get bigger and bigger by the second. They were behind by double digits in the first half in each of their first 5 games, and they only came back to win one of those games (they trailed Ridge 21-7 after the 1st quarter of that game and ultimately won it 59-31).
So, what's the lesson here? Falling behind by multiple scores, especially in the first half, is not a desirable situation.
4. Discipline
Over the last two seasons (23 games total), Cy Woods has had 9 games in which they committed more than 10 penalties. I'm not sure how often that happened in the first 6 seasons, but I don't recall Woods ever getting penalized at such an alarming rate until now.
In the 2015 season, the Wildcats were penalized 107 times for 960 yards. I know there were some downright awful calls, but some of these penalties were completely avoidable, as well. I believe that both of those figures led the district, and those aren't the statistics where Cy Woods should be leading.
In their 74-73 loss to Jersey Village, they were whistled for 16 infractions, and they were flagged 13 times in a 40-35 loss to Cy Creek. This isn't an issue that has bugged them exclusively in losses; they've been flagged regularly, even in their wins. When they beat Langham, they were penalized 19 times. They also beat Cy Falls 48-47 in 2014 in spite of 19 penalties.
What's the root of this problem? This lack of discipline didn't just sprout overnight. I'm not going to expend energy pointing fingers at people behind a computer screen, because that's just petty and unnecessary. The Wildcats have won games in spite of penalties, but more often than not, flags have cost them dearly. Good teams find ways to overcome their miscues, but when they can't... the end result is usually pretty ugly.
On Realignment
Every two years, the UIL, which is the governing body for public high school athletics in the state of Texas, conducts a process called realignment.
If you want to delve deeper, here is a PDF direct from the UIL on how they will be conducting realignment. Even better... here is a primer provided by The Old Coach.
Given that Cy-Fair ISD is currently a district of 10 high schools, they will not have to be split between districts. Even though Cy Park is opening in 2016, this will not affect the composition of the district, as Park will be playing in Class 5A (2nd-largest classification) and won't have varsity football until 2018. However, when Park and high school #12 both have varsity sports, splitting the district will be required because of UIL regulations.
After much deliberation, the UIL has determined that:
The status quo is good enough for Cy-Fair ISD, as it will remain in District 17-6A and Region III for the next two years. Here are the 10 Cy-Fair ISD high schools, ranked by enrollment.
ENROLLMENT (2016):
1. Cy Falls
2. Cy Lakes
3. Cy Ranch
4. Cy Fair
5. JV
6. Cy Woods
7. Cy Creek
8. Langham Creek
9. Cy Springs
10. Cy Ridge
— Varsity Wires (@VarsityWires) February 1, 2016
So... Woods' middle-of-the-pack ranking in terms of enrollment makes them a swing school for football. Given the helter-skelter nature of football this district, it is entirely possible for Woods to be in the Division I bracket, should they make the playoffs. It is also entirely possible for Woods to play in the Division II bracket, given that 3 of the 4 playoff teams in District 17-6A last year are larger than them.In the playoffs (for all sports), Cy-Fair ISD will be paired up in bi-district with a new-look District 18, which is now occupied by Houston ISD schools. In the previous realignment, 18-6A was shared by Aldine and Spring Branch schools; they have now moved over to Region II. As a result, HISD, which was previously in District 20, has taken their place.
A matchup with Katy is still possible, because Katy ISD and Strake Jesuit remained in District 19. Taking HISD's place in District 20 is Fort Bend ISD.
Here are all 32 Class 6A districts straight from the source itself, the UIL: http://www.utexas.edu/uil/alignments/2016/FB-BB-6A-2016.pdf
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
All-District Wildcats
Congratulations to the 15 Wildcats who received All-District honors in District 17-6A.
WR Jordan Johnson and RB C.J. Jones were Cy Woods' two representatives on the 1st team. C.J. is the first Wildcat running back to be selected to the 1st team since Fredrick Anderson in 2010.
4 Wildcats were named to the 2nd team: OL Skylar Schulz, WR Tre' Hart, QB Bryson Powers, and DB Kason Franklin.
9 Wildcats were Honorable Mentions:
- C Jonathan Laven
- RB R.J. Harmon
- WR Jared Taylor
- WR Jack Barrientez
- LB Neil Chambers
- LB Austin Greaves
- LB Keith Watson
- K Luis Reyes
- DB Myles Wilson
And finally... 25 Wildcats received Academic All-District honors. Often, the balance between athletics and academics is delicate. Football is the most physically taxing sport, and the rigors of playing this game can also become mentally taxing, which in turn will affect a player's performance in the classroom. I hate to sound cliché, but getting good grades in the classroom matters. It is, after all, the key to your future. Well, that's what I was told....
For these players, they successfully balanced the demands of their schoolwork with the countless hours they've put in on the gridiron, and that is certainly a feat that is worthy of respect. There's no superhuman effort required to keep a harmonious balance between academics and athletics; a little effort towards effective time management makes a tremendous difference.
Sophomores
DB Collin Fewox
QB Jacob Kainer
WR Jack Barrientez
OL Tim Dendy
Juniors
LB Trent Bird
LB Elijah Strang
DL Cody Eggleston
DB Kason Franklin
DB Myles Wilson
OL David Heskin
OL Ryan Kenny
OL Mario Treviño
QB Bryson Powers
Seniors
OL Jeff Aykroyd
OL Josh Beardmore
OL James Compton
OL Jonathan Laven
DB Dylan Bert
DB Terrell Brown
DB Ryan Olvera
LB Brandon DePrato
LB Tim Reed
DL Caleb Smith
WR Seth Despres
WR Josh Carter
WR Jordan Johnson and RB C.J. Jones were Cy Woods' two representatives on the 1st team. C.J. is the first Wildcat running back to be selected to the 1st team since Fredrick Anderson in 2010.
4 Wildcats were named to the 2nd team: OL Skylar Schulz, WR Tre' Hart, QB Bryson Powers, and DB Kason Franklin.
9 Wildcats were Honorable Mentions:
- C Jonathan Laven
- RB R.J. Harmon
- WR Jared Taylor
- WR Jack Barrientez
- LB Neil Chambers
- LB Austin Greaves
- LB Keith Watson
- K Luis Reyes
- DB Myles Wilson
And finally... 25 Wildcats received Academic All-District honors. Often, the balance between athletics and academics is delicate. Football is the most physically taxing sport, and the rigors of playing this game can also become mentally taxing, which in turn will affect a player's performance in the classroom. I hate to sound cliché, but getting good grades in the classroom matters. It is, after all, the key to your future. Well, that's what I was told....
For these players, they successfully balanced the demands of their schoolwork with the countless hours they've put in on the gridiron, and that is certainly a feat that is worthy of respect. There's no superhuman effort required to keep a harmonious balance between academics and athletics; a little effort towards effective time management makes a tremendous difference.
Sophomores
DB Collin Fewox
QB Jacob Kainer
WR Jack Barrientez
OL Tim Dendy
Juniors
LB Trent Bird
LB Elijah Strang
DL Cody Eggleston
DB Kason Franklin
DB Myles Wilson
OL David Heskin
OL Ryan Kenny
OL Mario Treviño
QB Bryson Powers
Seniors
OL Jeff Aykroyd
OL Josh Beardmore
OL James Compton
OL Jonathan Laven
DB Dylan Bert
DB Terrell Brown
DB Ryan Olvera
LB Brandon DePrato
LB Tim Reed
DL Caleb Smith
WR Seth Despres
WR Josh Carter
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Jersey Village 74, Cy Woods 73: Devastating.
2015 Record: 4-5, 4-4 in District 17-6A
Man... I'm having an incredibly difficult time trying to process this, and I have no idea where to start. This game defied all logic. Name any play and any possible outcome for a play, and this game had it all.
- Both teams combined for 147 points. Will they even come close to this score during basketball season?
- Both teams combined for 1,642 total yards of offense. Or... 0.93 miles.
- Both teams (!!!!!!!) surpassed the district's record for points in a single game.
- Just about every record under the sun (well, technically the moon [no wait, it was cloudy, so we couldn't see the moon]) was broken. Let's just say that both teams' record books weren't the only ones that needed changing after this game....
The 2015 Cypress Woods Wildcats can probably be summed up in one word: almost. Almost completed a comeback against Cy Creek. Almost found a way to escape the highest scoring game in this district's history. Almost clawed their way back from a 1-3 start in district play. But, as we all know, there's no rhyme or reason in this district, so anything and everything can and will happen. Before you go all Jim Mora on me with "PLAYOFFS????????????" just remember that the math says that there's still a chance.
Out of the Wildcats' 5 losses this season.... this one was by far the most devastating. Quite possibly the most devastating loss in Cy Woods' football history. Even a historic night on offense was not enough for Cy Woods.... because Jersey Village's night on offense was even more historic, and that made all the difference in the Falcons' 74-73 victory in a game that the Wildcats sorely needed to win.
Deshun Qualls.... you have to tip your hat to him. He was absolutely sensational for Jersey Village. OK, that's an understatement. His performance in this game probably won't be replicated for decades. Never seen anything like what he did, and I probably won't see anything like that again for 20 years. He made one unbelievable throw after another, and Rokeem Paul, Austin Lynch, and Christian Green made one unbelievable catch after another. He kept plays alive with his feet, and his receivers finished them off. Unreal effort all around.
Qualls joins Collin Rock, Logan Taylor (Cy-Fair 2011-12), and Troy Mitchell (Cy Falls 2010-11), as the only starting quarterbacks in the district to win multiple starts against the Wildcats. However, out of this quartet, Qualls is the only one to go 3-0 against Cy Woods.
So, What Happened Was....
Deshun Qualls became Kyler Murray.
On a little more serious note, this was the most chaotic football game I have ever seen. I have never seen a losing team score 70 points.
It looked as though it would be a blowout early, as the Falcons scored on all 4 of their possessions in the 1st quarter. Deshun Qualls opened up the scoring with a 60-yard touchdown run on 3rd and..... 26. Qualls having a hand in a Jersey Village touchdown would be the running theme of this game. He struck again with a 23-yard touchdown run. Bryson Powers put Woods on the board as he broke ∞ tackles to score from 36 yards out. One play later, Qualls threw a bomb, and Austin Lynch made an off-balance catch, and he somehow regained his balance and broke free for an 82-yard touchdown. Josh Bland scored on a 15-yard run to put JV up 27-7, but C.J. Jones was able to regain some positive momentum for Woods as he had a 10-yard touchdown run.
End 1st: JV 27, Woods 13
C.J.'s first touchdown run sparked a 31-0 run that gave the Wildcats the lead at halftime. Bryson Powers and Jordan Johnson connected for 3 touchdowns. The first went for 48 yards, and the other two capped off one-play drives good for 62 and 60 yards. Bryson also had a 1-yard TD run. Qualls found Christian Green, who dove to make a 13-yard touchdown catch shortly before halftime to snap the run.
Halftime: Woods 38, JV 33
Qualls opened up the scoring in the 2nd half when he hit Rokeem Paul for 76 yards. Then, he found Austin Lynch again, this time from 59 yards out. Bryson responded with a 4-yard scoring run. Qualls had the Falcons on the move again, but that drive ended abruptly after Bland coughed up the ball, and Trent Bird fell on it. Two plays later, C.J. Jones left everyone in the dust, scoring on an 85-yard run. Qualls found Christian Green for the 2nd time; that was a 22-yard connection. The Wildcats blocked what would have been the go-ahead extra point, so we entered the final 12 minutes in a deadlock.
End 3rd: Woods 52, JV 52
On the first play of the 4th quarter, Rokeem Paul won a jumpball battle with Jordan Johnson at the Cy Woods 5. Josh Bland coughed up the ball once again at the goal line, and Jordan emerged with the ball and returned it all the way down to the Falcons' 33-yard line. C.J. turned that takeaway into points with a 10-yard run. But, Deshun Qualls had an answer for everything. His next answer was a 2-yard touchdown run. C.J., however, kept Woods in the lead by blocking the extra point. Terrell Brown picked up the loose ball and almost gave the Wildcats 2 points, but he was caught at the 15-yard line of Jersey Village. One play later, C.J. scored on a 75-yard scamper. Again, he outran everyone. On the ensuing Falcon possession, Josh Marvin had a huge interception. Unfortunately, this takeaway turned into a giveaway, as C.J. put the ball on the ground inside the Falcon 5, and Juwan Morgan recovered, and returned it to the Woods 35. Morgan actually lost the ball himself, but Clabe Holmes backed him up. And on the next Falcon drive, Qualls scored to tie the game at 66. Bryson responded.... well, he coughed it up in the end zone, and Skylar Schulz had a chance to recover it, but it skipped off of his hands, as well. Ultimately, Jonathan Laven, the center, emerged from the pile with the ball, and well... that's a touchdown.
Unfortunately, the Wildcat defense could not stop the ensuing Jersey Village possession, which turned out to be the decisive drive of the game. Qualls (who else) capped it off by finding Christian Green for the 3rd time in this game, and he (again, who else) put the Falcons in front with a 2-point conversion.
The Wildcats were left with 69 seconds on the clock. Play #1 started off well enough, as C.J. ran for 8 yards. An incomplete pass brought up 3rd down. C.J. failed to get back to the line of scrimmage on a play that Woods ran at least 50 times in this game, and that set up a 4th down, which saw Bryson's pass fall to the ground, incomplete. Jaylen Miller, who attended Cy Woods for 3 years, broke up the pass and made the play that sent his friends to a crushing defeat.
Final: JV 74, Woods 73
Ground
C.J. Jones and Bryson Powers had their way with the Falcon defense. C.J. ran for 346 yards on 32 carries and scored 4 touchdowns. It's the 2nd time in which he has scored 4 rushing touchdowns in a single game, and the 346 yards is a new Cy Woods single-game record. Meanwhile, Bryson ran for 188 and 3 touchdowns on 24 carries.
In all, the Wildcats ran for 547 yards, which is a new team single-game record. The previous high was 464 in the 2011 regular-season finale against Cy Springs.
And yet... it was not enough.
C.J. Jones: 32 carries, 346 yards, 4 TD
Bryson Powers: 24 carries, 188 yards, 3 TD
R.J. Harmon: 2 carries, 13 yards
Air
Jordan Johnson had a night to remember as he caught 4 passes for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns. He's now tied with Gary Tesch for the most receiving touchdowns in Cy Woods history. Jordan also tied the Cy Woods single-season record for most receiving touchdowns in a single season with 10, which had been shared by Fredrick Anderson and Gary.
And yet... it was not enough.
Bryson Powers: 5-13, 217 yards, 3 TD, INT
Jordan Johnson: 4 catches, 199 yards, 3 TD
Jack Barrientez: 1 catch, 18 yards
Defense
They allowed 886 yards. That's their story for this game. They had their moments where they punished Deshun Qualls, but they were at his mercy all night long.
Josh Marvin, a seldom-used senior linebacker who found himself pressed into duty, had the game of his life as he got 2.5 sacks and an interception. If only he could've run that pick back for a touchdown.....
Interceptions: Josh Marvin 1 (returned 30 yards)
If only Jordan could've run the fumble he recovered back for a touchdown....
Fumbles recovered: Trent Bird 1, Jordan Johnson 1 (returned 67 yards), Jonathan Laven (fell on ball in endzone for a touchdown)
Sacks: Josh Marvin 2.5 (35 yards lost), Neil Chambers 1 (1 yard lost), Trent Bird 0.5 (5 yards lost), Brandon Love 0.5 (5 yards lost)
They also got to Qualls for a 14 yard loss in the 2nd (I think Marvin was in on that play) and another time for 3 yards in the 3rd.
Special Teams
Luis Reyes made 5 extra points, and he is now the highest-scoring kicker in Cy Woods history with 138 points. The previous record for points scored by a Wildcat kicker (career) was 133. That record was held by my good friend, Andrew Klink.
If only C.J. could've picked up that blocked extra point cleanly.....
If only Terrell Brown had enough left in his tank to run another blocked extra point back for 2 points....
PSA
Parents, if you're going to let your kids run around during the game (I have no earthly idea as to why you would allow them to do this in the first place, but I guess this lack of understanding comes from me not being a parent so I wouldn't know...), please, PLEASE, keep an eye on them.
During this game, I saw two little girls slip off the bleachers (in the lower section) and hit themselves on the cement. Yes, they were being watched over. Thankfully, neither of them seemed to be seriously hurt.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats will wrap up the 2015 regular season at the Berry Center on Saturday, November 7, against the Cy Springs Panthers. Kickoff is at 1:00. Depending on what happens with Cy-Fair, this game may serve as the swan song for the Class of 2016.
Photo by Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection
Man... I'm having an incredibly difficult time trying to process this, and I have no idea where to start. This game defied all logic. Name any play and any possible outcome for a play, and this game had it all.
- Both teams combined for 147 points. Will they even come close to this score during basketball season?
- Both teams combined for 1,642 total yards of offense. Or... 0.93 miles.
- Both teams (!!!!!!!) surpassed the district's record for points in a single game.
- Just about every record under the sun (well, technically the moon [no wait, it was cloudy, so we couldn't see the moon]) was broken. Let's just say that both teams' record books weren't the only ones that needed changing after this game....
The 2015 Cypress Woods Wildcats can probably be summed up in one word: almost. Almost completed a comeback against Cy Creek. Almost found a way to escape the highest scoring game in this district's history. Almost clawed their way back from a 1-3 start in district play. But, as we all know, there's no rhyme or reason in this district, so anything and everything can and will happen. Before you go all Jim Mora on me with "PLAYOFFS????????????" just remember that the math says that there's still a chance.
Out of the Wildcats' 5 losses this season.... this one was by far the most devastating. Quite possibly the most devastating loss in Cy Woods' football history. Even a historic night on offense was not enough for Cy Woods.... because Jersey Village's night on offense was even more historic, and that made all the difference in the Falcons' 74-73 victory in a game that the Wildcats sorely needed to win.
Deshun Qualls.... you have to tip your hat to him. He was absolutely sensational for Jersey Village. OK, that's an understatement. His performance in this game probably won't be replicated for decades. Never seen anything like what he did, and I probably won't see anything like that again for 20 years. He made one unbelievable throw after another, and Rokeem Paul, Austin Lynch, and Christian Green made one unbelievable catch after another. He kept plays alive with his feet, and his receivers finished them off. Unreal effort all around.
Qualls joins Collin Rock, Logan Taylor (Cy-Fair 2011-12), and Troy Mitchell (Cy Falls 2010-11), as the only starting quarterbacks in the district to win multiple starts against the Wildcats. However, out of this quartet, Qualls is the only one to go 3-0 against Cy Woods.
So, What Happened Was....
Deshun Qualls became Kyler Murray.
On a little more serious note, this was the most chaotic football game I have ever seen. I have never seen a losing team score 70 points.
It looked as though it would be a blowout early, as the Falcons scored on all 4 of their possessions in the 1st quarter. Deshun Qualls opened up the scoring with a 60-yard touchdown run on 3rd and..... 26. Qualls having a hand in a Jersey Village touchdown would be the running theme of this game. He struck again with a 23-yard touchdown run. Bryson Powers put Woods on the board as he broke ∞ tackles to score from 36 yards out. One play later, Qualls threw a bomb, and Austin Lynch made an off-balance catch, and he somehow regained his balance and broke free for an 82-yard touchdown. Josh Bland scored on a 15-yard run to put JV up 27-7, but C.J. Jones was able to regain some positive momentum for Woods as he had a 10-yard touchdown run.
End 1st: JV 27, Woods 13
C.J.'s first touchdown run sparked a 31-0 run that gave the Wildcats the lead at halftime. Bryson Powers and Jordan Johnson connected for 3 touchdowns. The first went for 48 yards, and the other two capped off one-play drives good for 62 and 60 yards. Bryson also had a 1-yard TD run. Qualls found Christian Green, who dove to make a 13-yard touchdown catch shortly before halftime to snap the run.
Halftime: Woods 38, JV 33
Qualls opened up the scoring in the 2nd half when he hit Rokeem Paul for 76 yards. Then, he found Austin Lynch again, this time from 59 yards out. Bryson responded with a 4-yard scoring run. Qualls had the Falcons on the move again, but that drive ended abruptly after Bland coughed up the ball, and Trent Bird fell on it. Two plays later, C.J. Jones left everyone in the dust, scoring on an 85-yard run. Qualls found Christian Green for the 2nd time; that was a 22-yard connection. The Wildcats blocked what would have been the go-ahead extra point, so we entered the final 12 minutes in a deadlock.
End 3rd: Woods 52, JV 52
On the first play of the 4th quarter, Rokeem Paul won a jumpball battle with Jordan Johnson at the Cy Woods 5. Josh Bland coughed up the ball once again at the goal line, and Jordan emerged with the ball and returned it all the way down to the Falcons' 33-yard line. C.J. turned that takeaway into points with a 10-yard run. But, Deshun Qualls had an answer for everything. His next answer was a 2-yard touchdown run. C.J., however, kept Woods in the lead by blocking the extra point. Terrell Brown picked up the loose ball and almost gave the Wildcats 2 points, but he was caught at the 15-yard line of Jersey Village. One play later, C.J. scored on a 75-yard scamper. Again, he outran everyone. On the ensuing Falcon possession, Josh Marvin had a huge interception. Unfortunately, this takeaway turned into a giveaway, as C.J. put the ball on the ground inside the Falcon 5, and Juwan Morgan recovered, and returned it to the Woods 35. Morgan actually lost the ball himself, but Clabe Holmes backed him up. And on the next Falcon drive, Qualls scored to tie the game at 66. Bryson responded.... well, he coughed it up in the end zone, and Skylar Schulz had a chance to recover it, but it skipped off of his hands, as well. Ultimately, Jonathan Laven, the center, emerged from the pile with the ball, and well... that's a touchdown.
Unfortunately, the Wildcat defense could not stop the ensuing Jersey Village possession, which turned out to be the decisive drive of the game. Qualls (who else) capped it off by finding Christian Green for the 3rd time in this game, and he (again, who else) put the Falcons in front with a 2-point conversion.
The Wildcats were left with 69 seconds on the clock. Play #1 started off well enough, as C.J. ran for 8 yards. An incomplete pass brought up 3rd down. C.J. failed to get back to the line of scrimmage on a play that Woods ran at least 50 times in this game, and that set up a 4th down, which saw Bryson's pass fall to the ground, incomplete. Jaylen Miller, who attended Cy Woods for 3 years, broke up the pass and made the play that sent his friends to a crushing defeat.
Final: JV 74, Woods 73
Ground
C.J. Jones and Bryson Powers had their way with the Falcon defense. C.J. ran for 346 yards on 32 carries and scored 4 touchdowns. It's the 2nd time in which he has scored 4 rushing touchdowns in a single game, and the 346 yards is a new Cy Woods single-game record. Meanwhile, Bryson ran for 188 and 3 touchdowns on 24 carries.
In all, the Wildcats ran for 547 yards, which is a new team single-game record. The previous high was 464 in the 2011 regular-season finale against Cy Springs.
And yet... it was not enough.
C.J. Jones: 32 carries, 346 yards, 4 TD
Bryson Powers: 24 carries, 188 yards, 3 TD
R.J. Harmon: 2 carries, 13 yards
Air
Jordan Johnson had a night to remember as he caught 4 passes for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns. He's now tied with Gary Tesch for the most receiving touchdowns in Cy Woods history. Jordan also tied the Cy Woods single-season record for most receiving touchdowns in a single season with 10, which had been shared by Fredrick Anderson and Gary.
And yet... it was not enough.
Bryson Powers: 5-13, 217 yards, 3 TD, INT
Jordan Johnson: 4 catches, 199 yards, 3 TD
Jack Barrientez: 1 catch, 18 yards
Defense
They allowed 886 yards. That's their story for this game. They had their moments where they punished Deshun Qualls, but they were at his mercy all night long.
Josh Marvin, a seldom-used senior linebacker who found himself pressed into duty, had the game of his life as he got 2.5 sacks and an interception. If only he could've run that pick back for a touchdown.....
Interceptions: Josh Marvin 1 (returned 30 yards)
If only Jordan could've run the fumble he recovered back for a touchdown....
Fumbles recovered: Trent Bird 1, Jordan Johnson 1 (returned 67 yards), Jonathan Laven (fell on ball in endzone for a touchdown)
Sacks: Josh Marvin 2.5 (35 yards lost), Neil Chambers 1 (1 yard lost), Trent Bird 0.5 (5 yards lost), Brandon Love 0.5 (5 yards lost)
They also got to Qualls for a 14 yard loss in the 2nd (I think Marvin was in on that play) and another time for 3 yards in the 3rd.
Special Teams
Luis Reyes made 5 extra points, and he is now the highest-scoring kicker in Cy Woods history with 138 points. The previous record for points scored by a Wildcat kicker (career) was 133. That record was held by my good friend, Andrew Klink.
If only C.J. could've picked up that blocked extra point cleanly.....
If only Terrell Brown had enough left in his tank to run another blocked extra point back for 2 points....
PSA
Parents, if you're going to let your kids run around during the game (I have no earthly idea as to why you would allow them to do this in the first place, but I guess this lack of understanding comes from me not being a parent so I wouldn't know...), please, PLEASE, keep an eye on them.
During this game, I saw two little girls slip off the bleachers (in the lower section) and hit themselves on the cement. Yes, they were being watched over. Thankfully, neither of them seemed to be seriously hurt.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats will wrap up the 2015 regular season at the Berry Center on Saturday, November 7, against the Cy Springs Panthers. Kickoff is at 1:00. Depending on what happens with Cy-Fair, this game may serve as the swan song for the Class of 2016.
Friday, October 23, 2015
Cy Woods 44, Cy-Fair 7: Still Dreaming.
2015 record: 4-4, 4-3 in District 17-6A
Note: I only saw the 2nd half because I was teaching on Thursday.
The second Thursday game of the season had a much happier outcome as the Cypress Woods Wildcats ran the Cy-Fair Bobcats out of the Berry Center with a 44-7 victory to kick off Week 9 in CFISD football. This is the Wildcats' third consecutive win, which allowed them climb back to .500 overall, above the .500 mark in district, and also delayed the gratification of the teams directly above them while keeping their own hopes for a playoff spot alive. This team could have fallen apart after Creek, when they dropped their 3rd straight to fall to 1-4. Instead, they've willed themselves back into the playoff picture after everyone thought for sure that they would miss the playoffs, and now, the dream of making a monumental comeback in order to secure another playoff berth is one step closer to becoming reality. The Wildcats do have a favorable schedule to close out the season, but given the nature of this district, this statement is utterly meaningless. The games still have to be played.
Mr. Greaves came up to me after the game and asked, "Can we restart this season?" I'm with him.
I'm sure these kids had a vastly different script for how this season would turn out, but reality tends to work differently, and in ways that we least expect. This is a proud group of kids; instead of pointing fingers at each other and falling apart, they have come together and are on the verge of doing something unprecedented at Cy Woods. Kids like R.J. Harmon and Brandon DePrato and Jared Taylor have been part of playoff teams here. They know what it takes to make a playoff run, and you're seeing that they don't want their final memory at Woods to be one where they miss the playoffs in their senior season.
In the first half of the season, this was a team that was still trying to find its way on offense, couldn't stop anyone on defense, and found themselves having to climb up the Himalayas just to stay in games. It wasn't too difficult to see why Cy Woods started off 1-4.
Even though they lost to Cy Ranch, the offense looked as though they had found some consistency during that game. Although they didn't put up the point totals we've been so accustomed to, they were able to carve through a strong defensive unit. They found a way to keep that momentum going, and then the points came. Now, everything is clicking. With the exception of 4 turnovers against Lakes, the Wildcats have taken exceptional care of the ball during this winning streak; this was their 2nd game in a row without committing a turnover.
The defense was well on its way to giving up 500 points this season. Since the Creek game, which put them at 234 points allowed, they've given up 60, and you can see the progress that this team has made on defense over the last three games. They've helped themselves as well by forcing turnovers, which was something that was sorely lacking in the early part of the season. The Wildcat defense might have gotten themselves started against a clearly inferior opponent in Lakes, but they had to start somewhere, right? They was just beginning to scratch the surface of what they were truly capable of that night. At times against Langham Creek, they bent. But in the end, they got the stops they needed against the Lobos and came out with a massive victory. In this game, they flat-out dominated Cy-Fair for 48 minutes.
Besides, this isn't the first time that Woods has been counted out of the playoff picture. They've always thrived whenever they've been doubted.
So, What Happened Was...
Unlike last year's tilt, overtime was not needed for this game, in which the Wildcats dominated in all facets.
Jordan Johnson opened up the scoring by catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Bryson Powers. After Brandon DePrato's interception, Bryson and Jordan connected on another touchdown pass; this one was 39 yards. Bryson later added a 1-yard touchdown run towards the end of the 1st.
End 1st: Woods 20, Fair 0
Luis Reyes hit a 32-yard field goal, and then Bryson scored on the ground again, this time from 4 yards out.
Halftime: Woods 30, Fair 0
The Bobcats spoiled the shutout in the first series of the 2nd half as Brock Wright scored on a 38-yard pass from Hayden Wesneski. That turned out to be the only time that Cy-Fair put points on the board. C.J. Jones responded with a 2-yard touchdown run, and following a fumble recovered by Myles Wilson, Jack Barrientez scored the final points of the night with a 50-yard touchdown catch, his first touchdown at the varsity level. Neither team scored in the 4th quarter.
Final: Woods 44, Fair 7
Ground
Woods beat Fair at one aspect of their own game. No R.J. Harmon? Well, his absence didn't turn out to be much of a hindrance in this game, because I hear that C.J. Jones guy is pretty good. He has come alive in the running game in the last two games, and his production was sorely missed. His 180 yards is a season high, and he probably could've had well over 200 if some of his runs hadn't been wiped out by penalties.
Hope R.J. is back to health though... he's another dangerous element to a Wildcat offense that is firing on all cylinders.
C.J. Jones: 21 carries, 180 yards, TD
Bryson Powers: 10 carries, 48 yards, 2 TD
Jared Taylor: 5 carries, 22 yards
Matt Ficalora: 2 carries, 16 yards
Sean Despres: 6 carries, 8 yards
Jack Barrientez: 1 carry, 3 yards
Air
Bryson Powers didn't need to throw much, but when he did, he was effective. Only 3 players caught passes in this game, which is so unlike Cy Woods.
Bryson Powers: 9-11, 186 yards, 3 TD
Seth Despres was the only receiver who didn't score, but his 27-yard catch on a 3rd down in the 2nd quarter put the Wildcats in the red zone and set up Bryson Powers' 2nd touchdown run of the evening.
Jack Barrientez: 6 catches, 95 yards, TD
Jordan Johnson: 2 catches, 64 yards, 2 TD
Seth Despres: 1 catch, 27 yards
Defense
Woods soundly beat Fair at another aspect of their own game. The 202 yards that Woods allowed to the Bobcats was the fewest since October 10, 2014, when they held Cy Lakes to 200.
The Wildcats absolutely suffocated the Bobcats' vaunted running game, holding them to a mere 4 yards per carry and not allowing a single run of over 20 yards. They consistently won on the early downs and never allowed Cy-Fair to build any momentum on offense.
The Bobcats had 10 possessions in this game; 7 of them ended in punts. The Wildcats also killed two other Cy-Fair drives by forcing turnovers. Out of Cy-Fair's 10 offensive possessions, they ran a grand total of 8 offensive plays in Cy Woods territory. They also went 2-10 on 3rd down, and they even got a Cy Woods penalty on 3rd down to keep a drive in the 1st quarter alive. On the other 8 3rd down situations, the Bobcats did this:
1. Pass for -3 yards (this was on the same drive in which Woods was penalized on 3rd down)
2. Run for no gain
3. QB sacked, -2 yards
4. Incomplete pass (they had converted on 3rd down with a 13-yard pass earlier in the drive)
5. 1 yard run, fumble lost
6. Incomplete pass (they had converted on 3rd down with a 13-yard pass earlier in the drive)
7. Incomplete pass
8. Run for -2 yards
So, on their unsuccessful 3rd downs, Cy-Fair ran 8 plays, lost 6 yards, and lost a fumble. The Wildcats amped up the intensity on third down and totally shut down any momentum that the Bobcats were hoping to build.
Interceptions: Brandon DePrato 1 (2nd of season, returned 14 yards)
Fumbles forced: Brandon DePrato 1
Fumbles recovered: Myles Wilson 1
Sacks: Collin Fewox 1 (2 yards lost), Trent Bird 0.5 (9 yards lost), Cody Eggleston 0.5 (9 yards lost), Elijah Strang 0.5 (2 yards lost), Jordan Frazier 0.5 (2 yards lost)
Special Teams
Luis Reyes went 5-6 on his extra points and hit a 32-yard field goal in the 2nd. He is now 1 point away from tying Andrew Klink for the most points scored by a kicker in Cy Woods history.
C.J. had some evil intentions in the punt return game; however, he ended up getting tripped up at midfield each time. Nevertheless, he still gained over 40 yards on 2 of his 3 returns.
C.J. Jones: 3 punts returned, 88 yards
Jared Taylor: 1 punt returned, 8 yards
Man of the Match
Congratulations on scoring your first varsity touchdown, Jack Barrientez. The future is bright for this sophomore wide receiver/tailback.
Notes
- This is the most points that Cy Woods has ever put up against Cy-Fair.
- This is also the biggest margin of victory in the series.
- The Wildcats held their opponent to single digits (non-shutout) for the first time since they beat Eisenhower 42-7 in the 1st round of the 2011 playoffs.
- The Wildcats have their first winning streak over Cy-Fair since taking the first 3 meetings (2008-10).
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats will play at Pridgeon Stadium for the final time in the 2015 regular season as they take on the Jersey Village Falcons at 7 PM on Friday, October 30. Cy Woods will be the home team in this contest.
Note: I only saw the 2nd half because I was teaching on Thursday.
Photo by Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection
That's a bet👌💯 pic.twitter.com/BM3bt8cGYg
— CeeJay Jones (@CeeJaay21) October 22, 2015
The second Thursday game of the season had a much happier outcome as the Cypress Woods Wildcats ran the Cy-Fair Bobcats out of the Berry Center with a 44-7 victory to kick off Week 9 in CFISD football. This is the Wildcats' third consecutive win, which allowed them climb back to .500 overall, above the .500 mark in district, and also delayed the gratification of the teams directly above them while keeping their own hopes for a playoff spot alive. This team could have fallen apart after Creek, when they dropped their 3rd straight to fall to 1-4. Instead, they've willed themselves back into the playoff picture after everyone thought for sure that they would miss the playoffs, and now, the dream of making a monumental comeback in order to secure another playoff berth is one step closer to becoming reality. The Wildcats do have a favorable schedule to close out the season, but given the nature of this district, this statement is utterly meaningless. The games still have to be played.
Mr. Greaves came up to me after the game and asked, "Can we restart this season?" I'm with him.
I'm sure these kids had a vastly different script for how this season would turn out, but reality tends to work differently, and in ways that we least expect. This is a proud group of kids; instead of pointing fingers at each other and falling apart, they have come together and are on the verge of doing something unprecedented at Cy Woods. Kids like R.J. Harmon and Brandon DePrato and Jared Taylor have been part of playoff teams here. They know what it takes to make a playoff run, and you're seeing that they don't want their final memory at Woods to be one where they miss the playoffs in their senior season.
In the first half of the season, this was a team that was still trying to find its way on offense, couldn't stop anyone on defense, and found themselves having to climb up the Himalayas just to stay in games. It wasn't too difficult to see why Cy Woods started off 1-4.
Even though they lost to Cy Ranch, the offense looked as though they had found some consistency during that game. Although they didn't put up the point totals we've been so accustomed to, they were able to carve through a strong defensive unit. They found a way to keep that momentum going, and then the points came. Now, everything is clicking. With the exception of 4 turnovers against Lakes, the Wildcats have taken exceptional care of the ball during this winning streak; this was their 2nd game in a row without committing a turnover.
The defense was well on its way to giving up 500 points this season. Since the Creek game, which put them at 234 points allowed, they've given up 60, and you can see the progress that this team has made on defense over the last three games. They've helped themselves as well by forcing turnovers, which was something that was sorely lacking in the early part of the season. The Wildcat defense might have gotten themselves started against a clearly inferior opponent in Lakes, but they had to start somewhere, right? They was just beginning to scratch the surface of what they were truly capable of that night. At times against Langham Creek, they bent. But in the end, they got the stops they needed against the Lobos and came out with a massive victory. In this game, they flat-out dominated Cy-Fair for 48 minutes.
Besides, this isn't the first time that Woods has been counted out of the playoff picture. They've always thrived whenever they've been doubted.
So, What Happened Was...
Unlike last year's tilt, overtime was not needed for this game, in which the Wildcats dominated in all facets.
Jordan Johnson opened up the scoring by catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Bryson Powers. After Brandon DePrato's interception, Bryson and Jordan connected on another touchdown pass; this one was 39 yards. Bryson later added a 1-yard touchdown run towards the end of the 1st.
End 1st: Woods 20, Fair 0
Luis Reyes hit a 32-yard field goal, and then Bryson scored on the ground again, this time from 4 yards out.
Halftime: Woods 30, Fair 0
The Bobcats spoiled the shutout in the first series of the 2nd half as Brock Wright scored on a 38-yard pass from Hayden Wesneski. That turned out to be the only time that Cy-Fair put points on the board. C.J. Jones responded with a 2-yard touchdown run, and following a fumble recovered by Myles Wilson, Jack Barrientez scored the final points of the night with a 50-yard touchdown catch, his first touchdown at the varsity level. Neither team scored in the 4th quarter.
Final: Woods 44, Fair 7
Ground
Woods beat Fair at one aspect of their own game. No R.J. Harmon? Well, his absence didn't turn out to be much of a hindrance in this game, because I hear that C.J. Jones guy is pretty good. He has come alive in the running game in the last two games, and his production was sorely missed. His 180 yards is a season high, and he probably could've had well over 200 if some of his runs hadn't been wiped out by penalties.
Hope R.J. is back to health though... he's another dangerous element to a Wildcat offense that is firing on all cylinders.
C.J. Jones: 21 carries, 180 yards, TD
Bryson Powers: 10 carries, 48 yards, 2 TD
Jared Taylor: 5 carries, 22 yards
Matt Ficalora: 2 carries, 16 yards
Sean Despres: 6 carries, 8 yards
Jack Barrientez: 1 carry, 3 yards
Air
Bryson Powers didn't need to throw much, but when he did, he was effective. Only 3 players caught passes in this game, which is so unlike Cy Woods.
Bryson Powers: 9-11, 186 yards, 3 TD
Seth Despres was the only receiver who didn't score, but his 27-yard catch on a 3rd down in the 2nd quarter put the Wildcats in the red zone and set up Bryson Powers' 2nd touchdown run of the evening.
Jack Barrientez: 6 catches, 95 yards, TD
Jordan Johnson: 2 catches, 64 yards, 2 TD
Seth Despres: 1 catch, 27 yards
Defense
Woods soundly beat Fair at another aspect of their own game. The 202 yards that Woods allowed to the Bobcats was the fewest since October 10, 2014, when they held Cy Lakes to 200.
The Wildcats absolutely suffocated the Bobcats' vaunted running game, holding them to a mere 4 yards per carry and not allowing a single run of over 20 yards. They consistently won on the early downs and never allowed Cy-Fair to build any momentum on offense.
The Bobcats had 10 possessions in this game; 7 of them ended in punts. The Wildcats also killed two other Cy-Fair drives by forcing turnovers. Out of Cy-Fair's 10 offensive possessions, they ran a grand total of 8 offensive plays in Cy Woods territory. They also went 2-10 on 3rd down, and they even got a Cy Woods penalty on 3rd down to keep a drive in the 1st quarter alive. On the other 8 3rd down situations, the Bobcats did this:
1. Pass for -3 yards (this was on the same drive in which Woods was penalized on 3rd down)
2. Run for no gain
3. QB sacked, -2 yards
4. Incomplete pass (they had converted on 3rd down with a 13-yard pass earlier in the drive)
5. 1 yard run, fumble lost
6. Incomplete pass (they had converted on 3rd down with a 13-yard pass earlier in the drive)
7. Incomplete pass
8. Run for -2 yards
So, on their unsuccessful 3rd downs, Cy-Fair ran 8 plays, lost 6 yards, and lost a fumble. The Wildcats amped up the intensity on third down and totally shut down any momentum that the Bobcats were hoping to build.
Interceptions: Brandon DePrato 1 (2nd of season, returned 14 yards)
Fumbles forced: Brandon DePrato 1
Fumbles recovered: Myles Wilson 1
Sacks: Collin Fewox 1 (2 yards lost), Trent Bird 0.5 (9 yards lost), Cody Eggleston 0.5 (9 yards lost), Elijah Strang 0.5 (2 yards lost), Jordan Frazier 0.5 (2 yards lost)
Special Teams
Luis Reyes went 5-6 on his extra points and hit a 32-yard field goal in the 2nd. He is now 1 point away from tying Andrew Klink for the most points scored by a kicker in Cy Woods history.
C.J. had some evil intentions in the punt return game; however, he ended up getting tripped up at midfield each time. Nevertheless, he still gained over 40 yards on 2 of his 3 returns.
C.J. Jones: 3 punts returned, 88 yards
Jared Taylor: 1 punt returned, 8 yards
Man of the Match
Congratulations on scoring your first varsity touchdown, Jack Barrientez. The future is bright for this sophomore wide receiver/tailback.
Notes
- This is the most points that Cy Woods has ever put up against Cy-Fair.
- This is also the biggest margin of victory in the series.
- The Wildcats held their opponent to single digits (non-shutout) for the first time since they beat Eisenhower 42-7 in the 1st round of the 2011 playoffs.
- The Wildcats have their first winning streak over Cy-Fair since taking the first 3 meetings (2008-10).
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats will play at Pridgeon Stadium for the final time in the 2015 regular season as they take on the Jersey Village Falcons at 7 PM on Friday, October 30. Cy Woods will be the home team in this contest.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Cy Woods 48, Langham Creek 33: Still Alive.
2015 record: 3-4, 3-3 in District 17-6A
For the first time since 2011, the Cypress Woods Wildcats finished with more points than the Langham Creek Lobos in a football game. After they fell behind 20-14 in the 2nd quarter, the Wildcats finished the game on a 34-13 run on their way to a 48-33 victory at Pridgeon Stadium on Friday night. Huge win, and that's an understatement. The Cats snapped their longest active losing streak to any opponent and have effectively put the Lobos on the brink of elimination while bolstering their own playoff hopes.
There's no doubt that the playoffs have come extremely early for the Wildcats, and even if they win out, tiebreakers may enter the equation. They'll also need some results from other games within the district to go their way. It's not going to be easy on their end, either, considering that they'll be facing Cy-Fair to begin the Week 9 slate in CFISD, and then they'll have to tussle with a Jersey Village team that has hassled them over the last couple of seasons. This team is good enough to get it done, though, and they're getting themselves going at just the right time.
So how exactly did the Cats manage to win, despite committing 19 penalties? Well, that's easy... they played 48 minutes and did not turn the ball over. This was their first turnover-free game since the 2nd round of last year's playoffs against Katy Taylor. Their last turnover-free game in district? Well, you'd have to go back to when they demolished Ranch in 2013.
So, What Happened Was...
Langham opened up with a drive inside the Woods 15 that stalled, so they called on the field goal unit. A 30-yard field goal attempt from Ryan Harwell was blocked, and the loose ball was recovered by Keith Watson, who returned it into Lobo territory. However, Langham opened the scoring with a QB sneak from Paul Watson. On a 4th and 2 play earlier in the drive, Toneil Carter slipped out of Neil Chambers' grasp and eked out just enough yards to move the chains. It didn't take long for Woods to respond, however, as C.J. Jones caught a 7-yard pass. R.J. Harmon then followed with a 60-yard run that put the Cats inside the 10, and C.J. finished it off with a 7-yard run to tie the game.
End 1: Woods 7, Langham 7
The back-and-forth began in the 2nd quarter as Watson snuck the ball in for the second time to open the scoring in the period. Kason Franklin ended up blocking the ensuing extra point. This would turn out to be a significant play as the Wildcats responded once again. Bryson Powers fought his way into the endzone from 3 yards out, and Luis Reyes' extra point put them in the lead. It was the Lobos' turn to answer as Carter streaked down the field and caught a pass from Watson in stride to put Langham back in the lead. And yet again, Woods responded with another scoring drive as Bryson broke free with a 67-yard touchdown run to put Woods back in front again. The Woods defense forced a 3-and-out on their next series, and the offense was not needed as C.J. Jones returned a Harwell punt 62 yards for a touchdown. That return was made possible by a huge block from Keith Watson (I think), who took out one defender, and slowed down Toneil Carter, who is also their special teams ace, just enough for C.J. to find the opening he needed. The defense forced another 3-and-out to finish out the half.
Halftime: Woods 28, Langham 20
The 3rd quarter has been the best quarter for the Wildcats this season, and in this game, it turned out to be more of the same. The two scoring plays in this quarter were 2 touchdown passes from Bryson to Jordan Johnson. The first one came from 21 yards out and capped off the first series of the 2nd half, while the other was an 8-yard strike following another Langham 3-and-out.
End 3rd: Woods 42, Langham 20
So, that 3rd quarter score meant that it would be smooth sailing to the end, right? Well... almost. With an offense as talented as Langham Creek's, no lead is safe. Watson scored on a 17-yard run and then connected with Quartney Davis for a 15-yard touchdown. The 2-point conversion that would have made it a one-touchdown game failed, so the Woods lead remained at 9. Once more, the Wildcats had an answer for this late Langham uprising as C.J. put up an insurance touchdown with a 58-yard run with less than 4 minutes in the game to put the Wildcats up 15. The Lobos had one last-ditch drive that was kept alive by a 46-yard pass from Watson to Mercury Hayes, but the defense ultimately finished the job and wrapped up a massive victory.
Final: Woods 48, Langham 33
Ground
The Wildcats ran roughshod over the Lobo defense as they finished with 401 yards on the ground. TSRN actually took away 4 yards because Bryson kneeled twice at the end of the game.
In not-good news, R.J. was knocked out of the game in the 3rd after he careened into the Langham sideline and collided with a bench. I highly doubt that he would just collide with a bench on purpose.
Bryson's 67-yard scoring run was the longest running play for the Wildcats this season.
C.J. Jones: 17 carries, 176 yards, 2 TD
Bryson Powers: 20 carries, 159 yards, 2 TD
R.J. Harmon: 4 carries, 60 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 carry, 3 yards
Jared Taylor: 1 carry, -2 yards
Air
Bryson did not throw an interception for the first time this season. He very nearly did, though, as a ball that was thrown behind Jared Taylor was tipped by Jared and was nearly scooped up by a Langham defender. He had some balls that came out of his hand in a weird fashion, a few passes that were swatted down at the line of scrimmage, and a couple that he just straight up threw into the ground. One of the issues that he's been battling all season is throwing behind receivers, so it's clear to me that he still has some timing kinks to work out. I do wonder if receivers see the ball come out of a left-handed QB differently than they would with a right-handed quarterback.
Bryson Powers: 11-22, 157 yards, 2 TD
Jordan Johnson caught both of Bryson's touchdown passes. On the first series of the 2nd half, he almost broke free for an 81-yard touchdown. He ended up having to settle for 19 yards and a 21-yard score to finish off the drive. But hey, a touchdown's a touchdown.
Jordan Johnson: 4 catches, 74 yards, 2 TD
C.J. Jones: 3 catches, 26 yards
Jack Barrientez: 2 catches, 39 yards
Jared Taylor: 1 catch, 20 yards
R.J. Harmon: 1 catch, -2 yards
Defense
28 first downs, 33 points and 508 yards allowed. When the defense allows those numbers, it's normally a loss. However, Woods has been in plenty of these games, and more often than not, their offense outdoes such figures. Yeah, they allowed over 30 points and over 500 yards, but this was definitely their best effort of the year. They made the stops when they desperately needed them, and not much came easily for Langham, especially in the 3rd quarter.
Kason Franklin forced the only turnover of the game in the 3rd when he jarred the ball loose from Jalen Howard and Jared Taylor fell on it inside the 1-yard line. Now, the enusing Woods possession didn't amount to anything, but that turned out to be a crucial moment in the game. The Lobos had a drive aided by 2 Woods penalties, end right at the doorstep. They were on the verge of punching it in, but Kason had something to say about that. Because of that turnover, they were kept off the scoreboard. Toneil Carter, who ran for well over 200 yards in last year's meeting, was held to 85 in this game. He did have a couple of long receptions, so he wasn't completely shut down. But, his impact in the running game was marginal at best.
The front 7 hassled Paul Watson all night and their sacks really disrupted the offensive momentum that the Lobos intended on building. Watson may have put up 354 yards, but he did not look particularly comfortable in the pocket all night. The secondary did get lucky with receivers dropping catchable passes, and yes, they did get sliced through the air, but they also kept the Lobo receivers from making the tough catches, as well.
Fumbles forced: Kason Franklin 1
Fumbles recovered: Jared Taylor 1
Sacks: Caleb Smith 2.5 (12 yards lost), Austin Greaves 1.5 (10 yards lost), Keith Watson 1 (6 yards lost), Jordan Frazier 1 (11 yards lost)
By the way, that "pass interference" penalty on Jared in the 3rd quarter was one of the worst calls I have ever seen at any level of sports.
Special Teams
Luis Reyes hit 6 of his 7 extra points; the one he missed sailed wide left. He also punted 4 times; 1 of them landed inside the 20. He's now 9 points away from tying Andrew Klink for most points scored by a kicker in Cy Woods history.
Most teams have realized that allowing the Wildcats to return a kick or a punt usually doesn't end up well for them. The Lobos kicked away from everyone for the vast majority of the night, but Ryan Harwell, their kicker/punter, made one critical error before the break in letting C.J. Jones return a punt. That turned out to be a not-smart decision as he returned it 62 yards for a touchdown. That's the 3rd time that C.J. has scored a return touchdown (2 kick, 1 punt) in his Woods career.
The block unit earned their keep as they kept 4 points off the board.
Men of the Match
On the offensive side, it's C.J. and Bryson as they just demolished the Langham defense. The front 7 harassed Paul Watson all evening as they got to him 6 times.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats will kick off Week 9 as they take on the Cy-Fair Bobcats at the Berry Center at 7 PM on Thursday, October 22. Cy Woods will be the home team in this game.
Photo by Matt Ramos, The Crimson Connection
For the first time since 2011, the Cypress Woods Wildcats finished with more points than the Langham Creek Lobos in a football game. After they fell behind 20-14 in the 2nd quarter, the Wildcats finished the game on a 34-13 run on their way to a 48-33 victory at Pridgeon Stadium on Friday night. Huge win, and that's an understatement. The Cats snapped their longest active losing streak to any opponent and have effectively put the Lobos on the brink of elimination while bolstering their own playoff hopes.
There's no doubt that the playoffs have come extremely early for the Wildcats, and even if they win out, tiebreakers may enter the equation. They'll also need some results from other games within the district to go their way. It's not going to be easy on their end, either, considering that they'll be facing Cy-Fair to begin the Week 9 slate in CFISD, and then they'll have to tussle with a Jersey Village team that has hassled them over the last couple of seasons. This team is good enough to get it done, though, and they're getting themselves going at just the right time.
So how exactly did the Cats manage to win, despite committing 19 penalties? Well, that's easy... they played 48 minutes and did not turn the ball over. This was their first turnover-free game since the 2nd round of last year's playoffs against Katy Taylor. Their last turnover-free game in district? Well, you'd have to go back to when they demolished Ranch in 2013.
So, What Happened Was...
Langham opened up with a drive inside the Woods 15 that stalled, so they called on the field goal unit. A 30-yard field goal attempt from Ryan Harwell was blocked, and the loose ball was recovered by Keith Watson, who returned it into Lobo territory. However, Langham opened the scoring with a QB sneak from Paul Watson. On a 4th and 2 play earlier in the drive, Toneil Carter slipped out of Neil Chambers' grasp and eked out just enough yards to move the chains. It didn't take long for Woods to respond, however, as C.J. Jones caught a 7-yard pass. R.J. Harmon then followed with a 60-yard run that put the Cats inside the 10, and C.J. finished it off with a 7-yard run to tie the game.
End 1: Woods 7, Langham 7
The back-and-forth began in the 2nd quarter as Watson snuck the ball in for the second time to open the scoring in the period. Kason Franklin ended up blocking the ensuing extra point. This would turn out to be a significant play as the Wildcats responded once again. Bryson Powers fought his way into the endzone from 3 yards out, and Luis Reyes' extra point put them in the lead. It was the Lobos' turn to answer as Carter streaked down the field and caught a pass from Watson in stride to put Langham back in the lead. And yet again, Woods responded with another scoring drive as Bryson broke free with a 67-yard touchdown run to put Woods back in front again. The Woods defense forced a 3-and-out on their next series, and the offense was not needed as C.J. Jones returned a Harwell punt 62 yards for a touchdown. That return was made possible by a huge block from Keith Watson (I think), who took out one defender, and slowed down Toneil Carter, who is also their special teams ace, just enough for C.J. to find the opening he needed. The defense forced another 3-and-out to finish out the half.
Halftime: Woods 28, Langham 20
The 3rd quarter has been the best quarter for the Wildcats this season, and in this game, it turned out to be more of the same. The two scoring plays in this quarter were 2 touchdown passes from Bryson to Jordan Johnson. The first one came from 21 yards out and capped off the first series of the 2nd half, while the other was an 8-yard strike following another Langham 3-and-out.
End 3rd: Woods 42, Langham 20
So, that 3rd quarter score meant that it would be smooth sailing to the end, right? Well... almost. With an offense as talented as Langham Creek's, no lead is safe. Watson scored on a 17-yard run and then connected with Quartney Davis for a 15-yard touchdown. The 2-point conversion that would have made it a one-touchdown game failed, so the Woods lead remained at 9. Once more, the Wildcats had an answer for this late Langham uprising as C.J. put up an insurance touchdown with a 58-yard run with less than 4 minutes in the game to put the Wildcats up 15. The Lobos had one last-ditch drive that was kept alive by a 46-yard pass from Watson to Mercury Hayes, but the defense ultimately finished the job and wrapped up a massive victory.
Final: Woods 48, Langham 33
Ground
The Wildcats ran roughshod over the Lobo defense as they finished with 401 yards on the ground. TSRN actually took away 4 yards because Bryson kneeled twice at the end of the game.
In not-good news, R.J. was knocked out of the game in the 3rd after he careened into the Langham sideline and collided with a bench. I highly doubt that he would just collide with a bench on purpose.
Bryson's 67-yard scoring run was the longest running play for the Wildcats this season.
C.J. Jones: 17 carries, 176 yards, 2 TD
Bryson Powers: 20 carries, 159 yards, 2 TD
R.J. Harmon: 4 carries, 60 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 carry, 3 yards
Jared Taylor: 1 carry, -2 yards
Air
Bryson did not throw an interception for the first time this season. He very nearly did, though, as a ball that was thrown behind Jared Taylor was tipped by Jared and was nearly scooped up by a Langham defender. He had some balls that came out of his hand in a weird fashion, a few passes that were swatted down at the line of scrimmage, and a couple that he just straight up threw into the ground. One of the issues that he's been battling all season is throwing behind receivers, so it's clear to me that he still has some timing kinks to work out. I do wonder if receivers see the ball come out of a left-handed QB differently than they would with a right-handed quarterback.
Bryson Powers: 11-22, 157 yards, 2 TD
Jordan Johnson caught both of Bryson's touchdown passes. On the first series of the 2nd half, he almost broke free for an 81-yard touchdown. He ended up having to settle for 19 yards and a 21-yard score to finish off the drive. But hey, a touchdown's a touchdown.
Jordan Johnson: 4 catches, 74 yards, 2 TD
C.J. Jones: 3 catches, 26 yards
Jack Barrientez: 2 catches, 39 yards
Jared Taylor: 1 catch, 20 yards
R.J. Harmon: 1 catch, -2 yards
Defense
28 first downs, 33 points and 508 yards allowed. When the defense allows those numbers, it's normally a loss. However, Woods has been in plenty of these games, and more often than not, their offense outdoes such figures. Yeah, they allowed over 30 points and over 500 yards, but this was definitely their best effort of the year. They made the stops when they desperately needed them, and not much came easily for Langham, especially in the 3rd quarter.
Kason Franklin forced the only turnover of the game in the 3rd when he jarred the ball loose from Jalen Howard and Jared Taylor fell on it inside the 1-yard line. Now, the enusing Woods possession didn't amount to anything, but that turned out to be a crucial moment in the game. The Lobos had a drive aided by 2 Woods penalties, end right at the doorstep. They were on the verge of punching it in, but Kason had something to say about that. Because of that turnover, they were kept off the scoreboard. Toneil Carter, who ran for well over 200 yards in last year's meeting, was held to 85 in this game. He did have a couple of long receptions, so he wasn't completely shut down. But, his impact in the running game was marginal at best.
The front 7 hassled Paul Watson all night and their sacks really disrupted the offensive momentum that the Lobos intended on building. Watson may have put up 354 yards, but he did not look particularly comfortable in the pocket all night. The secondary did get lucky with receivers dropping catchable passes, and yes, they did get sliced through the air, but they also kept the Lobo receivers from making the tough catches, as well.
Fumbles forced: Kason Franklin 1
Fumbles recovered: Jared Taylor 1
Sacks: Caleb Smith 2.5 (12 yards lost), Austin Greaves 1.5 (10 yards lost), Keith Watson 1 (6 yards lost), Jordan Frazier 1 (11 yards lost)
By the way, that "pass interference" penalty on Jared in the 3rd quarter was one of the worst calls I have ever seen at any level of sports.
Special Teams
Luis Reyes hit 6 of his 7 extra points; the one he missed sailed wide left. He also punted 4 times; 1 of them landed inside the 20. He's now 9 points away from tying Andrew Klink for most points scored by a kicker in Cy Woods history.
Most teams have realized that allowing the Wildcats to return a kick or a punt usually doesn't end up well for them. The Lobos kicked away from everyone for the vast majority of the night, but Ryan Harwell, their kicker/punter, made one critical error before the break in letting C.J. Jones return a punt. That turned out to be a not-smart decision as he returned it 62 yards for a touchdown. That's the 3rd time that C.J. has scored a return touchdown (2 kick, 1 punt) in his Woods career.
The block unit earned their keep as they kept 4 points off the board.
Men of the Match
On the offensive side, it's C.J. and Bryson as they just demolished the Langham defense. The front 7 harassed Paul Watson all evening as they got to him 6 times.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats will kick off Week 9 as they take on the Cy-Fair Bobcats at the Berry Center at 7 PM on Thursday, October 22. Cy Woods will be the home team in this game.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Cy Woods 59, Cy Ridge 31: An Awakening
2015 Record: 1-1. 1-0 in District 17-6A
Well, I'm not really an "I told you so" kind of person, but...
Now, the first 12 minutes of this game was far from pretty. I'm not going to argue otherwise. But suddenly, the switch turned on, and it was vintage Cy Woods afterwards as they finished this game by outscoring the Rams 52-10 over the final 3 quarters of play as they erased the horrible taste left from the beatdown the suffered at the hands of Klein Collins at Reliant on Opening Day with a 59-31 victory in the first game of district play. The Wildcats fought back from an early deficit, and once they weathered that storm, they proceeded to blow the Rams away, much like they did in last year's game.
I've gotten so many questions as to what I would do in order to improve the offense, because apparently some people are dying to hear this. My answer is that I would make it a balanced attack, and that's what I saw Friday night. This team is so much better when they successfully integrate the passing game, especially with the personnel they have. The offensive system works. The Wildcats have been a fixture in the playoffs with this system, so I admit that I am a bit perplexed at this "they should change the offense" talk. Cy Woods has played fast and furious on offense since 2008. They have always had the skill players to do so, and I do not see that changing anytime soon.
Ridge has some real intriguing players, and I think they could be a spoiler team this season. I was especially impressed by their #1 running back, Trelon Smith. He returned a kick for a score in last year's game, and in this one, he carved up the Woods defense, especially in the 1st quarter. Toneil Carter may be the more heralded player, but Trelon is another outstanding talent in this district who represents the class of 2017. He's the next in a line of great Cy Ridge running backs.
So, What Happened Was....
On the first play from scrimmage, Kamari Staton forced a fumble by delivering a jarring hit to Bryson Powers, and the Rams recovered it at the Cy Woods 1. The Cats very nearly got it back on the next play, but Trelon Smith opened the scoring with a 1-yard run on 2nd down. The Cats responded with a fine drive that culminated in Bryson connecting with Jordan Johnson for a 14-yard touchdown pass. The 1st quarter turned out to be the Trelon Smith Show for the Rams, as he scored two more times (from 69, and again from 1 yard out) in the 1st quarter.
End 1st: Ridge 21, Woods 7
After Smith's 3rd score, the Wildcats scored 22 unanswered in the 2nd quarter. R.J. Harmon busted out a couple of 20-yard runs, and finished it off with a 7-yard touchdown catch. The defense then foiled a fake punt attempt, and one play later, Bryson found C.J. Jones for a 30-yard score. Another Ridge drive stalled, and on the first play of the Cats' next drive, C.J. found a wide-open Jordan Johnson for 57 yards. C.J. wrapped that drive up with a 15-yard touchdown catch, and Bryson Powers ran the ball in for 2 points following a botched snap. Ridge's 3 points in the 2nd came on a 40-yard field goal from Kevin Campos.
Halftime: Woods 29, Ridge 24
The Cats left the Rams in the dust by outscoring them 30-0 in the 3rd quarter.
For the 2nd time in his Woods career, C.J. Jones recorded 3 receiving touchdowns in a game. This one went for 56 yards, and on the PAT, Jordan leapfrogged a Ridge defender for 2 more points. Myles Wilson recovered a fumble and ran it back for a touchdown, but that got negated by a penalty. On the ensuing Wildcat drive, Jared Taylor punched it in from 10 yards out, and C.J. added 2 more points on a pass from Bryson. The Rams were knocking on the door late in the 3rd, but Kason Franklin put a stop to all of that with an interception, which he returned 96 yards for another score. Woods' final points of the night came when Brandon DePrato fell on an errant snap in the endzone.
End 3rd: Woods 59, Ridge 24
Ridge backup QB Tyson Williams scored the final points of the evening with a 5-yard run.
Final: Woods 59, Ridge 31
Ground
Despite the limited exposure, R.J. Harmon and C.J. Jones still made the most of their playing time. R.J. rattled off 3 20-yard runs, while C.J. did his damage in the passing game.
Jared Taylor, who did play some running back as a freshman, made his first start as a running back at the varsity level.
Jared Taylor: 11 carries, 69 yards, TD
Bryson Powers: 6 carries, 36 yards
Austin Goffney: 5 carries, 59 yards
R.J. Harmon: 4 carries, 65 yards
C.J. Jones: 2 carries, 15 yards
Jack Barrientez: 2 carries, 9 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 carry, 3 yards
Air
Now that's the Cy Woods passing attack that I've been accustomed to seeing all these years. Bryson Powers looks to be the man going forward. Bryson didn't throw for 500 yards here, but his throws in this game were precise, and his receivers did the rest. He almost had a 6th passing touchdown, if it wasn't for a timely breakup in the 1st. Otherwise, Jordan Johnson would have left everyone in the dust. It's the 5th time that a Wildcat quarterback has thrown for 5 touchdowns in a game. 3 of these games have come against Ridge, and it's the 2nd consecutive year that this has occurred against Ridge.
Bryson Powers: 14-18, 223 yards, 5 TD
C.J. Jones: 1-1, 57 yards
Austin Goffney: 2-2, 4 yards
Jordan caught a 14-yard strike for the Wildcats' first points of the evening. His 57-yard catch on a halfback pass by C.J. Jones is now the longest pass play of the year for the Cats.
C.J. Jones: 4 catches, 109 yards, 3 TD
R.J. Harmon: 4 catches, 32 yards, TD
Jordan Johnson: 2 catches, 71 yards, TD
Tre' Hart: 2 catches, 33 yards
Jared Taylor: 2 catches, 31 yards
Austin Goffney: 1 catch, 12 yards
Jake Wolf: 1 catch, 2 yards
Brandon Sustala: 1 catch, 1 yard
Defense
The last time the Wildcats scored 2 defensive touchdowns in a game was the 2011 season finale against Cy Springs. It would've been 3 on Friday, had a penalty not wiped out Myles Wilson's 70-yard fumble return in the 3rd quarter. The Rams had a tough time holding on to the ball, as they put it on the ground 5 times. The Cats picked up 2 of them, one of which resulted in a touchdown. They both should've resulted in touchdowns, but oh well.
The late-down defense still needs some shoring up; the Rams were 8-15 on 3rd down, which included 2 touchdowns. Okay, one of those scores occurred midway through the 4th quarter, but this remains an area of concern. Both of their opponents have converted more than half of their 3rd-down situations, which is completely inexcusable. I know it's only been 2 games, but against teams like Ranch and Fair, they're going to have to find a way to get those offenses off the field as quickly as possible.
Brandon DePrato deflected a couple of passes that both nearly turned into interceptions. He almost deflected one to himself, but the ball was just out of his reach. He put up 6 more points in the 3rd when he outraced Ridge QB Cody Canady to a bad snap that found its way into the endzone, Austin Greaves made his presence felt with 9 tackles and a forced fumble. Kason Franklin put up double-digits in the tackle column to go along with his pick 6.
Jordan and Jared were also summoned to try to slow down Kevin LeDee, who gave the secondary fits all night. Trelon Smith had a fine night, but the Wildcat defense did well to keep him out of the endzone for the final 36 minutes of the game.
Tobi Orundami, in his first extended action, was a force on the line of scrimmage. This sophomore has tremendous upside, and it's going to be interesting to see how he develops. The Wildcats' first sack in district play belongs to Jordan Frazier; he drove the Rams back 6 yards.
Sacks: Jordan Frazier 1 (6 yards lost)
Passes broken up: Brandon DePrato 2, Collin Fewox 1, Elijah Strang 1, Jordan Johnson 1
Interceptions: Kason Franklin 1 (96 yards, returned for TD)
Fumbles recovered: Brandon DePrato 1 (recovered in endzone for TD)
Tackles: Kason Franklin 10 (4 assisted), Austin Greaves 9 (3 assisted, 1 tackle for loss), Terrell Brown 6, Keith Watson 5 (3 assisted, 1 for loss) Myles Wilson 5 (1 assisted), Neil Chambers 3 (2 for loss), Tobi Orundami 3 (all assisted), Elijah Strang 3 (2 assisted), Collin Fewox 3 (1 assisted), Ryan Olvera 3 (2 assisted), Jamion Fontenot 3 (1 assisted, 1 for loss), Cody Eggleston 2 (1 assisted), Caleb Smith 2 (1 assisted, 1 for loss), Brandon DePrato 2 (both assisted), Jordan Frazier 1 (sack), Austin Goffney 1 (assisted), Hunter Carmouche 1 (assisted), Adrian Garcia 1 (assisted), Dylan Bert 1, Brandt Redden 1 (assisted), Stace Ivie 1 (for loss)
Special Teams
The Wildcats did not punt in this game. Well, they did line up to punt once, and Jordan Johnson ended up running for 3 yards after a high snap forced him to do so.
Luis Reyes hit all 5 of his extra points. 2 more weren't attempted because of bad snaps, but Bryson Powers and Jordan Johnson were both able to run the ball in for 2 points.
Luis Reyes: 5-5 XP
Nothing significant in the return game. Ridge's only punt went for 19 yards and was not returnable.
Jared Taylor: 2 kicks returned, 40 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 kick returned, 30 yards
C.J. Jones: 1 kick returned, 25 yards
Tre' Hart: 1 kick returned, 23 yards
Miscellaneous
The Ridge band played Skyfall as part of their halftime show. Skyfall is one of my guilty pleasure songs, and the fact that they played this song immediately makes them one of my favorite marching bands.
Man of the Match
This was a total team effort, rallying from a 21-7 deficit. So, I'm going with the entire team.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats will be back at the Berry Center on Thursday to take on Cy Falls. Kickoff is at 7:00.
Well, I'm not really an "I told you so" kind of person, but...
Now, the first 12 minutes of this game was far from pretty. I'm not going to argue otherwise. But suddenly, the switch turned on, and it was vintage Cy Woods afterwards as they finished this game by outscoring the Rams 52-10 over the final 3 quarters of play as they erased the horrible taste left from the beatdown the suffered at the hands of Klein Collins at Reliant on Opening Day with a 59-31 victory in the first game of district play. The Wildcats fought back from an early deficit, and once they weathered that storm, they proceeded to blow the Rams away, much like they did in last year's game.
I've gotten so many questions as to what I would do in order to improve the offense, because apparently some people are dying to hear this. My answer is that I would make it a balanced attack, and that's what I saw Friday night. This team is so much better when they successfully integrate the passing game, especially with the personnel they have. The offensive system works. The Wildcats have been a fixture in the playoffs with this system, so I admit that I am a bit perplexed at this "they should change the offense" talk. Cy Woods has played fast and furious on offense since 2008. They have always had the skill players to do so, and I do not see that changing anytime soon.
Ridge has some real intriguing players, and I think they could be a spoiler team this season. I was especially impressed by their #1 running back, Trelon Smith. He returned a kick for a score in last year's game, and in this one, he carved up the Woods defense, especially in the 1st quarter. Toneil Carter may be the more heralded player, but Trelon is another outstanding talent in this district who represents the class of 2017. He's the next in a line of great Cy Ridge running backs.
So, What Happened Was....
On the first play from scrimmage, Kamari Staton forced a fumble by delivering a jarring hit to Bryson Powers, and the Rams recovered it at the Cy Woods 1. The Cats very nearly got it back on the next play, but Trelon Smith opened the scoring with a 1-yard run on 2nd down. The Cats responded with a fine drive that culminated in Bryson connecting with Jordan Johnson for a 14-yard touchdown pass. The 1st quarter turned out to be the Trelon Smith Show for the Rams, as he scored two more times (from 69, and again from 1 yard out) in the 1st quarter.
End 1st: Ridge 21, Woods 7
After Smith's 3rd score, the Wildcats scored 22 unanswered in the 2nd quarter. R.J. Harmon busted out a couple of 20-yard runs, and finished it off with a 7-yard touchdown catch. The defense then foiled a fake punt attempt, and one play later, Bryson found C.J. Jones for a 30-yard score. Another Ridge drive stalled, and on the first play of the Cats' next drive, C.J. found a wide-open Jordan Johnson for 57 yards. C.J. wrapped that drive up with a 15-yard touchdown catch, and Bryson Powers ran the ball in for 2 points following a botched snap. Ridge's 3 points in the 2nd came on a 40-yard field goal from Kevin Campos.
Halftime: Woods 29, Ridge 24
The Cats left the Rams in the dust by outscoring them 30-0 in the 3rd quarter.
For the 2nd time in his Woods career, C.J. Jones recorded 3 receiving touchdowns in a game. This one went for 56 yards, and on the PAT, Jordan leapfrogged a Ridge defender for 2 more points. Myles Wilson recovered a fumble and ran it back for a touchdown, but that got negated by a penalty. On the ensuing Wildcat drive, Jared Taylor punched it in from 10 yards out, and C.J. added 2 more points on a pass from Bryson. The Rams were knocking on the door late in the 3rd, but Kason Franklin put a stop to all of that with an interception, which he returned 96 yards for another score. Woods' final points of the night came when Brandon DePrato fell on an errant snap in the endzone.
End 3rd: Woods 59, Ridge 24
Ridge backup QB Tyson Williams scored the final points of the evening with a 5-yard run.
Final: Woods 59, Ridge 31
Ground
Despite the limited exposure, R.J. Harmon and C.J. Jones still made the most of their playing time. R.J. rattled off 3 20-yard runs, while C.J. did his damage in the passing game.
Jared Taylor, who did play some running back as a freshman, made his first start as a running back at the varsity level.
Jared Taylor: 11 carries, 69 yards, TD
Bryson Powers: 6 carries, 36 yards
Austin Goffney: 5 carries, 59 yards
R.J. Harmon: 4 carries, 65 yards
C.J. Jones: 2 carries, 15 yards
Jack Barrientez: 2 carries, 9 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 carry, 3 yards
Air
Now that's the Cy Woods passing attack that I've been accustomed to seeing all these years. Bryson Powers looks to be the man going forward. Bryson didn't throw for 500 yards here, but his throws in this game were precise, and his receivers did the rest. He almost had a 6th passing touchdown, if it wasn't for a timely breakup in the 1st. Otherwise, Jordan Johnson would have left everyone in the dust. It's the 5th time that a Wildcat quarterback has thrown for 5 touchdowns in a game. 3 of these games have come against Ridge, and it's the 2nd consecutive year that this has occurred against Ridge.
Bryson Powers: 14-18, 223 yards, 5 TD
C.J. Jones: 1-1, 57 yards
Austin Goffney: 2-2, 4 yards
Jordan caught a 14-yard strike for the Wildcats' first points of the evening. His 57-yard catch on a halfback pass by C.J. Jones is now the longest pass play of the year for the Cats.
C.J. Jones: 4 catches, 109 yards, 3 TD
R.J. Harmon: 4 catches, 32 yards, TD
Jordan Johnson: 2 catches, 71 yards, TD
Tre' Hart: 2 catches, 33 yards
Jared Taylor: 2 catches, 31 yards
Austin Goffney: 1 catch, 12 yards
Jake Wolf: 1 catch, 2 yards
Brandon Sustala: 1 catch, 1 yard
Defense
Uh oh we found our defense
— Brandon DePrato (@cdubbdeprato8) September 12, 2015
The last time the Wildcats scored 2 defensive touchdowns in a game was the 2011 season finale against Cy Springs. It would've been 3 on Friday, had a penalty not wiped out Myles Wilson's 70-yard fumble return in the 3rd quarter. The Rams had a tough time holding on to the ball, as they put it on the ground 5 times. The Cats picked up 2 of them, one of which resulted in a touchdown. They both should've resulted in touchdowns, but oh well.
The late-down defense still needs some shoring up; the Rams were 8-15 on 3rd down, which included 2 touchdowns. Okay, one of those scores occurred midway through the 4th quarter, but this remains an area of concern. Both of their opponents have converted more than half of their 3rd-down situations, which is completely inexcusable. I know it's only been 2 games, but against teams like Ranch and Fair, they're going to have to find a way to get those offenses off the field as quickly as possible.
Brandon DePrato deflected a couple of passes that both nearly turned into interceptions. He almost deflected one to himself, but the ball was just out of his reach. He put up 6 more points in the 3rd when he outraced Ridge QB Cody Canady to a bad snap that found its way into the endzone, Austin Greaves made his presence felt with 9 tackles and a forced fumble. Kason Franklin put up double-digits in the tackle column to go along with his pick 6.
Jordan and Jared were also summoned to try to slow down Kevin LeDee, who gave the secondary fits all night. Trelon Smith had a fine night, but the Wildcat defense did well to keep him out of the endzone for the final 36 minutes of the game.
Tobi Orundami, in his first extended action, was a force on the line of scrimmage. This sophomore has tremendous upside, and it's going to be interesting to see how he develops. The Wildcats' first sack in district play belongs to Jordan Frazier; he drove the Rams back 6 yards.
Sacks: Jordan Frazier 1 (6 yards lost)
Passes broken up: Brandon DePrato 2, Collin Fewox 1, Elijah Strang 1, Jordan Johnson 1
Interceptions: Kason Franklin 1 (96 yards, returned for TD)
Fumbles recovered: Brandon DePrato 1 (recovered in endzone for TD)
Tackles: Kason Franklin 10 (4 assisted), Austin Greaves 9 (3 assisted, 1 tackle for loss), Terrell Brown 6, Keith Watson 5 (3 assisted, 1 for loss) Myles Wilson 5 (1 assisted), Neil Chambers 3 (2 for loss), Tobi Orundami 3 (all assisted), Elijah Strang 3 (2 assisted), Collin Fewox 3 (1 assisted), Ryan Olvera 3 (2 assisted), Jamion Fontenot 3 (1 assisted, 1 for loss), Cody Eggleston 2 (1 assisted), Caleb Smith 2 (1 assisted, 1 for loss), Brandon DePrato 2 (both assisted), Jordan Frazier 1 (sack), Austin Goffney 1 (assisted), Hunter Carmouche 1 (assisted), Adrian Garcia 1 (assisted), Dylan Bert 1, Brandt Redden 1 (assisted), Stace Ivie 1 (for loss)
Special Teams
The Wildcats did not punt in this game. Well, they did line up to punt once, and Jordan Johnson ended up running for 3 yards after a high snap forced him to do so.
Luis Reyes hit all 5 of his extra points. 2 more weren't attempted because of bad snaps, but Bryson Powers and Jordan Johnson were both able to run the ball in for 2 points.
Luis Reyes: 5-5 XP
Nothing significant in the return game. Ridge's only punt went for 19 yards and was not returnable.
Jared Taylor: 2 kicks returned, 40 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 kick returned, 30 yards
C.J. Jones: 1 kick returned, 25 yards
Tre' Hart: 1 kick returned, 23 yards
Miscellaneous
The Ridge band played Skyfall as part of their halftime show. Skyfall is one of my guilty pleasure songs, and the fact that they played this song immediately makes them one of my favorite marching bands.
Man of the Match
This was a total team effort, rallying from a 21-7 deficit. So, I'm going with the entire team.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats will be back at the Berry Center on Thursday to take on Cy Falls. Kickoff is at 7:00.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Wildcats Through the Years: 2014
Chapter 7 in the book of Cy Woods football history covers the 2014 Cy Woods Wildcats.
Summary
Record: 8-5, 6-3 (t-3rd) in District 17-6A
Playoffs: 6A Division II, Region III semifinals, lost 63-47 to Manvel
Points scored: 596 (45.8 per game)
Points allowed: 455 (35 per game)
Largest margin of victory: 51, against Aldine Davis (66-15), bi-district round
Largest margin of defeat: 28, against Klein Collins (14-42), Week 1
Most points scored: 70, vs. Cy Springs (t-most scored in a game)
Most points allowed: 63, vs. Manvel (most allowed in a game)
Fewest points scored: 14, vs. Klein Collins (only time they were held to under 30 points this season)
Fewest poins allowed: 10, vs. Cy Lakes
Team Records Set or Tied
Most points scored per game: 45.8
Most 50+ point games: 5 (tied with 2010)
Most total offensive yards: 6690
Most offensive yards per game: 514.6
Most points scored in one half: 63, 1st half vs. Cy Springs
Most points scored in a game: 70, vs. Cy Springs (tied)
Most points allowed in a season: 455
Most points allowed in a game: 63, vs. Manvel
Individual Records Set or Tied
Most rushing touchdowns in a season: Nick Hooper, 22
Most rushing yards in a season: R.J. Harmon, 1,118
Most carries in a season: Nick Hooper, 224
Most yards per carry (min. 50 carries): C.J. Jones, 9.2
Most rushing touchdowns in a game: Nick Hooper and C.J. Jones, 4 apiece vs. Aldine Davis (tied record)
Most passing yards in a game: Nick Hooper, 448 vs. Langham Creek
Most total yards in a game: Nick Hooper, 603 vs. Langham Creek
Most touchdowns responsible for in a season: Nick Hooper, 43 (tied record)
Most touchdowns responsible for in a career: Nick Hooper, 77 (4 receiving, 36 rushing, 37 passing)
Most points scored by a kicker in a season: Luis Reyes, 95
Statistical Leaders
Passing: Nick Hooper, 166-273 (60.8% completion), 2,749 yards, 21 TD, 9 INT
Rushing yards: R.J. Harmon, 1,118
Rushing touchdowns: Hooper, 22 (new Woods single-season record)
Receptions: Zac Duncan, 36
Receiving yards: Tre' Hart, 541
Receiving touchdowns: C.J. Jones, 7
Interceptions: Michael Wirt, Jake Jones, and Bryson Powers, 3 apiece
Schedule
Week 1: L 42-14 vs. Klein Collins (Pridgeon)
Week 2: W 59-28 @ Cy Ridge (Berry)
Week 3: W 48-47 vs. Cy Falls (Pridgeon)
Week 4: L 38-35 @ Cy Ranch (Berry)
Week 5: W 35-21 vs. Cy Creek (Pridgeon)
Week 6: W 52-10 @ Cy Lakes (Pridgeon)
Week 7: L 55-31 vs. Langham Creek (Homecoming @ Berry)
Week 8: W 38-31 (OT) @ Cy-Fair (Pridgeon)
Week 9: L 44-38 @ Jersey Village (Pridgeon)
Week 10: W 70-44 vs. Cy Springs (Berry)
Bi-district: W 66-15 vs. Aldine Davis (Berry)
Area: W 63-17 vs. Katy Taylor (Berry)
Regional semifinals: L 63-47 vs. Manvel (Rice)
The Rundown
The 2014 Cy Woods Wildcats looked to build upon the gains they made during Coach Faith's second season at the helm, which saw them return to the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Cats did so with an explosive offense that was just 5 points shy of setting a school record for points scored in a season.
Nick Hooper returned for his senior season as the face of the Wildcats, and he would have plenty of tools at his disposal. After getting a taste of the big leagues as a sophomore in 2013, R.J. Harmon assumed the feature back role. Harmon became part of a formidable tandem with rising sophomore C.J. Jones, and together, they ran roughshod over opposing defenses and made themselves significant factors in the passing game. On the outside, Zac Duncan returned for his 3rd year, and he was accompanied by Jared Taylor, Tre' Hart, Taylor Tesch, and Jordan Johnson, who also handled punting duties. Ty Dendy and Wyatt Wozniak anchored the offensive line, and they were accompanied by T.J. Frank, Brandon Kula, Shiva Reddy, Skylar Schulz, Andrew Gallagher, Jake Gates, and Hunter Rohles, who at 6'9", became the tallest player in team history.
Defensively.... it was a dramatically different story than in seasons past. The Cats allowed 455 points, which is the most that they have allowed in any season by a substantial margin. The defense had some stretches where they played well, but those were few and far between.
Justyn Johnson, Randall Medlin, and Morgan Tosten were the 3 primary linemen, and they answered the bell for 13 weeks, playing nearly every defensive snap. They were backed up by Darion Shields, Isiah Clay, and Caleb Smith. Wade Carson and The Outlaw Shane Lawless returned to lead the linebacking corps. They were joined by Tyler Greaves, Elijah Pierson, Elijah Kinnison, Keith Watson, and Danny Malone, who also served as the Special Teams Ace. The secondary was young; the Cats broke in 3 sophomores in Kason Franklin, Myles Wilson, and Bryson Powers, and all three of them performed well. They also got some stability at the corner spots with Jake Jones, Michael Wirt, and Nick Bailey, who played a more prominent role towards the end of the season as he worked his way back from an early-season injury.
The 2014 season was a rollercoaster, for sure. The Wildcats missed a chance to take the lead in district play when they stumbled on Homecoming against Langham, and all of a sudden, they found their grip on a playoff spot becoming rather tenuous. Then, those playoff hopes suddenly received a massive boost with an overtime win against Cy-Fair.... and then they had to wait until the last week of the season to formally clinch a playoff spot, because they dropped a game to Jersey Village on Halloween.
There were records set all over the place, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Nick Hooper and R.J. Harmon became the first pair of Wildcats to rush for over 1,000 yards in the same season; R.J. set a new school record for most rushing yards in a season, while Nick found the endzone 22 times on the ground, which was also a new record.
Regular Season
Chapter 7. August 29, 2014.
The Wildcats entered the 2014 season the same way they entered the previous 6: with high expectations. If you know the song, it's that anything less than a playoff berth and competing for a district championship would be seen as a colossal disappointment. Cosmetically, the Wildcats underwent significant changes. First up were the new uniforms. From this point forward, the varsity Cats would be outfitted by Nike. Next was the run-through tunnel, complete with inflatable helmet! I admit, that was pretty nice to see, but I had those thoughts where Coach Jones would never have any part of that stuff. But... it sure beats running through that little sign for the past 6 years. This new era of Wildcat football is in full swing.
Just like the last two seasons, the Klein Collins Tigers were the Wildcats' Opening Night opponents. The Tigers are a solid program from the Klein area, and they've always fielded some great teams throughout the years. There are no cupcakes; Klein Collins has been a good litmus test for the Cats' progress before they jump in the pool known as District 17-6A.
Unfortunately, the Cats stumbled out of the gate as the Tigers basically had their way with them, and they faced a 35-0 deficit in the 3rd quarter until Zac Duncan scored the Cats' first points of a season when he took a reverse and ran 26 yards for a score. They then recovered two onside kicks in a row and converted one of those recoveries into a touchdown, but they were simply overwhelmed by the Tigers' rushing attack and dropped their first game of the season, 42-14.
Obviously, that wasn't a very good first impression. That game showed that the Cats had some work to do before district play kicked off, so... they got to it. After a bye, the real season began with a tilt against Cy Ridge. That was the night where C.J. Jones announced his arrival on to the big stage, and the message he sent was emphatic. He touched the ball 6 times in the first half and scored 4 times. He'd finish with 119 yards on just 8 carries and added 97 yards on 2 receptions. And... he scored on both of his catches. It was tightly contested early on; the Rams hung with the Cats for much of the first half, until.... the offense found another gear, that gear that Wildcat fans are all too familiar with, and just blew Ridge away. They put up 31 unanswered points and ended up cruising to a 59-28 victory. The Cats got contributions from virtually everyone. R.J. Harmon ran for 125 yards and made himself a threat in the passing game with 131 receiving yards and a touchdown. Nick Hooper ripped the Rams to the tune of 356 yards and 5 touchdowns. Bryson Powers caught 2 passes, and both of them went for touchdowns as well. Tyler Greaves recorded 15 tackles from his linebacker spot, and Brandon DePrato got an interception late in the 4th quarter. This win also marked the first time that the Wildcats won a district opener.
Next up on the slate was Cy Falls. The Cats ended a miserable streak the last time they faced Falls as they got back in the win column against the Golden Eagles for the first time since Year One. This was on the verge of becoming a blowout; after the Eagles scored first, the Cats hit back with a vengeance, scoring 27 unanswered, and it looked like all the momentum was in the Cats' corner. But.... two scores from Falls before the half changed the complexion of the game and the Cats were on their heels in the final 24 minutes. The 4th quarter turned out to be nearly catastrophic as they lost a fumble and had 3 three-and-outs on offense. Somehow, they managed to escape with the win thanks to some clutch defense in the late stages of the game. Bryson Powers recovered a fumble with about 4 minutes left, but after the Cats were unable to burn much of the clock, the defense was summoned once again. And again, they came through as Wade Carson and Randall Medlin snuffed out a screen pass on 4th down with 2:12 remaining to seal the 48-47 win. The difference was Falls missing 2 extra points. Nick carried the ball 37 times for 148 yards and scored 3 times. He also threw TD passes to Tre' Hart and Jared Taylor; the two finished with over 100 yards receiving apiece.
The next installment of Wildcats Through the Years takes us to 2015.
Summary
Record: 8-5, 6-3 (t-3rd) in District 17-6A
Playoffs: 6A Division II, Region III semifinals, lost 63-47 to Manvel
Points scored: 596 (45.8 per game)
Points allowed: 455 (35 per game)
Largest margin of victory: 51, against Aldine Davis (66-15), bi-district round
Largest margin of defeat: 28, against Klein Collins (14-42), Week 1
Most points scored: 70, vs. Cy Springs (t-most scored in a game)
Most points allowed: 63, vs. Manvel (most allowed in a game)
Fewest points scored: 14, vs. Klein Collins (only time they were held to under 30 points this season)
Fewest poins allowed: 10, vs. Cy Lakes
Team Records Set or Tied
Most points scored per game: 45.8
Most 50+ point games: 5 (tied with 2010)
Most total offensive yards: 6690
Most offensive yards per game: 514.6
Most points scored in one half: 63, 1st half vs. Cy Springs
Most points scored in a game: 70, vs. Cy Springs (tied)
Most points allowed in a season: 455
Most points allowed in a game: 63, vs. Manvel
Individual Records Set or Tied
Most rushing touchdowns in a season: Nick Hooper, 22
Most rushing yards in a season: R.J. Harmon, 1,118
Most carries in a season: Nick Hooper, 224
Most yards per carry (min. 50 carries): C.J. Jones, 9.2
Most rushing touchdowns in a game: Nick Hooper and C.J. Jones, 4 apiece vs. Aldine Davis (tied record)
Most passing yards in a game: Nick Hooper, 448 vs. Langham Creek
Most total yards in a game: Nick Hooper, 603 vs. Langham Creek
Most touchdowns responsible for in a season: Nick Hooper, 43 (tied record)
Most touchdowns responsible for in a career: Nick Hooper, 77 (4 receiving, 36 rushing, 37 passing)
Most points scored by a kicker in a season: Luis Reyes, 95
Statistical Leaders
Passing: Nick Hooper, 166-273 (60.8% completion), 2,749 yards, 21 TD, 9 INT
Rushing yards: R.J. Harmon, 1,118
Rushing touchdowns: Hooper, 22 (new Woods single-season record)
Receptions: Zac Duncan, 36
Receiving yards: Tre' Hart, 541
Receiving touchdowns: C.J. Jones, 7
Interceptions: Michael Wirt, Jake Jones, and Bryson Powers, 3 apiece
Schedule
Week 1: L 42-14 vs. Klein Collins (Pridgeon)
Week 2: W 59-28 @ Cy Ridge (Berry)
Week 3: W 48-47 vs. Cy Falls (Pridgeon)
Week 4: L 38-35 @ Cy Ranch (Berry)
Week 5: W 35-21 vs. Cy Creek (Pridgeon)
Week 6: W 52-10 @ Cy Lakes (Pridgeon)
Week 7: L 55-31 vs. Langham Creek (Homecoming @ Berry)
Week 8: W 38-31 (OT) @ Cy-Fair (Pridgeon)
Week 9: L 44-38 @ Jersey Village (Pridgeon)
Week 10: W 70-44 vs. Cy Springs (Berry)
Bi-district: W 66-15 vs. Aldine Davis (Berry)
Area: W 63-17 vs. Katy Taylor (Berry)
Regional semifinals: L 63-47 vs. Manvel (Rice)
The Rundown
The 2014 Cy Woods Wildcats looked to build upon the gains they made during Coach Faith's second season at the helm, which saw them return to the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Cats did so with an explosive offense that was just 5 points shy of setting a school record for points scored in a season.
Nick Hooper returned for his senior season as the face of the Wildcats, and he would have plenty of tools at his disposal. After getting a taste of the big leagues as a sophomore in 2013, R.J. Harmon assumed the feature back role. Harmon became part of a formidable tandem with rising sophomore C.J. Jones, and together, they ran roughshod over opposing defenses and made themselves significant factors in the passing game. On the outside, Zac Duncan returned for his 3rd year, and he was accompanied by Jared Taylor, Tre' Hart, Taylor Tesch, and Jordan Johnson, who also handled punting duties. Ty Dendy and Wyatt Wozniak anchored the offensive line, and they were accompanied by T.J. Frank, Brandon Kula, Shiva Reddy, Skylar Schulz, Andrew Gallagher, Jake Gates, and Hunter Rohles, who at 6'9", became the tallest player in team history.
Defensively.... it was a dramatically different story than in seasons past. The Cats allowed 455 points, which is the most that they have allowed in any season by a substantial margin. The defense had some stretches where they played well, but those were few and far between.
Justyn Johnson, Randall Medlin, and Morgan Tosten were the 3 primary linemen, and they answered the bell for 13 weeks, playing nearly every defensive snap. They were backed up by Darion Shields, Isiah Clay, and Caleb Smith. Wade Carson and The Outlaw Shane Lawless returned to lead the linebacking corps. They were joined by Tyler Greaves, Elijah Pierson, Elijah Kinnison, Keith Watson, and Danny Malone, who also served as the Special Teams Ace. The secondary was young; the Cats broke in 3 sophomores in Kason Franklin, Myles Wilson, and Bryson Powers, and all three of them performed well. They also got some stability at the corner spots with Jake Jones, Michael Wirt, and Nick Bailey, who played a more prominent role towards the end of the season as he worked his way back from an early-season injury.
The 2014 season was a rollercoaster, for sure. The Wildcats missed a chance to take the lead in district play when they stumbled on Homecoming against Langham, and all of a sudden, they found their grip on a playoff spot becoming rather tenuous. Then, those playoff hopes suddenly received a massive boost with an overtime win against Cy-Fair.... and then they had to wait until the last week of the season to formally clinch a playoff spot, because they dropped a game to Jersey Village on Halloween.
There were records set all over the place, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Nick Hooper and R.J. Harmon became the first pair of Wildcats to rush for over 1,000 yards in the same season; R.J. set a new school record for most rushing yards in a season, while Nick found the endzone 22 times on the ground, which was also a new record.
Regular Season
Chapter 7. August 29, 2014.
The Wildcats entered the 2014 season the same way they entered the previous 6: with high expectations. If you know the song, it's that anything less than a playoff berth and competing for a district championship would be seen as a colossal disappointment. Cosmetically, the Wildcats underwent significant changes. First up were the new uniforms. From this point forward, the varsity Cats would be outfitted by Nike. Next was the run-through tunnel, complete with inflatable helmet! I admit, that was pretty nice to see, but I had those thoughts where Coach Jones would never have any part of that stuff. But... it sure beats running through that little sign for the past 6 years. This new era of Wildcat football is in full swing.
Just like the last two seasons, the Klein Collins Tigers were the Wildcats' Opening Night opponents. The Tigers are a solid program from the Klein area, and they've always fielded some great teams throughout the years. There are no cupcakes; Klein Collins has been a good litmus test for the Cats' progress before they jump in the pool known as District 17-6A.
Unfortunately, the Cats stumbled out of the gate as the Tigers basically had their way with them, and they faced a 35-0 deficit in the 3rd quarter until Zac Duncan scored the Cats' first points of a season when he took a reverse and ran 26 yards for a score. They then recovered two onside kicks in a row and converted one of those recoveries into a touchdown, but they were simply overwhelmed by the Tigers' rushing attack and dropped their first game of the season, 42-14.
Zac Duncan scores the first points of the new season.
Obviously, that wasn't a very good first impression. That game showed that the Cats had some work to do before district play kicked off, so... they got to it. After a bye, the real season began with a tilt against Cy Ridge. That was the night where C.J. Jones announced his arrival on to the big stage, and the message he sent was emphatic. He touched the ball 6 times in the first half and scored 4 times. He'd finish with 119 yards on just 8 carries and added 97 yards on 2 receptions. And... he scored on both of his catches. It was tightly contested early on; the Rams hung with the Cats for much of the first half, until.... the offense found another gear, that gear that Wildcat fans are all too familiar with, and just blew Ridge away. They put up 31 unanswered points and ended up cruising to a 59-28 victory. The Cats got contributions from virtually everyone. R.J. Harmon ran for 125 yards and made himself a threat in the passing game with 131 receiving yards and a touchdown. Nick Hooper ripped the Rams to the tune of 356 yards and 5 touchdowns. Bryson Powers caught 2 passes, and both of them went for touchdowns as well. Tyler Greaves recorded 15 tackles from his linebacker spot, and Brandon DePrato got an interception late in the 4th quarter. This win also marked the first time that the Wildcats won a district opener.
C.J. Jones strolls in for one of his 4 1st-half TDs against Ridge.
Next up on the slate was Cy Falls. The Cats ended a miserable streak the last time they faced Falls as they got back in the win column against the Golden Eagles for the first time since Year One. This was on the verge of becoming a blowout; after the Eagles scored first, the Cats hit back with a vengeance, scoring 27 unanswered, and it looked like all the momentum was in the Cats' corner. But.... two scores from Falls before the half changed the complexion of the game and the Cats were on their heels in the final 24 minutes. The 4th quarter turned out to be nearly catastrophic as they lost a fumble and had 3 three-and-outs on offense. Somehow, they managed to escape with the win thanks to some clutch defense in the late stages of the game. Bryson Powers recovered a fumble with about 4 minutes left, but after the Cats were unable to burn much of the clock, the defense was summoned once again. And again, they came through as Wade Carson and Randall Medlin snuffed out a screen pass on 4th down with 2:12 remaining to seal the 48-47 win. The difference was Falls missing 2 extra points. Nick carried the ball 37 times for 148 yards and scored 3 times. He also threw TD passes to Tre' Hart and Jared Taylor; the two finished with over 100 yards receiving apiece.
Michael Wirt takes this interception to the house.
The Cats were 2-0 in district play for the first time in school history, and they looked to continue that momentum against the hated, vile, insert nasty (keep it PG-13, please) adjective here, Cy Ranch Mustangs. The Cats found themselves behind in another back-and-forth affair in the first half, but a 21-3 3rd quarter seemingly tipped the scales in their favor, giving them a 35-24 lead heading into the final 12 minutes. But... those 4th-quarter woes wound up costing them dearly. Logan Fortune missed a field goal with less than 6 minutes remaining in the game, which would have tied the game at 38. And so, the Wildcats could only watch as the Mustangs prevailed, 38-35. Nick ran for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns, but he had a dreadful night throwing the ball; he was just 3-16 for 67 yards and an interception on a heave to end the first half. R.J. Harmon only had 9 carries, but he sliced the Ranch defense for 130 and 2 scores. C.J. opened up the 2nd half with a bang as he took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a score. He also ran another kickoff back for a touchdown, but that one got wiped out by a penalty. If you remember that series, this game was like watching the Dallas Mavericks beating the Houston Rockets in the 2005 NBA playoffs.
R.J. Harmon opens the scoring against Ranch.
The Cats were left searching for some answers after their most bitter rival took that game right from their grasp. Cy Creek was next on the docket, and for the first 24 minutes, it looked as if the Cats were still in some kind of stupor over the Ranch loss. An ineffective Nick Hooper was given the hook in the 1st half; Reece Clark came in and threw an 11-yard TD pass to C.J. Jones, which was the only scoring the Cats did in the first half. This gave them a 7-6 lead midway through the 2nd quarter, but the Cougars would emerge with the halftime lead after a touchdown run of their own.
Woods would turn the tables on Creek when they busted out for 28 unanswered in the 2nd half, and this time, there would be no 4th-quarter misery as they stifled the Cougars, who could only muster up a cosmetic touchdown as time expired to make the final score 35-21 instead of 35-14. R.J. Harmon didn't find the endzone, but he turned in a productive evening with 162 yards on 20 carries. C.J. opened up the scoring in the 2nd half as he slashed his way into the endzone from 74 yards out. Nick recovered and was able to leave his mark on the proceedings with a 2-yard touchdown run in the 3rd and a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Johnson in the 4th.
C.J. Jones busts loose for a big touchdown run.
The following Friday, the Wildcats crashed Cy Lakes' Homecoming, dominating the Spartans 52-10. This win gave them some momentum heading into a massive 3-game stretch pitting the Cats against the district's top offense and its top 2 defenses. Bryson Powers returned a punt for a touchdown. C.J. Jones took another kickoff back for a touchdown. Nick had a nice night as he connected with Tre' Hart for a 12-yard TD pass in the 1st and found Jordan Johnson for another touchdown pass; this one went 60 yards. Wade Carson had a monster game on defense with a dozen tackles and 2.5 sacks, and Luis Reyes kicked a school-record 48-yard field goal.
Wade Carson gets one of his 2.5 sacks against Lakes.
Homecoming VII pitted the Wildcats against Langham Creek, who was also holding their Homecoming festivities that week. Adding to the logistical quagmire was the fact that a concert was also scheduled for that night. Well, anyway, Nick's career night was not enough for the Cats as they came undone in the 2nd half by getting outscored 31-7 in the final 24 minutes and turned the ball over 3 times as they fell 55-31. Hooper threw for 448 yards and ran for 155 more, and he accounted for 4 touchdowns (2 passing, 2 rushing). The previous Woods record for most passing yards in a game belonged to Colton Huntsman, who threw for 442 against Klein Oak in 2009. The 603 total yards he put up that night was also a new school record. Jared Taylor caught 6 passes for 116 yards, while Tre' Hart caught 3 for 112 yards; 65 of those yards came on a touchdown reception in the 2nd quarter.
Tre' Hart scores in the 2nd quarter against Langham Creek.
In their first day game of the season, it was a battle of the Cats as they took on Cy-Fair at Pridgeon Stadium. It wasn't a pretty start for Woods, as they found themselves trailing 10-0 almost right off the bat. Their only points in the 1st half came on a 10-yard touchdown run from Hooper, and they were down 17-7 at halftime, which might have given the Wildcat fans that feeling that it would be the same old song and dance; the last Wildcat win over Cy-Fair occurred in 2010. Nick had a rough first half throwing the ball, particularly in the 2nd quarter, when he threw 3 picks. He was also strip-sacked in the 1st, which led to a Bobcat field goal.
The Wildcats opened up the 2nd half with a bang as they scored 2 touchdowns to take the lead. Nick punched in his 2nd rushing touchdown of the day from 17 yards, and he found a wide-open R.J. Harmon for a 31-yard TD pass. He would catch a touchdown pass himself as Zac Duncan found him on a reverse pass in the 4th quarter; that gave Woods a 28-24 lead at that point.
Disaster struck as Fair took a 31-28 lead with 2:25 left in the game as they recovered a fumble and took it to the house. So, the Cats got it back for one final drive to tie or win. They got 3 first downs, but then they ran into trouble when Nick was dragged down for a loss, putting them in a 3rd-and-long situation. However... on that same play, the Bobcats were flagged for a facemask penalty, breathing new life into the final drive. This wound up putting the Wildcats at the Cy-Fair 20. The next three plays yielded nothing, so Luis Reyes was summoned to take the biggest kick of his young career, and he came through in the most crucial situation of the season by drilling a 37-yard field goal through the uprights with 5 seconds left in regulation, tying the game at 31.
Woods got the ball first in overtime, and they capitalized on that opportunity as Nick scored what was probably the most emphatic touchdown during his tenure as a Wildcat, bulldozing a Cy-Fair defender to get into the endzone. That was his 3rd rushing touchdown of the day, and it put the Wildcats in the lead. Now, it was the defense's turn. Cy-Fair faced a 3rd down situation, and with the game on the line, Bryson Powers sealed the 38-31 victory with an interception, the first Wildcat victory over the Bobcats in four years.
The Pick
The win over the Bobcats significantly raised the Wildcats' playoff hopes, and all they needed to do to officially punch their ticket to the playoffs was defeat Jersey Village on Halloween. However... those plans were delayed one more week due to a 44-38 loss. The game started off well enough for the Wildcats as they led 14-3 after the 1st quarter. But, after that, Jersey Village QB Deshun Qualls took over the game, as he was responsible for 4 touchdowns in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. A touchdown run from LaVance Moore put the Cats in a 44-24 hole late, but they suddenly sprang to life in the closing stages. One play after Moore's touchdown run, Nick Hooper connected with Taylor Tesch for a 75-yard touchdown. One three-and-out later, the Cats made it a one-score game as Jordan Johnson was on the receiving end of another touchdown pass from Hooper; that one went 52 yards. The Falcons botched the ensuing kickoff, which pinned them at their own 4. Unfortunately, the Cats defense couldn't get that last stop they needed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The Falcons managed to gain 12 yards on a 3rd & 7 pass play from their own 7, and on the next set of downs, Qualls iced the game with a 6-yard run on 3rd & 4.
Jordan Johnson catches one in stride and leaves the Falcons in the dust.
In the season finale, the Wildcats exploded on offense as they finally clinched a playoff spot with a 70-44 victory over Cy Springs. Offense was abundant in this game, as the Cats had a 63-26 lead at halftime. The 63 points they put up in the first 24 minutes set a new record for points in a half. Long story short: Everyone who touched the ball in this game scored.
Nick Hooper punches one in against Springs.
Playoffs
The Wildcats kicked off their playoff campaign on November 15, 2014 as they welcomed the Benjamin Davis Falcons to the Berry Center. Davis, the newest high school in Aldine ISD, was making their playoff debut. The Wildcats immediately went for the jugular and got a direct hit... and then some, as they built up a 45-7 halftime lead on their way to a 66-15 victory. Nick Hooper and C.J. Jones scored 4 touchdowns apiece on the ground, and Jacobi Boudreaux wrapped things up with an 80-yard touchdown run.
And... Nick Hooper's off to the races.
On a Saturday morning, the Cats returned to the Berry Center, and the Katy Taylor Mustangs awaited them. This game was played in the morning thanks to a threat of heavy rain... that came after the game. Well, the Cats withstood an early assault from the Mustangs that saw both teams deadlocked at 14 after the first 12 minutes. After that, the Wildcats conjured up a storm of their own on the scoreboard and outscored Taylor 49-3 the rest of the way, rolling to a 63-17 win. Just about every play they ran on offense resulted in a touchdown. 3 of R.J. Harmon's 4 touchdowns were from more than 50 yards out. He opened up the scoring with a 54-yard touchdown catch, and then in the 2nd, he added a 4-yard touchdown catch. Harmon did his damage in the 2nd half on the ground as he scored on runs from 71 yards and 51 yards. He was largely untouched on both of those scoring runs. Nick Hooper went 5-6 for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns before getting knocked out with an ankle injury in the 2nd quarter. Reece Clark finished the game under center, and he too shredded the Taylor secondary as he finished 9-14 for 149 yards and 3 touchdowns. Also, deep in the 4th quarter, this happened. See photo below. Randall Medlin alertly scooped up a blocked punt and rumbled 27 yards to pick up a first down.
Wait, what?
The Wildcats' next test took them to Rice Stadium, where the Manvel Mavericks awaited. They entered this game as significant underdogs against the undefeated Mavericks, who were loaded with talent on both sides of the ball and, with the exception of Pearland, had basically walked over their competition. Well, the Cats love challenges. For me, this evoked memories of Year Two, when the Wildcats took on Dallas Skyline for the 2nd consecutive year. The Wildcats were also facing a squad littered with outstanding players, and not many prognosticators gave them much of a chance to hang with the Raiders. They ended up winning 28-21. Could lightning strike twice?
The Cats got the jump on Manvel as Wade Carson pounced on a pass that hit the turf, was deemed to be a lateral, and scampered into the endzone while everyone else stopped playing. In a game that had no shortage of firepower from two of the top offenses in Texas, the Mavs held a 28-21 lead at halftime. The Wildcats got a big kickoff return to open the 2nd half from C.J. Jones, but the story of the 2nd half was filled with misfortune. On a 3rd-and-goal situation, Nick Hooper rolled out to his left and it looked as though he was about to walk in to the endzone to tie the game... but then, the turf monster struck. The Cats had to settle for a field goal, and instead of a tie game, they still trailed. The Mavericks answered with a touchdown to push their lead to 35-24, but the Cats stood their ground thanks to Nick's 1-yard touchdown run. They pulled to within a field goal after successfully converting a 2-point conversion. The Wildcats trailed 35-32 with 4:50 left in the 3rd quarter. Unfortunately, the wheels fell off, beginning with the ensuing kickoff. It was an onside kick attempt.... that went backwards. The Mavericks proceeded to score 28 unanswered, and their lead ballooned to 63-32 with less than 9 minutes to go in the game. Woods had one last rally in them, though as Nick Hooper connected with Jared Taylor and Jordan Johnson for touchdown passes, and just like that, the Wildcats found themselves down by 2 scores. After recovering a second straight onside kick, Reece Clark had the Cats in prime position to cut into that deficit once again, but their bid was foiled in the red zone by an interception. And so, the Wildcats' season ended on Black Friday, 63-47.
Jared Taylor outruns the Mavericks on his way to the endzone.
All in all, it was yet another fine season for the Cy Woods Wildcats. Of course, there is that matter of their rival playing for a state championship, but it's all good. None of that matters once the new season begins.
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