Wildcats Through the Years: 2016

The next chapter of Wildcats Through the Years profiles the 2016 team.

Photo credit: Matt Ramos, The Crimson Connection

Summary

Final record: 2-8, 2-7 (t-7th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs
Points scored: 284 (28.4 per game)
Points allowed: 403 (40.3 per game)
Largest margin of victory: 35 vs. Cy Springs (69-34)
Largest margin of defeat: 39 vs. Cy Ranch (13-52)
Most points scored: 69 vs. Cy Springs
Fewest points scored: 10 vs. Cy Falls
Most points allowed: 62 vs. Langham Creek
Fewest points allowed: 24 vs. Cy Creek

Team Records Set or Tied

Unfortunately, the records this team set were all of the ignominious variety.

Worst record: 2-8
Worst record in district games: 2-7
Fewest points scored in a season: 284
Worst point differential: -119
Longest losing streak: 4 (tied, also longest in a single season)

Individual Records Set or Tied

Receiving touchdowns, career: C.J. Jones, 14 (tied)
Points scored by a kicker, career: Luis Reyes, 187

Statistical Leaders

Stats from Varsity Wires

Passing: Jacob Kainer - 105-203 (51.7%), 1,578 yards, 14 TD, 9 INT
Rushing: Jacob Kainer - 142 carries, 514 yards (3.6 yards per carry), 10 TD
Receiving: Jack Barrientez - 39 receptions, 467 yards (12 yards per catch), 7 TD
Tackles: Myles Wilson - 96
Interceptions: Collin Fewox - 2
Sacks: Cody Eggleston - 4.5

Schedule and Results

Week 1: L 42-14 @ Klein Collins (Klein Memorial)
Week 3: W 69-34 @ Cy Springs (Pridgeon)
Week 4: L 36-21 vs. Cy Ridge (Cy-Fair FCU)
Week 5: L 58-46 @ Jersey Village (Pridgeon)
Week 6: L 62-35 vs. Langham Creek (Cy-Fair FCU)
Week 7: L 27-10 vs. Cy Falls (Cy-Fair FCU)
Week 8: W 36-33 @ Cy Lakes (Cy-Fair FCU)
Week 9: L 35-17 vs. Cy-Fair (Homecoming IX at Pridgeon)
Week 10: L 24-23 @ Cy Creek (Pridgeon)
Week 11: L 52-13 vs. Cy Ranch (Cy-Fair FCU)

The Rundown

After missing out on the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion in 2015, the Cypress Woods Wildcats had to say farewell to nearly all of their offensive production. Stalwarts such as Jared Taylor, Tre' Hart, Jordan Johnson, and R.J. Harmon all departed. In addition, starting quarterback Bryson Powers transferred to Klein Collins. That left C.J. Jones, Jack Barrientez.... and a myriad of unknown quantities.

Jacob Kainer, who saw some action as a sophomore before suffering a serious injury, took over the starting quarterback spot with Brighton Gullickson as his backup. C.J. was injured early in the season opener and never fully recovered from his injury. His absence left a massive void in the offense that had to be filled by Jack Barrientez and Nijah Surtain. Jack responded with a breakout year of sorts as he was the Cats' most productive (and often the only reliable) offensive option by far; not only did he lead the team in receiving yards, but he also finished with one fewer rushing yard than Jacob.

Aside from Jack, however, the Cats' options on offense were severely limited. Brennan Niles managed to lead the team with 19 yards per catch. Owing to the lack of depth, the Wildcats were forced to thrust a host of sophomores into prominent roles on the offense. By the end of the season, eight of them had featured on offense in some fashion. Jake Tesch was also the primary punt returner. Nijah was also the primary kick returner. The Sherrill twins, Cullen and Tanner, showed flashes of their upside at wide receiver, and Connor Faulk and Brock Gunderson were starters from day one at slot receiver and left tackle, respectively. Ethan Agnew also stepped into a starting role on the offensive line following his promotion to the varsity.

The defense was once again the team's Achilles' heel, especially against the run; the Wildcats allowed all but two of their opponents to run for 200 yards. In recent years, the Cats managed to mask this deficiency because they outscored their opponents on a regular basis. This was not the case in 2016, where a young offense's growing pains put the defense in a bind more often than not. Kason Franklin and Myles Wilson returned for one final season. Among the other veterans joining them were Ryan Kenny, Cody Eggleston, Neil Chambers, Collin Fewox, and Elijah Strang.

Regular Season

Chapter nine of Cy Woods Football began on August 27, 2016, as the Cats traveled to Klein Memorial Stadium to take on the Klein Collins Tigers. For the first time since 2010, the Wildcats opened their season with a true road game.

Week 1: Klein Collins 42, Cy Woods 14

Jacob Kainer scored the first points of the 2016 season with a two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Unfortunately, the Tigers, like they did in the previous two meetings, completely dominated this affair, outgaining the Wildcats 420-120 on offense. The vast majority of those yards came via the running game. Bryson Powers shredded the Wildcat defense for three rushing touchdowns and his backfield partner, D'Anthony Doyle, scored two of his own. Jack Barrientez scored on a 37-yard run in the third quarter for Cy Woods' only other points.

Week 3: Cy Woods 69, Cy Springs 34

The Wildcats rebounded from their season-opening drubbing by doling out a drubbing of their own, christening a renovated Pridgeon Stadium with a 69-34 victory over the Panthers. Jacob Kainer finished 9-13 for 241 yards and four touchdowns through the air and also ran for 133 yards and three touchdowns. Jack Barrientez caught four passes, two for touchdowns, for 109 yards. Cy Woods blew this game wide open by outscoring Cy Springs 27-7 in the third quarter to extend their 35-14 halftime lead into a 62-21 laugher.

So... after lighting up the scoreboard, would things return to normal for the Wildcat offense?

Week 4: Cy Ridge 36, Cy Woods 21

Sadly, the answer was no. Semaj Trahan provided one of the few highlights in this game by returning an interception 87 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Jacob Kainer scored on a one-yard run in the second quarter, and despite allowing a touchdown right before halftime, the Cats led 13-8 at the intermission despite being held to just 27 yards of offense.

Jacob caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Jack, and Connor Faulk ran the ball in for two points for the Cats' only score of the second half. The lackluster outing from the offense put the defense in a bind, and the Rams eventually opened the floodgates by scoring 28 unanswered points to close out the game. The Cats were bludgeoned on the ground with Trelon Smith and Alex Jacobs, who both ran for over 100 yards with two rushing touchdowns.

Week 5: Jersey Village 58, Cy Woods 46

Despite the improved output on offense, it was more of the same on defense as the Falcons turned the tables on the Cats in the second half, outscoring them 41-15 after Cy Woods had held a 31-17 halftime lead. Jacob Kainer had an excellent performance, throwing for 333 yards and two touchdowns and running for 123 yards and three more scores.

The Cats had no answer for Jersey Village running back Jireh Thompson, who ran for 242 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries. They also had no answer for Falcon quarterback Alec Wechsler, who threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns; three of those touchdown passes came in the fourth quarter.

Week 6: Langham Creek 62, Cy Woods 35

At this point, I'm beginning to sound like a broken record. The Lobos scored on their first five offensive possessions and also returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the first half. Jacob threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw the two pick-sixes. Cullen Sherrill caught two touchdown passes.

Week 7: Cy Falls 27, Cy Woods 10

For the second time in 2016, the Wildcats lost to a previously winless team. The offense sputtered once again and a decent outing from the defense was wasted. Matt Ficalora scored the Cats' lone touchdown on a 32-yard pass from Brighton Gullickson in the fourth quarter. They had a chance to creep closer, but Brighton threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown.

With a fourth consecutive defeat, the Wildcats tied the longest losing streak in school history. It was also the first time that they have lost four straight in the same season.

Week 8: Cy Woods 36, Cy Lakes 33

Effectively out of the playoff picture, Cy Woods needed a 99-yard drive on their final possession of the game just to steal a win from the suddenly not-so-hapless Spartans. Hard to believe that Cy Lakes narrowly missed finishing 4-6 in 2016.

Jacob's topsy-turvy season continued as he finished 16-28 for 264 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns went to Jack Barrientez, who ran for 123 yards and a touchdown of his own. After converting a fourth-and-13 with a 14-yard run, Jacob threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Nijah Surtain, who dashed 32 yards to the house with just 23 seconds remaining in the contest.

Week 9, Homecoming IX at Pridgeon: Cy-Fair 35, Cy Woods 17


Not a happy Homecoming for the Wildcats as this loss not only eliminated them from playoff contention, it also condemned them to a losing season for the second time in school history. The Wildcats were held to just 246 yards on offense but still managed to hang around before the Bobcats put the game away with a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Jack Barrientez ran for 96 yards on nine carries and scored on a three-yard touchdown.

Week 10: Cy Creek 24, Cy Woods 23

The Cats set a record they did not envision setting when the season began: most losses in a single season. They were unable to come away with a victory after Luis Reyes' 39-yard field goal sailed wide left with eight seconds to go; he was iced twice before finally getting the opportunity to attempt the kick. The Cats led 23-10 after the third quarter, but couldn't hold that lead.

Jack had another outstanding game, running for 111 yards and a touchdown and catching four passes for 63 yards and another touchdown. Collin Fewox shined on defense, posting 15 tackles and intercepting a pass.

Week 11: Cy Ranch 52, Cy Woods 13

Nothing caps off a rough season like getting dismantled by your most hated rival in the final game of the season. The Cats fell behind 38-6 at halftime and nearly suffered their worst loss in school history until C.J. Jones caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Brighton Gullickson late in the fourth quarter.

In Conclusion

Two consecutive seasons without the playoffs. Worst season in school history. Everything that could have possibly gone wrong for Cy Woods football went wrong in 2016. For a team that has enjoyed so much success from the start, the last two seasons have left many in the community scratching their heads, wondering what has happened to this once-proud program.

I can't talk ill of the kids who fought when given the opportunity. They just couldn't match up physically or athletically against their opponents, but they fought.

Every school goes through down periods; this just happens to be the first real down period for Cy Woods football. Everyone in the program feels a sense of responsibility for what happened in 2016 and I've seen a renewed focus from both the kids and the coaching staff this offseason; they're determined to get the program back on track and back to where it was for most of its history.

Fortunately, a majority of the players who went through a baptism by fire in 2016 all have a year of varsity football experience under their belts. On paper, the Cypress Woods Wildcats should be much improved on both sides of the football.

Precedent also appears to be on their side as well; teams finishing with 2-8 records in District 17-6A have seen improved fortunes; Cy Ridge went 2-8 in 2014 and was the last Cy-Fair ISD team standing in the playoffs two years later. Ditto for Cy Falls, who advanced to the third round in 2015 after finishing 2-8 in 2013.

With that being said, this is the first time in Cy Woods football history that no one is considering them as a playoff contender. They are literally out of sight, out of mind. That's fine; they usually do better when the spotlight is being shined somewhere else. The Cats face an uphill battle just to return to the top 4 in District 17-6A, but any improvement from 2016 will be gladly welcomed. That's what makes sports great: no matter how your teams fared in the previous season, they always get another shot to make amends for a poor season or to build upon sustained success.

Time to revive 212 once again.

2016 Recap, and a Look Ahead to 2017

This post will be divided into two parts... a look back at 2016, and then a look ahead to the 2017 season.

If you would like to chime in with any of your own observations, feel free to do so. Also, if you would like to tell me that I have no idea what I am talking about, go right ahead. My email is on the right side of the page.

Seeing 2-8 as the record for the Cy Woods football team was definitely unsettling. The 2016 season surpassed worst-case scenario territory and was, for lack of a better term, appalling. There were many more lowlights than there were highlights, that's for sure.

I had a chance to talk with Coach Zachos, and he told me that he has rarely ever been a part of a team that finished with such a poor record. This past season was definitely humbling for him and the entire coaching staff. The negative factors that resulted in the first losing season in school history back in 2012 resurfaced in 2016, only these factors were magnified.

He talked about when Cy Woods faced Katy Taylor in the second round of the 2010 playoffs, a game which they won 67-7. As the score became more lopsided in the first half, he and the rest of the coaches saw the body language on the Taylor sideline and it was one of total surrender. At halftime, they conferred and agreed that this feeling of defeat and resignation could happen to Cy Woods as well. These coaches are not oblivious to the potential pitfalls that can doom a program; they can certainly mitigate those factors, but sometimes those factors end up burying a team, which was what occurred in 2016.

At the end of the day, though, this is sports. Whether your team made the playoffs or not, the slate is wiped clean every year and everyone gets to do it all over again. No doubt, this is the first real down period for Cy Woods football, and it will be interesting to see how this team responds. As Coach Jones always liked to say, it's time for this program to do some soul-searching.

In recent years, teams in District 17-6A have rebounded from 2-8 records to make deep playoff runs: Cy Ridge went from 2-8 in 2014 to the Division II, Region III final in 2016. Cy Falls finished 2-8 in 2013 and ended up making a run to the third round of the playoffs in 2015. Precedent seems to be on the Wildcats' side, but with that being said, there won't be any excuses for the next two seasons.

Here's how the Wildcat football program fared at all levels of competition in 2016:

Varsity: 2-8, 2-7 (t-7th) in District 17-6A

JV Cardinal: 8-2, 8-1 in District 17-6A 

JV Gold: 4-5, 4-4 in District 17-6A

Freshman Cardinal: 7-3, 7-2 in District 17-6A

Freshman Gold: 7-3, 7-1 in District 17-6A

Notes 

There was one JV game against Cy Ridge and one freshman game against Cy Creek, which were both won by Cy Woods. I counted those wins towards both cardinal teams.

The freshman gold team played Klein in Week 5, as Jersey Village had only one freshman team.

2016 Superlatives


2nd-team All-District 17-6A

OL Brock Gunderson
LB Cody Eggleston
WR Jack Barrientez
DB Myles Wilson

And now, my superlatives.

Most Valuable Player/Offensive Player of the Year: RB/WR Jack Barrientez

Before the season, I felt that Jack would be in line for a breakout year. He showed promise as his role in the offense expanded towards the end of 2015. He had a strong showing in the offseason and spring football and carried that momentum over into 7-on-7 season. C.J. Jones' extended absence in 2016 thrust him into the spotlight, and he responded by leading the Wildcats in receiving and rushing, topping 1,000 all-purpose yards on the season.

Jack does it all. He makes plays on the ground and in the passing game, and when the ball isn't in his hands, he helps his teammates make plays. He will enter his senior season as the Wildcats' top offensive threat.

Defensive Players of the Year: DL/LB Cody Eggleston and DB Myles Wilson

A two-year letterman, Cody stepped into a starting role in 2016 and ended up as the Wildcats' best defensive lineman. Actually, I was not sure what his primary position was, since he could line up at defensive end or outside linebacker.

In fact, Cody single-handedly outproduced every other Cy Woods defensive lineman this past season: he led the team in sacks and quarterback hits, finished second on the team in tackles for a loss, intercepted a pass, and he even blocked a field goal to boot.

Cody Eggleston certainly made the most of his opportunities as a Wildcat and he was rewarded with a chance to play college football. He'll play for Rhodes College, a Division III school in Memphis.

For three years, Myles Wilson has been one of the few bright spots on a defense that has struggled to keep opposing offenses off the scoreboard. Nevertheless, he has provided a reliable, steady presence for the Wildcat defense and was a true team player in his three seasons. He moved over to linebacker and led the Cats in tackles and fumble recoveries, and he also scored on a two-point conversion. When injuries sapped the depth from the secondary, Myles returned to his safety spot and continued his fine play.

I remember Myles when he was a ball boy and now he's on his way to being an outstanding young man. I wish him well in his future endeavors.

2017 Preview

Now, let's look ahead to what lies in store for Cy Woods football for 2017, shall we?

In Varsity Wires' way-too-early 2017 power rankings, the Wildcats slotted in at #9.

Here are our "Way Too Early Power Rankings" for the 2017 football season.

Varsity Wires went 3/4 in preseason predictions this season. pic.twitter.com/illGh6Of9P

— Varsity Wires (@VarsityWires) December 5, 2016

Yes, you read that tweet correctly. Only Jersey Village is ranked lower than Cy Woods, and they have beaten Woods in each of the last four seasons. Heading into the 2017 season, the Cats are not being thought of as a playoff-caliber squad, and rightfully so. After all, they are coming off a 2-8 season in which they looked like a shell of the team that was once a perennial district power.

The good news is that there is still talent in the pipeline; three of the four sub-varsity teams posted winning records in 2016. The problem facing the Wildcats is that depth may become a factor moving forward. I was able to watch the JV play Lakes and Creek and if memory serves me right, only 30 kids suited up on the Cardinal team in both of these games. The Gold team probably had around 40 kids for those two games.

Winning at the sub-varsity level is nice, but it's time for those results to translate to the varsity level again. Expect some of the kids from the class of 2020 to challenge for spots on varsity, as well.

Who's coming back?

If any of these players are not coming back, please let me know and I will amend this section accordingly.

Italics - will be a junior in 2017

QB Jacob Kainer
QB Semaj Trahan
ATH Jack Barrientez
RB Bobby Dodson
RB Nijah Surtain
WR Connor Faulk
WR Cullen Sherrill
WR Tanner Sherrill
WR Jake Tesch
WR Angel Laca
OL Brock Gunderson
OL Ethan Agnew
OL Tim Dendy
DL Trevor Reed
DL Christian Jones
LB Tyler Redgrave
DB Matt Roberts
DB Collin Fewox
DB Tory Spears

Who could help in 2017?

Football-wise, 2016 was a wasted year for Semaj Trahan. However, I expect that he will have an expanded and more defined role in 2017. I honestly thought that he should have stayed at cornerback (at least for this season) because he would have had regular playing time instead of wallowing away on the bench as the third-string quarterback.

Two kids on the JV who particularly stood out play in the secondary, which has been an area of serious need for Cy Woods in recent years. Deontae Cook and Jamil Akum were a pair of headhunters on the Cardinal team. They both look the part, and it wouldn't surprise me if they nabbed starting spots in 2017. That's about all I have as far as a scouting report since I did not really get to see this team a lot.

Christian Scott, a running back, is probably Cy Woods' top prospect in the Class of 2020. I think he'll make a push for some playing time on varsity; he might make the team to begin the year. His frame is sort of reminiscent of Samuel Stewart when he was a freshman, and he could become that every-down running back that Sam was.

Jackson Jones, a quarterback, finished the season in a platoon on the JV cardinal team after starting on the Freshman cardinal team. His older brother, Jake, was a starting cornerback in 2014. Jackson has the frame and the dual-threat capability that the Wildcats covet in their quarterbacks. He could break in as a receiver while he waits for his opportunity under center or continues to get reps at quarterback with another season on the JV.

The Wildcats are certainly in a rebuilding phase, and this spring will give the coaching staff a long look towards who they can count on to be on the field in 2017.

Issues

1. The offense

The Cy Woods offense, which was once arguably the most feared unit in Texas, was a shadow of its former self in 2016.

Then again, it would probably be reasonable to expect an offense playing nine sophomores to struggle. These kids were thrust into the fire, and predictably, they showed flashes of their upside while struggling to adapt to the speed of varsity football.

In terms of offensive yards per game, the Wildcats had the second-fewest in District 17-6A. The most significant factor to these struggles was an anemic running game that suffered grievously from the absence of C.J. Jones. They did not have anyone to fill the void at running back until Jack Barrientez, who moved back to his original position, found his footing late in the season.

I would imagine that the passing game gets re-tooled, as well. In terms of size, the receivers coming back are the biggest that Woods has ever had, so I think they could start taking more shots down the field. The Sherrill twins present serious matchup problems for any defensive back and Angel Laca brings track speed to the table.

These three can stretch the field, but the ball needs to get to them on a more consistent basis. The Wildcats used three quarterbacks and three other players recorded a pass attempt in 2016. Collectively, they completed less than 50% of their passes, and they were the only team in the district to hold this dubious distinction.

The offense also needs to stay on the field. Cy Woods' 31.1% third-down conversion rate on offense was the worst in the district. They faced third down 122 times, which was the fourth-most in District 17-6A, and converted 38 of those situations, which was the third-fewest. A young offense needed to find its rhythm, but unfortunately, they rarely found it because they had to get off the field after failing to convert on third down time and again.

Unlike 2016, where virtually everyone on offense not named C.J. Jones was an unknown commodity entering the season, Cy Woods will not have to lean on one single player to carry the burden of playmaking while the others try to adjust to the varsity level in 2017. Jack Barrientez will enter the season as the focal point of the offense, but fortunately, the majority of his supporting cast will have a year of varsity experience.

2. The defense

The Wildcats were once again at or near the bottom of the district rankings when it comes to defense. At this point, I think I have run out of original things to say about the defensive struggles.

Cy Woods will not only have to replace a majority of their starters from 2016, they will have to bring in an entirely new cast of characters (yet again) as only six players will return on this side of the ball in 2017.

On paper, it looks like the secondary should finally have a few more playmakers. Collin Fewox and Tory Spears should form one of the top safety tandems in the district in 2017, while Matt Roberts returns as a backup at cornerback. Jamil Akum and Deontae Cook, who I have already mentioned, should bring a physical edge that Cy Woods has sorely needed from its secondary players.

The front seven, on the other hand, will have to be rebuilt from the ground up. Christian Jones is the only returning starter on the defensive line. Niko Thompson, Chris Sturghill, and Matt Mori are a few prospects who could join him in the trenches. The linebackers could potentially have four new starters: Tyler Redgrave, the only returning linebacker, will compete for a starting spot with a host of JV players such as Austin Kennedy, Caleb Rutherford, Colin Paterson, and Jackson Turnbow.

As the old saying goes, there's no place to go but up for this defense, but I have my doubts as to whether this defense can make any appreciable improvement. The secondary should improve, but the new faces in the front seven will have to adapt in a hurry. With running backs like Trenton Kennedy, Jaelon Woods, Alex Jacobs, Jireh Thompson, Kendon Flowers, Jack Hook, and whoever Cy Ranch is trotting out all returning in 2017, they will be tested often.

3. Turnovers

No team was intercepted more times than Cy Woods. Overall, the Wildcats committed the second-most turnovers and had the second-worst turnover differential in the district.

Jacob Kainer is a good player, and I still feel that he can be a top player in this district. But, he simply cannot turn the ball over the way he did this past season.

In Closing

Yes, getting back into the top four in 2017 is going to be a Herculean task for Cy Woods football, especially considering how the overall quality of football in Cy-Fair ISD has improved every year. It's not an impossible task, but it is highly improbable.

Everyone has their opinions. I'm just some guy who used to play football at Cy Woods and enjoyed his time as a Wildcat so much that he became the self-appointed historian of the program. I am always the optimist, but even I find that a bit difficult these days... a 2-8 season tends to sap some of the optimism away. Varsity Wires has their way-too-early power rankings and they don't really regard Cy Woods as a playoff team. It's a radical departure from the Cy Woods teams that harbored legitimate state title aspirations, that's for sure. I'm sure that when Dave Campbell's Texas Football releases their high school football preview issue, the Wildcats will most likely occupy one of the bottom four spots in their District 17-6A projection.

Don't get too worked up about what people outside the program are saying about you. Go out and prove them wrong, but remember that you're not going to accomplish this by getting mad about their opinions on social media.

You've heard the spiel about 950,000 times, but it's true: your actions will determine whether you have proven your skeptics wrong. Don't cut corners in workouts and drills. Hit the weight room and the track after school. Hone your skills in 7-on-7 football. Track season is getting underway; ask if you can compete at a meet. That way, you have an opportunity to check out your potential opponents on the football field next season. Yes, the other schools in the district will most likely have football players who are running. jumping, or throwing. Embrace the competition.

Thinking of a state championship at this point.... I hate to say it, is wildly unrealistic. Scale your goals back a little bit. What I feel that the Wildcats should strive for in 2017 is to be a playoff team. Find a way to be a top-four team in this district again. Anything else after that is gravy.

There you have it. Thanks for hanging in there and I appreciate you all for putting up with my nonsensical ranting and raving. Here's hoping that 2017 will be a happier and more satisfying season for Cy Woods football. Go Wildcats.

2016 All-District Wildcats

Despite a 2-8 season, a few Wildcats played well enough to earn All-District accolades in 2016. However, for the first time in team history, no Cy Woods player was a first-team selection; four Wildcats were second-team selections, and Luis Reyes was an Honorable Mention.

2nd Team All-District 17-6A

OL Brock Gunderson
LB Cody Eggleston
RB/WR Jack Barrientez
DB Myles Wilson

Honorable Mention All-District 17-6A

K/P Luis Reyes

Academic All-District

Sophomores

WR Connor Faulk
WR Tanner Sherrill
WR Cullen Sherrill
RB Jake Tesch
OL Brock Gunderson

Juniors

RB/WR Jack Barrientez
RB Bobby Dodson
OL Tim Dendy
QB Jacob Kainer
DL Christian Jones
DB Collin Fewox
DB Matt Roberts

Seniors

OL Trent Allman
LB Arshdeep Bala
LB Trent Bird
LB Blake Brown
DL Daniel Campos
LB Hayden Chalmers
LB Sean Despres
LB Cody Eggleston
WR Matt Ficalora
DB Kason Franklin
QB Brighton Gullickson
OL David Heskin
DL Johnathan Hunter
OL Stephon Jones
LB Collin Joyce
DL Ryan Kenny
WR Matt King
WR Sam Landingham
WR Brennan Niles
LB Yussef Nuñez
DB Ellington Shephard
LB Cory Tomchesson
DB Myles Wilson
OL Mark Witson
DL Mitchell Wolverton

Congratulations to Brock, Cody, Myles, Jack, and Luis for earning All-District honors. For Luis, Cody, and Myles, they get to leave Cy Woods with positive recognition for their performances on the football field. Jack was primed for a breakout in 2016, and he delivered by recording over 1,000 all-purpose yards on the season.

This should also be the first accolade that Brock Gunderson earns in what should be a long and prosperous football career as he looks to not only follow in his brother Cole's footsteps, but to leave his own impression on Cy Woods football.

Finally, congratulations to the Wildcats who were Academic All-District players. In addition, Brennan, Trent, and Sam were 2nd-team Academic All-State selections. Sometimes... it's not all about football. They put in their work on the field and off it, as well.

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.

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

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.

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.

Spring Game Notes

Before I begin, here's a Help Wanted ad.

I'm still looking for three players to serve as guest writers for the upcoming season: one sophomore, one junior, and one senior. I'll find a freshman once they come in. No really, I am serious. Chances are, you are probably a much better writer than I am. If you are interested, send me a tweet (I'm always on Twitter), an email (dustin2810 at gmail dot com), or leave a comment at the bottom of this post. Please leave your name and grade as well.

Yesterday, the Cy Woods Wildcats capped off spring training with the Spring Football Game. Thankfully, the rain cleared out just in time. However, the sideline closest to the stands became a complete cesspool. Just as I remember...

In the 3rd annual Cy Woods spring game, the Cardinal team topped the White team 35-20 in a hard-fought contest. They stormed out to a 21-0 lead, but the White team got themselves going in the 2nd and 3rd quarters to keep them on their heels. There was some good-natured ribbing from both sides in the lead-up to the game.

Now that this game is done with, there is no more division. No Cardinal team or White team... once again, the kids that make up this team are one, fighting together to achieve one goal. That goal, as always, is a state championship. For those from other schools who have stumbled across this blog, just know that these are guys who will fight to the very end in order to achieve that goal.

The best news was that there were no injuries to anyone, although they were all just inundated in mud at the end. I found this edition of the spring game to be a showcase of the future (well, they always are). With prospects such as Sean Despres, Jacob Kainer, and Jack Barrientez waiting in the wings, the Wildcats' future is as bright as ever.

I also feel rather dumb, because most of what I'm about to write is more Cardinal-oriented.

Cardinal

R.J. Harmon was fully dressed, but he was limited to handling kickoffs and punts.

Michael Young got most of the first-team reps at running back; he caught a touchdown pass from Sean Despres to open up the scoring. As the Cardinal team was knocking on the door again, he took a pitch and punched it in from 2 yards out.

Bobby Dodson, a sophomore running back, played well during the early freshmen-only game and backed up Michael Young in the main event. He looks like a rugged runner who can be tough to bring down in the open field, as Levi Arzac, a White team safety, found that out firsthand after taking him head-on after a 20-yard gain. Bobby reminds me of Jeremy Conley (class of 2010) in that regard, and they're of pretty similar build, although he doesn't have Jeremy's explosiveness yet.

Jacob Kainer threw an interception, but he showed some great moves on a rushing touchdown. Otherwise, it was a surprisingly quiet night from him.

Brandon Sustala, a senior receiver, was targeted 3 times and caught them all; 2 of them went for first downs, and he had a good gain on the third catch, which occurred on first down. Solid hands.

Myles Wilson had an interception that set up a score. Brandon DePrato and Tyler Redgrave, a sophomore linebacker, recorded sacks, and Neil Chambers, a junior linebacker, recovered a fumble to stop the White team in the red zone.

With the White team driving to possibly tie the game in the 4th quarter, Andrew Peña, a junior linebacker, came down with a huge interception, and on the ensuing series, Sean Despres took the snap, ran right up the middle, and finally, shook off 3 defenders in the open field on his way to the endzone.

Speaking of Sean Despres, the junior quarterback probably turned a few heads this spring, but he saved his best performance for Thursday night as he took center stage.

Sean was absolutely electric, throwing for one score (video above) and running for two more. His last touchdown run sealed the win for the Cardinal team in spectacular fashion. His first (video below) put them up 2 scores in the 1st quarter. Sean performed well as a JV gold (B-team) quarterback last season, but he's taken a huge leap forward this spring. He could possibly help the varsity in some capacity in 2015.

White

The White team had their chances. Unfortunately, they just couldn't get out of their own way. Chase Martin connected with Yussef Nuñez for a 60-yard gain that put them in the red zone as they looked to tie the game, but that threat ended abruptly when they lost the ball on a botched handoff.

C.J. Jones was limited to fielding kicks and punts.

Chase Martin found a streaking Devon Bowling, and the sophomore receiver took it 50 yards for a score. Devon's man slipped, which left him wide open, and once he caught the pass, he scampered into the endzone untouched.

Jack Barrientez got the first-team reps at running back. He had a nice 40-yard run.... negated by a penalty. But... he got on the board with a 20-yard touchdown run in the 3rd to bring the White team to within 1 score.

Ryan Olvera, a senior cornerback, picked off Jacob Kainer with a nice diving effort in the endzone. Chase Taulton, a senior safety, recovered a fumble to stop a Cardinal drive that was well inside White territory.

Deon Jones, a sophomore defensive end, played with great energy and had a couple of nice tackles for loss. On one, he lunged for Sean Despres (over a cut block, too) and just got enough of him to bring him down. The other, he busted clean through and had the ballcarrier, who I believe was Jake Wolf, a senior receiver, dead to rights.

Both

Luis Reyes pulled double duty as he handled the kickoffs and extra points after every score. He made 7 of his 8 extra points; the one miss came on a botched snap.

So, that does it for the spring... see you in the summer. In the meantime, I'm doing a Countdown to Kickoff series. Today, it's on 97. At the end of this series, you'll have a look at everyone who has ever played football for the Cy Woods Wildcats.

Some Observations from Spring Scrimmage #1

I got my first look at the 2015 Cy Woods Wildcats yesterday as they held their first scrimmage of the spring. In this post, I'll be sharing some of my observations with you, including a few players that caught my eye. I even took some videos of a few plays; forgive me for the spotty quality (YouTube, for reasons unknown, would not let me upload these videos in HD) and the howling wind.

The main takeaway from this first impression of the Wildcats is that they're not going to allow 455 points on defense again. JV and varsity defensive players alike... they flew around and really imposed their will on the offense yesterday afternoon.

The JV scrimmage was an affair completely dominated by the defense. No matter who was on the field for them, they consistently drove the offense backwards and positive-yardage plays were few and far between. I think they forced 4 fumbles and recovered 3 of them, and had an interception or two. One JV defender that I was particularly impressed with was Collin Fewox, a sophomore (to-be) safety who had a couple of impressive hits, played with good intensity, and was intent on making plays while he was on the field. For me, he'll be one to watch for in the future.

On the offensive side, JV-wise... well, there's some work to be done. They were on the field for 45, maybe 50 minutes, and did not reach the end zone once. This was, without a doubt, a forgettable outing, but let's keep in mind that this was the first scrimmage of the spring.

Now, on to the varsity. The offense had a few explosive moments, but as was the case with the JV session, defense ruled the day. Again, I must reiterate... it was one scrimmage, and making definitive statements at this point would be most unwise. Kason Franklin had a solid day; he caught Jack Barrientez from behind after the young tailback made a catch-and-run of at least 60 yards and brought him down inside the 5-yard-line. 3 plays later, Kason had an interception in the end zone, one of two passes that he picked off on the day. Here's the other INT:

C.J. Jones and R.J. Harmon did not participate, so sophomore (to-be) Jack Barrientez took the majority of the reps at tailback with the first team. About midway through the varsity session, Jack took a pass from Bryson and very nearly scored; Kason ran him down and tackled him at about the 3-yard-line. Towards the end of the day (I'm fairly sure this was the last play of the day), Jack took a handoff, streaked right through the middle, and left everyone behind on his way to the endzone.

The freshman A-team backfield from last season left a pretty good first impression on me... Jack Barrientez has some pretty good wheels for a freshman. I thought he handled himself very well going up against the big leaguers, and he definitely possesses the big-play capability that the coaching staff covets from its running backs. Jacob Kainer also didn't seem fazed; he busted out a few impressive runs himself, including a long touchdown run that probably would've been called back in an actual game because of a block in the back.

Bryson Powers, Austin Goffney, and Jacob Kainer took turns under center as the Cats look to find a replacement for Nick Hooper. There were some dropped passes and some overthrown balls, which are two telltale signs of a passing game that needs refinement. That'll come with time. The big gains in the passing game came from Barrientez's catch-and-run out of the backfield, and a catch-and-run touchdown caught by Matt Ficalora, a junior (to-be) wideout. He ran a slant, got the pass from Kainer, made a couple of nifty moves in the open field to break free from a couple of would-be tacklers, and showed a good burst of speed as he eventually made his way to the endzone.

In case you missed last season, Bryson made quite the impact as a sophomore as he showcased his versatility and athleticism on both sides of the ball. He started out the year as a receiver and caught 2 touchdowns against Cy Ridge. The next week against Cy Falls, he moved over to safety and ended up garnering 2nd-team All-District honors as a safety. He just does it all. Now, he's back on the offensive side of the ball, looking to state his case to become the next QB1.

Austin Goffney entered the system as a quarterback, but last season on the JV Cardinal (A) team, he also lined up as a receiver, and on occasion, at running back. During the varsity portion of the scrimmage, he caught a touchdown pass. He looked a bit erratic at QB and, during a stint at slot receiver, he dropped a ball in the red zone that he really should have caught. However, he did redeem himself a couple of plays later as he caught that touchdown I mentioned earlier. Because Austin has been utilized in multiple roles in the past, there's still going to be a place for him on the field, even if he doesn't win the starting QB job.

I only saw parts of 2 freshman A-team games last season, but I liked what I saw from Jacob Kainer in that small sample size. His playing style reminds me of Nick Hooper from when he was a freshman. They are strikingly similar: they possess the same body type, a big arm, and if given the chance, they can do serious damage with their legs.

In my opinion, all three of the contenders for the starting quarterback spot possess the talent to be outstanding QBs. The two that lose out don't really lose, to be honest. I feel that they're all good players who will be more than able to contribute in other roles. Players like those don't just wallow away on the bench.

That's all I have for now; more to come following the 2nd scrimmage. I'll be attending all of the scrimmages and the spring game.