Ten Years, Ten Best Players - #4: Nick Hooper

Number four in the countdown of the ten best players from the first decade of Cy Woods football is a guy whose name appears quite a bit in Cy Woods' record book.

#4: Nick Hooper, QB, 2011-14

College: Texas A&M (as a student)

Photo by Cameron Brooks

Notable Games

2011 vs. Cy Springs - 7 rush, 101 yards, TD; first freshman to appear in a regular-season game for Cy Woods, first freshman to score a touchdown at the varsity level for Cy Woods

2012 vs. Cy Ranch: helped lead Wildcats to an overtime win after Mason Roberts went down with an injury

2013 vs. Cy Springs: 13-19, 334 yards, 3 TD; 16 rush, 68 yards, TD

2014 vs. Cy Ridge: 12-16, 356 yards, 5 TD

2014 vs. Langham Creek: 27-37, 448 yards, 2 TD, INT; 22 rush, 155 yards, 2 TD - school record for passing yards in a game and total yards in a game

2014 vs. Cy-Fair: 15-23, 254 yards, TD, 3 INT; 28 rush, 93 yards, 3 TD; game-winning 6-yard TD run in overtime

Records held at Cy Woods

Most rushing touchdowns in a single season (includes playoffs) - 22, 2014

Most rushing attempts in a single season and career - 224 (2014), 490

Most passing yards in a game - 448, 2014 vs. Langham Creek

Most offensive yards in a game - 603, 2014 vs. Langham Creek

Nick Hooper might have been the closest thing to Colton Huntsman. The moment he set foot into Cy Woods, he was destined to become the next big thing for the Wildcats. Like Colton, Nick could beat opponents as a gunslinger or a runner. Pick your poison...

Hooper took a rather circuitous path towards becoming the starting quarterback: he made his varsity debut deep in a blowout win as a running back. He began his sophomore year as a starting wide receiver and the third-string quarterback behind Nate German and Mason Roberts. When Mason was knocked out of the Cy Ranch game with an injury, Nick stepped in and led the Cats to a victory over a hated rival.

Nick engineered one of the most explosive offenses in school history. With weapons such as R.J. Harmon, C.J. Jones, Jared Taylor, Tre' Hart, and Jordan Johnson, the 2014 Cy Woods Wildcats lit up the scoreboard on a weekly basis, ultimately falling just five points shy of a school record. 

Nick Hooper received offers to play college football from a number of programs, but in the end, he elected to go to A&M strictly as a student. I think he would have done well for himself had he decided to play college football.

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.

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.

The next installment of Wildcats Through the Years takes us to 2015.

All-District Wildcats

Congratulations to the Wildcats earning All-District honors for the 2014 season! Here's the story from the district website.

Nick Hooper, in addition to being a unanimous 1st-team All-District selection, was named the Offensive MVP for District 17-6A. That's not a bad way to wrap up a high school career.

His final totals for the season are as follows: 166-273 (60.8%), 2,749 yards, 21 TD, 9 INT; 224 carries, 1,002 yards (4.5 yards per carry), 22 TD (Woods record); 2 catches, 9 yards, 2 TD

Joining him on the 1st team are junior OL Skylar Schulz, senior DL Justyn Johnson (a unanimous pick), and sophomore RB C.J. Jones, who made it as a return specialist.

C.J. was honored 3 different ways; he was the Offensive Newcomer of the Year and was a 2nd-team choice at running back. I suppose that, in a way, he was the most decorated Wildcat this season. He ran for 893 yards on just 97 carries and scored 12 times. And... he also showed that he was a threat to score every time he touched the ball, with 7 receiving touchdowns and 2 kick return touchdowns. A 3rd was negated by a penalty.

2nd Team

WR Zac Duncan (SR) - Led team with 36 receptions
WR Tre' Hart (JR) - Led team with 541 receiving yards; averaged 22.5 yards per reception
RB R.J. Harmon (JR) - 1,118 rushing yards was a Cy Woods single-season record; averaged just over 9 yards per carry, also added 454 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns
RB C.J. Jones (SOPH) - 9.2 yards per carry, 12 rushing TDs; 15.4 yards per reception; 1,294 total yards on offense (893 rushing, 401 receiving); averaged 10.5 yards per offensive touch (97 carries, 26 catches)
LB Wade Carson (SR)
LB Shane Lawless (SR)
LB Tyler Greaves (SR)
DB Bryson Powers (SOPH) - Led team with 3 interceptions; also had 2 receiving TDs and returned a punt for a touchdown
K Luis Reyes (SOPH) - 7 FG made, 74 XP made; 95 points set a Woods single-season record for a kicker
P Jordan Johnson (JR) - Also an honorable mention at WR; district's leading punter

Honorable Mention

WR Jordan Johnson (JR) - 9 rec, 286 yards, 3 TD; 2nd-team punter
WR Taylor Tesch (SR) -  15 rec, 276 yards, 3 TD
WR Jared Taylor (JR) - 529 receiving yards, 2 TD
OL Ty Dendy (SR)
OL Wyatt Wozniak (SR)
DL Morgan Tosten (SR)
DL Randall Medlin (SR)

Manvel 63, Cy Woods 47: Too Much D'Eriq King, Wildcats Ousted

Final 2014 record: 8-5

The Cy Woods Wildcats mounted a valiant effort against the #2 ranked Manvel Mavericks, but in the end, they fell just short of a date with Katy, falling 63-47. With this loss, the Cats' season comes to an end.

The Cats just couldn't find an answer to D'Eriq King, the outstanding Mavs QB. King demonstrated why he's so highly regarded, as he was responsible for 551 yards and 6 touchdowns (5 passing, 1 rushing). Manvel just had an answer for every Woods outburst, and eventually, they found a way to take control. There were juncutres in this game where the Cats needed something to work out in their favor, and it didn't. This game was definitely winnable. I've refused to let this place degenerate into a forum for complaining and negativity, so please. Don't start.

Just tip your hat. This game was a battle of two great programs, and, unfortunately, only one of them could move on to the next round.

My heart goes out to the Class of 2015. You know, I'm struggling to find anything to say that'll lessen the pain of this loss, and I've come to accept that I may not completely heal this wound, but I'm going to give it a shot. Also, after 4 months of this, you've probably figured out that I'm not exactly the best at this writing stuff.

This is not how you envisioned going out, but nevertheless, you can hold your heads high. The losses you suffered this season shouldn't dampen the passion that you showed for this game all through your childhood and adolescence. Through this game, you forged lifelong friendships and created new ones. You've learned many a lesson through the adversity that comes with being a football player. You've celebrated the victories, you've mourned the losses. No matter the outcome, you have all strived to be better than you were the previous day. Although you still feel sorrow over this loss, I hope that whenever you find yourself reminiscing on these days, you'll remember all the joyous moments that came with being a Cy Woods football player.

The day you walked into Cy Woods for the very first time, you became a part of something special, and Coach Jones would always remind you of that. I remember the very first time you played in a game wearing a Cy Woods uniform (you guys would probably rather forget that). You've all come a long way since that first game against A&M Consolidated. You've transformed from being timid freshmen wondering what on earth you were getting yourselves into, to a group of young men who have provided leadership and valuable contributions to this team on and off the field. It's been a pleasure watching you guys play all these years, and I wish you nothing but the best for whatever lies ahead in your futures.

To Nick Hooper: The undisputed face of the program. Like I told you after the game, I have enjoyed watching you play for 4 years. You have been a great ambassador for my our school, and every time you have stepped on the field, you have carried yourself with a poise well beyond your years. All these characteristics that you brought to the table every game reminded me of a guy that I used to be teammates with. For 4 years, you embodied what it means to be a Wildcat: a talented athlete, a fearless, tenacious competitor, a leader on and off the field, and overall, an outstanding person. For much of this night, it was obvious that you were hurting, but you made it up in your mind that if it was your last game, you were going to do everything in your power to finish it. That is what being a Wildcat is all about, folks.

To Wade Carson: I remember that one day sometime during freshman year where I suggested that you wear #4 to continue the legacy that Bryce left. And you kept saying no, while I kept on insisting on it. Looking back on that day, I realize that it was probably unfair of me to suggest that. I felt that it would not have been fair to you to have to be compared to Bryce and what he accomplished during his time at Woods. Instead, you forged your own path and you became a great player in your own right. And I keep telling you that you've worked harder than Bryce ever did. 

So, What Happened Was...

On the first play of the game, the Wildcats got a defensive touchdown as Wade Carson scooped up an errant backwards pass and scored from 10 yards out. The two teams then traded turnovers on downs, and then Manvel got on the board as D'Eriq King found Reggie Hemphill-Mapps for a 13-yard score. The Cats answered by digging into the bag of tricks; R.J. Harmon found a wide-open Taylor Tesch for a 40-yard touchdown. King responded with a 5-yard TD run. The Cats were driving to end the 1st quarter, but disaster struck inside the redzone as a botched pitch was recovered by the Mavs at the 15 yard line.

End 1st: Woods 14, Manvel 14

That turnover didn't hurt, but the next one did. Nick Hooper was rocked, and the Mavericks recovered that fumble at the Woods 30. Manvel cashed in as King found Gary Haynes for a 7-yard scoring pass. And, disaster struck again as a direct snap sailed over C.J. Jones' head and pinned the Cats back at their own 8, which basically amounted to another turnover. After the punt, D'Vaughn Pennamon extended the Maverick lead with a 44-yard run. The Wildcats would respond by marching 90 yards, which was aided by 3 Manvel penalties. Nick Hooper capped it off with a 1-yard touchdown run.

Halftime: Manvel 28, Woods 21

C.J. Jones was intent on starting off the 2nd half with a bang as he took the opening kickoff into Manvel territory. On a 2nd & 5, Nick found an unoccupied area and scrambled for 20 yards to put the Cats at Manvel's 5. Unfortunately, the red zone woes reared its ugly head, and on 3rd & goal, Nick had the end zone in his sights, but the turf monster claimed another victim. The Cats would have to settle for a 24-yard field goal from Luis Reyes. The Mavs extended their lead as King connected with Haynes for a 15-yard catch-and-run job, but Nick would answer with a 1-yard touchdown run, and the Cats got the 2-point conversion. After the failed onside kick, Pennamon struck again as he sauntered in from 4 yards out.

End 3rd: Manvel 42, Woods 32

On the first play of the 4th quarter, Qyalan Clay added to the Manvel lead with an 11-yard TD run. Then King found Haynes for a 3rd time with a precision bomb. That one went 77 yards. And then Pennamon took a pass from King and dashed 42 yards to the house to push the Maverick lead to 63-32. But... the Cats would not go gentle into that good night. Not so fast. On the next Wildcat drive, they came out firing and capped it off with a Jared Taylor 36-yard touchdown reception. The onside kick was recovered, and one play later, Jordan Johnson beat 2 Mavericks and took that Nick Hooper pass 45 yards for a touchdown, and then the Cats tacked on another 2-point conversion to make it a 2-touchdown-2-point conversion game. Manvel recovered the onside kick, but the Cats were able to get a 3-and-out. A holding call, a false start, and 2 straight sacks put the Cats in a 3rd & 34 situation. Enter Reece Clark. And on that 3rd & 34, Tre' Hart pulled down a huge catch that netted the Cats those 34 yards. Reece found Zac Duncan for 2 first downs on what looked to be the same play, but any hope of a comeback bid was squashed by an interception by Collin Scott.

Final: Manvel 63, Woods 47

Turning Point

After Nick Hooper scored on a 1-yard run in the 3rd quarter to cut the Woods deficit to 35-32, the Cats decided to go for an onside kick. Unfortunately, that didn't work out. The Mavericks scored on their next drive, which sparked a 28-0 run that gave them a 63-32 lead. And that was where the game got away from the Cats.

Look, I didn't have too much of a gripe with that call. At that point, the game was still very much within reach. Why not catch them by surprise? They gambled, and it didn't pay off. Unfortunately, they couldn't kick the Mavs off the field, and they paid for it.

The Cats also lamented over the points they left in the red zone. Namely, the bad pitch that the Mavs recovered in the 2nd quarter. Nick getting eaten up by the turf monster when it looked as if he was going to walk in for a touchdown to kick off the 2nd half. That's at least 12 points left on the table right there.

Ground

No one has scored more touchdowns on the ground in Cy Woods history than Nick Hooper. His 1-yard run in the 2nd quarter gave him the record, and he added another 1-yard scoring run to give him 22. No one has run for more yards in Cy Woods history than R.J. Harmon. He'll finish the year with 1,118 yards on the ground. This will also be the first time that the Wildcats will finish a season with 2 1,000 yard rushers. Nick finished with 1,002.

R.J. Harmon: 16 carries, 105 yards
Nick Hooper: 18 carries, 38 yards, 2 TD
C.J. Jones: 11 carries, 22 yards
Zac Duncan: 2 carries, 10 yards
Jordan Johnson: 3 carries, 5 yards

Air

Nick delivered one of the gutsiest performances I've ever seen, as he was clearly on one leg for a vast majority of the game. He fired 2 TD passes to Jared Taylor and Jordan Johnson midway through the 4th quarter to re-invigorate the Cats, who were barely clinging on to their playoff lives. R.J. Harmon fired a 40-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Tesch in the 1st quarter. Reece Clark came on in relief in the final Cats drive of the season, came out firing, and was on the verge of making it a 1-score game late, but an interception sealed the Cats' fate.

Nick Hooper: 17-28, 208 yards, 2 TD
Reece Clark: 3-4, 68 yards, INT
R.J. Harmon: 1-2, 40 yards, TD

Defense

The Wildcat defense had their hands full with D'Eriq King, and then some. They were able to get a few stops, but King was just too much. The 63 points they surrendered is the most given up in a single game. Elijah Pierson managed to get to him early in the 2nd quarter. Bryson Powers, bad knee and all, fought through his injuries and delivered with a fine performance, getting his 3rd interception of the season. We haven't heard the last of him.

Sacks: Elijah Pierson 1 (3 yards lost)

Interceptions: Bryson Powers 1 (3rd of season)

Special Teams

Jordan Johnson punted the ball 3 times for 97 yards. His best kick of the night went 40 yards after a rugby-style kick.

Luis Reyes hit all 4 of his extra points, and converted on a 24-yard field goal early in the 3rd. He will finish the season with 95 points, a new single-season record for a Cy Woods kicker. The previous record was 94 by Nathaniel Crea in 2010.

As usual, no one wants to kick to C.J. Jones. But, the Mavericks decided to do that to begin the 2nd half, and he very nearly made them pay. C.J. had to settle for a 55-yard return. Zac Duncan was the primary kick returner; he managed to stay on his feet on one return and took it all the way to the Mavericks 17.

Zac Duncan: 6 kicks returned, 96 yards
C.J. Jones: 1 kick returned, 55 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 kick returned, 8 yards

Other Notes

Despite all the clamoring for the coaches to take a visibly injured Nick Hooper out of the game, I don't think that's how he wanted to end his high school career.

Everyone who was at Rice that night saw the Wildcats' signature resilience on full display. Out-athleted? The Cats don't care. These kids played their final game with every fiber of their being and they left it all on the field.

To the people who left early: No, no, Dustin...... be better than those people who left early.

Men of the Match

This one goes out to the seniors. Thank you all for your hard work throughout your 4 years. You've represented this school with class while wearing that uniform, and you've continued a tradition of excellence that is expected of those who wear the colors of the Cy Woods Wildcats.

In Conclusion....

And so ends another chapter of Cy Woods football. The torch has now been passed on to the class of 2016. See you in the spring.

Cy Woods 63, Katy Taylor 17: Wildcats Strike Fast, Strike Often

2014 Record: 8-4, 2-0 in playoffs

On a Saturday afternoon at the Berry Center where the skies threatened with thunderstorms all afternoon.... with no measurable rain to speak of until after the final whistle (just in time), the Cy Woods Wildcats braved the (non-existent) elements and stormed past the Katy Taylor Mustangs 63-17.

The Mustangs were able to get their offense going in the early stages of the game and flustered the Cats defense by converting their 3rd downs. They were able to hang with the Wildcats in the 1st quarter and tied the game on a couple of occasions. Taylor tied the game at 14 with 1:31 remaining in the 1st, but then the Cats kicked their offense into that gear we're all too accustomed to seeing and left the Mustangs in the dust, finishing the game on a 49-3 run. The Wildcats' quick-strike capability was on full display; 7 of their 9 scoring drives went 5 plays or less (3 were 1-play drives), and they didn't take long to score either. Their longest drive lasted 8 plays and took 2:16 off the clock, which was also the longest drive in terms of time.

Props go out to a resurgent Katy Taylor program. They suffered through 3 very rough years, and then in 2014, they used the lessons they learned from those 3 tough seasons, withstood the growing pains involved with rebuilding, and made their return to the playoffs. The Mustangs made the opening moments of the game interesting, but in the end, it was too much Cats offense at breakneck speed.

So, What Happened Was...

The Mustangs got the ball to begin the game. They looked as if they caught the Wildcat defense off guard as they came out firing; 4 of their first 5 plays were passes, which included a juggling catch-and-run job from Jacob Palfreyman that went for 47 yards. However, the Cats defense came out with a win as the Mustangs missed a field goal.

Nick Hooper's first pass fell incomplete, but he connected on his next 3; the last of which found a wide-open R.J. Harmon, who took it 54 yards to open the scoring. After a long march down the field, the Mustangs got on the board thanks to Brett Vinzant's 2-yard run. It didn't take long for the Cats to respond as one play later, Nick found an even more wide-open Taylor Tesch for a 73-yard TD pass. Taylor answered with an 11-yard touchdown run from Eli Walters. The key play on that drive was Jacob Yohr taking a screen pass and scampering 52 yards. Tesch returned the ensuing kickoff to the Taylor 22. The injury bug struck as Nick was knocked out with an apparent leg injury after a 2-yard run. Enter Reece Clark. On his first play of the day, he found Tre' Hart for a 14-yard touchdown to put the Cats back in front.

End 1st: Woods 21, Taylor 14

The defense was suffering from an inability to kick the Mustangs off the field, especially on 3rd down. They needed a stop, and they got one in the form of Michael Wirt's 3rd pick of the season. On the ensuing Woods drive, Jared Taylor found the endzone on a 6-yard run. The Cats got another stop with a 3-and-out, and Clark connected with R.J. Harmon for a 4-yard touchdown. The big play on that drive was Jared Taylor's 61-yard catch. The Mustangs got a score at the halftime buzzer with a 22-yard field goal from Brady Bortka.

Hafltime: Woods 35, Taylor 17

On the opening drive of the 2nd half, R.J. took a direct snap and scored from 71 yards out without even being touched. The Cats stuffed the Mustangs on a 4th down, and they didn't let a false start on the first play hamper their next drive; Reece wound up connecting with C.J. Jones for a 48-yard touchdown. R.J. struck again with a 51-yard run, and C.J. capped it off with a 56-yard scoring run. There was no scoring in the 4th quarter.

Final: Woods 63, Taylor 17

Turning Point

The Wildcat defense managed to dial up consecutive stops with Michael Wirt's interception and a 3-and-out in the 2nd quarter. The offense scored on their ensuing possessions after these stops, and then they proceeded to open up the floodgates on the Mustangs.

Ground

R.J. Harmon became the 3rd Wildcat to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, joining Fredrick Anderson and Colton Huntsman. He now stands at 1,013, and the all-time record of 1,036 set by Fred in 2010 is very much in his crosshairs. C.J. Jones ripped off a 56-yard run for Woods' final points.

In the 4th quarter, Randall Medlin picked up a blocked punt and turned it into a 27 yard gain. Great heads-up play, especially with all the Taylor players completely oblivious to the fact that he had the ball until he got the first down.

R.J. Harmon: 5 carries, 128 yards, 2 TD
C.J. Jones: 2 carries, 58 yards, TD
Randall Medlin: 1 carry, 27 yards
Jacobi Boudreaux: 6 carries, 15 yards
Austin Goffney: 2 carries, 11 yards
Jared Taylor: 2 carries, 8 yards, TD
Nick Hooper: 2 carries, 8 yards
Reece Clark: 2 carries, -5 yards

Air

This time, the Cats' passing attack took center stage. Nick and Reece were slingin' it, that's for sure. They combined for 315 yards and 5 touchdowns. The timing was excellent, the route running was crisp, but there were a couple of balls that could have been caught had the receivers made that extra effort to dive for it.

Hey, it's the playoffs. Next week isn't guaranteed, no more holding anything back, and all those other clichés. You've got to sell out to make the play for your team no matter the circumstances. That's the difference between advancing and getting knocked out.

Reece Clark: 9-14, 150 yards, 3 TD
Nick Hooper: 5-6, 165 yards, 2 TD

Jared Taylor: 3 recs, 67 yards
R.J. Harmon: 3 recs, 62 yards, 2 TD
C.J. Jones: 3 recs, 50 yards, TD
Tre' Hart: 3 recs, 49 yards, TD
Taylor Tesch: 1 rec, 73 yards, TD
Zac Duncan: 1 rec, 14 yards

Defense

After looking as though they'd be unable to stop the Taylor attack early, the Cats were able to solve that puzzle. And then, they proceeded to absolutely suffocate the Mustangs, holding them to just 3 points after the 1st quarter.

Michael Wirt broke a 6-way tie for the lead with his 3rd interception of the season in the 2nd, which he returned 20 yards. But... his lead was short-lived as Jake Jones restored a tie with his 3rd pick of the season in the 4th quarter.

Sacks: Randall Medlin 0.5, Wade Carson 0.5 (10 yards lost)

Special Teams

Luis Reyes.... did what he usually does, and what he usually does is hit all of his extra points. He went 9-9 in that respect. Jordan Johnson punted twice for 67 yards; a third punt was blocked, then recovered, and then advanced for a first down by Randall Medlin.

Zac Duncan: 1 punt returned, 8 yards; 1 kick returned, 5 yards
Taylor Tesch: 1 kick returned, 53 yards

Other Notes

- Taylor DB Rodney Clemons had an incredible interception that was ruled incomplete. I'm actually quite sure that he caught it, but there was no replay. He got a heat-of-the-moment unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after spiking the ball after the pass was called incomplete.

- The Wildcats eclipsed the 500-point mark for the 2nd time in team history in this game. They now stand at 549. The record is 601, which was set in 2010.

- It was nice running into a few old friends.

- Here's hoping that Nick's injury isn't serious. It would be an absolute shame if this game was the last time we see him in a Cy Woods uniform.

Man of the Match

After Nick was knocked out of the game, Reece Clark came on in relief and did an excellent job of commandeering the offense.

Looking Ahead

In the Sweet 16 of the Division II, Region III bracket, otherwise known as the regional semifinals, the Wildcats will take on the Manvel Mavericks at Rice Stadium on Friday, November 28 at 7:30. They will be the away team in this contest, which will be the first game that will see the Cats venture outside of the friendly confines of Pridgeon Stadium and the Berry Center.

Cy Woods 66, Aldine Davis 15: Opening-Round Romp

2014 Record: 7-4, 1-0 in 2014 playoffs

On a dreary afternoon at the Berry Center, the Cy Woods Wildcats kicked off their playoff campaign with a 66-15 shellacking of the Benjamin Davis Falcons, who were playing their first playoff game. One more point, and they would have tied their highest output in a playoff game.

This was a pretty good Aldine Davis squad and the Cats just absolutely drubbed them, flying out to a 45-7 halftime lead. They got the jump on the Falcons and went for the jugular right away. Nick Hooper and C.J. Jones ran roughshod over an imposing Falcon defense to the tune of 4 touchdowns apiece and the Wildcat defense grounded an offense littered with explosive athletes.

Good win. Now, on to the 2nd round.

So, What Happened Was...

Davis opened up the game with a first down on the first drive of the game, but the Cats quickly snuffed out the threat and forced a punt... that never got off because the Davis punter dropped the ball right as he was about to kick it. This gave the Cats the ball at the Davis 26-yard line for their first drive, and just two plays later, Nick Hooper opened up the scoring with a 23-yard run. He added a 57-yard TD run later on in the quarter, and after the Falcons got on the board thanks to Josh Vinson's 41-yard touchdown catch, C.J. Jones answered with a 54-yard scoring run.

End 1st: Woods 21, Davis 7

The Outlaw Shane Lawless blocked a punt early in the 2nd quarter and the Cats recovered the ball at the Davis 2. One play later, C.J. Jones punched in his 2nd rushing touchdown of the game. Nick shimmied and made the Davis defense look foolish with his 3rd score, which came from 14 yards out. C.J. then struck again with a 6-yard scoring run, and Luis Reyes put 3 more points on the board just before the half.

Halftime: Woods 45, Davis 7

Isaac Jackson found Darrell Hubbard for a 31-yard TD pass in the 3rd, but Nick Hooper capped off his day with a 7-yard TD run on the ensuing Woods possession.

End 3rd: Woods 52, Davis 15

C.J.'s day was done after scoring his 4th rushing touchdown of the afternoon. That was his 2nd score from 2 yards out. And finally, Jacobi Boudreaux provided the cherry by finding pay dirt with an 80-yard run.

Final: Woods 66, Davis 15

Turning Point

The Cats forced a three-and-out on Davis' first drive of the 2nd quarter. On the ensuing punt, they broke through the Falcons protection, and The Outlaw Shane Lawless got the block. The Wildcats recovered the loose ball at the Davis 2, and one play later, C.J. Jones scored his 2nd rushing touchdown of the game.

They then proceeded to open the floodgates by scoring 17 more points, giving them a 45-7 lead at halftime.

Ground

All 9 Wildcat touchdowns were scored in the running game, which, yes, is a record. The 458 yards they amassed on the ground were the 2nd-most in a game in team history; they put up 464 against Springs in 2011.

Nick did what he has done all season on the ground. His 4 touchdowns give him 20 on the year, which ties him with Fredrick Anderson for the most rushing touchdowns in a single season in Cy Woods history. C.J. Jones chipped in 4 scores of his own. The Cats had 3 100-yard rushers in a game for the first time since the 2011 season finale against Springs. Nick and C.J. joined Jeff Bogan and Fred as the only players to score 4 rushing touchdowns in a game. Jeff did it against Langham in 2011, and Fred scored 4 against Clear Creek in the 2010 playoffs.

Shifting to Nick... he has now amassed more carries in a season than anyone in Cy Woods' brief history, with 204. The previous record was set in 2009, when Colton Huntsman ran the ball 200 times.

C.J. led the way with 157, and R.J. Harmon added 118. The third may surprise you. It was 3rd-stringer Jacobi Boudreaux, who finished with 104. 80 of those came on the final Woods touchdown of the day in the 4th quarter. Nick had 88 yards.

Nick Hooper: 14 carries, 88 yards, 4 TD
C.J. Jones: 12 carries, 157 yards, 4 TD
R.J. Harmon: 8 carries, 118 yards
Jacobi Boudreaux: 6 carries, 104 yards, TD
Jordan Johnson: 3 carries, 9 yards
Reece Clark: 1 carry, -7 yards
One carry was a bad pitch that was recovered by Woods for -11 yards. It was not credited to anyone. Like anyone would want an -11 yard carry on their final line...

Air

Was not utilized much because of the immense success the ground game was having.

Nick Hooper: 6-16, 78 yards
Reece Clark: 3-7, 32 yards

Jordan Johnson also appeared at QB, but did not attempt a pass.

Zac Duncan: 4 recs, 35 yards
Jared Taylor: 3 recs, 25 yards
C.J. Jones: 2 recs, 50 yards

Defense

The Wildcat defense came up big in this game as they completely grounded a fine Davis offense, holding them to just 47 rushing yards. Their big-play threats, Lexington Thomas and Anthony Malone, were held to 81 yards combined. The Falcons' big target outside, Josh Vinson, did give the secondary some issues as he managed to gain 142 receiving yards, but he was the only receiver, and really, only offensive player for that matter, to get anything going against the Cats.

Myles Wilson, a sophomore safety, had an excellent afternoon as he led the team with 11 total tackles. He also had a chance for an interception... if he would've turned around to find the ball. It hit him right in the hand and he wasn't even looking. Shane Lawless, Wade Carson, Keith Watson, and Elijah Pierson were all disruptive forces from their linebacker spots. Morgan Tosten, a starting defensive end, recorded 4 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, as did Elijah Pierson.

Tackles: Myles Wilson 11 (5 assisted), Wade Carson 9 (5 assisted, 1 tackle for loss), Shane Lawless 9 (2 assisted, 2 TFL), Morgan Tosten 6 (3 assisted, 4 TFL), Elijah Pierson 6 (5 assisted, 4 TFL), Keith Watson 6 (3 assisted, 1 TFL), Danny Malone 4 (3 assisted), Nick Bailey 3 (1 assisted, 1 TFL), Austin Greaves 3 (1 assisted, 1 TFL), Zac Duncan 3 (1 assisted), Jake Jones 2 (both assisted), Tre' Hart 2 (1 assisted), Justyn Johnson 1 (for loss), Hayden Stoeber 1 (for loss), Chad O'Donnell 1 (assisted), Jacobi Boudreaux 1, Josh Robbins 1 (assisted), Randall Medlin 1 (assisted), Michael Wirt 1 (assisted), Isiah Clay 1 (assisted), #52 1 (assisted)

#52, a defensive end, is a JV call-up, so he didn't have a nameplate on the back of his jersey. I think his name is Jose Garcia.

Keith Watson and Wade Carson both forced a fumble, and both of them were recovered by the Cats, as Elijah Pierson and Zac Duncan were in the right place at the right time on both occasions.

Sacks: Morgan Tosten 1 (6 yards lost)

Interceptions: Nick Bailey 1 (returned for 43 yards)

Special Teams

Luis Reyes put up 12 points as he went 9-9 on extra points and nailed a 40-yard field goal with 30 seconds left in the 1st half. That's 4 10-point games for the sophomore kicker.

Jordan Johnson had 5 punts for 161 yards, for just over 32 yards per punt.

The Outlaw Shane Lawless blocked the first Davis punt of the 2nd quarter and the Cats recovered it at the Davis 2. One play later, C.J. Jones punched it in for a score.

Punts blocked: Shane Lawless 1

C.J. Jones: 2 kicks returned, 47 yards
Zac Duncan: 3 punts returned, 15 yards
Taylor Tesch: 1 kick returned, 16 yards

Other Notes

- Every year, the first playoff game gets colder and colder. Not sure what's up with that.

- The offensive line took another hit, as guard Shiva Reddy left the game with a knee or ankle injury.

- Speaking of the offensive line, they did an excellent job against the massive Davis defensive line in the running game.

- It was good to see Tyler Greaves back in uniform, although he was held out after tweaking his knee last week against Springs.

- Tobi Orundami, a freshman nose tackle, made his varsity debut on the final play of the game. He's wearing #93 for this playoff run. The coaching staff is very high on this kid... he'll be one to watch over the next 3 seasons.

- And how could I not mention Andrew Gallagher's 8-yard reception? The big fella was able to rumble downfield.... too bad he's not eligible to touch the ball.

Man of the Match

You can go a lot of ways here.

C.J. delivered with his best performance on the ground to date, while Nick is on the verge of re-writing the Cy Woods record books. Or maybe even Jacobi Boudreaux, who got his chance to showcase his skills late in the game. On the defensive side, Myles Wilson had a fine game in the secondary, while Shane Lawless blocked a punt to go along with his solid afternoon from his inside linebacker spot. Wade Carson was relentless as usual, and finally, Morgan Tosten and Elijah Pierson busted up the most plays as their 4 tackles for loss indicated.

Looking Ahead

In the area round of the 2014 Texas High School Football playoffs, the Wildcats will take on the Katy T....... aylor Mustangs. Kickoff is set for 1:00 at the Berry Center on Saturday. Let's just hope it'll be a little warmer.

Jersey Village 44, Cy Woods 38: Gratification Delayed

2014 Record: 5-4, 5-3 in District 17-6A

No, I wasn't at this game either. I would have gone, had my trip to the airport not been a nightmare. On the flip side, I'm extremely grateful that I got to spend one more day with my aunt before she flies back to Australia. I can't wait to read all of your sky-is-falling comments.

Well, we're at the absolute end of the wire now, and the playoff picture is murkier than ever, as two playoff spots in District 17-6A are still up for grabs. The Cats, with a win in this game, would have clinched a playoff spot. But with this 44-38 loss to Jersey Village, they've now fallen into a 3-way tie for 3rd, and depending on Saturday's Creek-Falls matchup, it could be a 4-way tie....

This was definitely a bitter pill for the Cats to swallow; I'm sure they felt that they let this game get away. That's not taking anything away from the Falcons, though; they won this game because they made the plays that they needed to make, and they made a few more plays than Woods. But, the Cats are still very much in the fight. They're 2-1 against their main competition for a playoff spot (Fair, Creek, and JV).

This loss made the win against Cy-Fair so much more critical in the grand scheme of this regular season. The Cats might have gone 1-2 in this torturous 3-game stretch that pitted them against the district's top offense and top 2 defenses, but one win is ∞ times better than none, obviously. Drop all 3, and this team's playoff hopes would have gone down in flames.

So, What Happened Was...

Man... they really did let this game get away in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

Nick Hooper put the Cats on the board first with his 7-yard TD run in the 1st. The Falcons responded with a nice drive, but the defense held them to a field goal. Jordan Johnson took the ensuing kickoff and ran 93 yards for a score. And finally, a muffed punt from Bryson Powers was recovered by JV and gave them the ball in the Cy Woods red zone to end the 1st quarter.

End 1st: Woods 14, JV 3

Nothing came of that muffed punt, though. But... the tide of this game would soon turn. Jersey Village took a 17-14 lead as Deshun Qualls connected on TD passes to Christian Taylor and Rokeem Paul. Nick responded with a 22-yard touchdown run as the Cats retook the lead, but Qualls had the final say in the period as he threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Josh Bland shortly before halftime.

Halftime: JV 24, Woods 21

The only points that the Cats could muster up in the 3rd was a 24-yard field goal from Luis Reyes. Qualls dominated the 2nd and 3rd quarters; he found Christian Taylor for the 2nd time in the game, and he'd punch it in himself from 1 yard out.

End 3rd: JV 38, Woods 24

LaVance Moore seemingly ended the game with his 46-yard TD run that put the Falcons up 44-24. But wait a minute.... the Cats hit back with just one play. Taylor Tesch caught one and took it 75 yards to the house. The defense got a 3-and-out on their next series, and then Jordan Johnson scored for the 2nd time in the game with a 53-yard TD reception to make it a 1-score game. Thanks to a brilliant kickoff from Reyes, the Falcons were pinned at their own 4. Unfortunately.... the Wildcat defense couldn't get that last stop. Brandon Major had a 12-yard catch on 3rd & 7 from the 7, and Qualls converted a 3rd & 4 with a 6-yard run for the final nail.

Final: Jersey Village 44, Cy Woods 38

Turning Point

Jersey Village went on a 35-10 run in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, and that attack was spearheaded by their QB, Deshun Qualls, who just shredded the Cats defense.

Get them off the field, please: The Falcons were 13-18 on 3rd down conversions.

Ground

As usual, Nick Hooper was all over the stat sheet; he carried the ball 19 times for 98 yards and scored twice. Or, if we're going by percentages, he accounted for 73% of the carries, 62% of the Cats' rushing yards, and 100% of their rushing touchdowns.

All stats per TSRN.

Nick Hooper: 19 carries, 98 yards, 2 TD
C.J. Jones: 3 carries, 48 yards
Jordan Johnson: 2 carries, 6 yards
R.J. Harmon: 2 carries, 6 yards

Air

Out of all the quarterbacks that tried their luck against the vaunted Falcon secondary, Nick put up the most passing yards against them this season. 128 of those came on his 2 touchdown throws to Taylor Tesch and Jordan Johnson. A pessimist may say that those numbers really puffed up his final line, but those 2 scores through the air could not have come at a more crucial time.

Nick Hooper: 11-22, 225 yards, 2 TD

Taylor Tesch: 3 recs, 93 yards, TD
C.J. Jones: 2 recs, 38 yards
Jared Taylor: 2 recs, 15 yards
Zac Duncan 2 recs, 12 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 rec, 53 yards, TD
Tre' Hart: 1 rec, 14 yards

Defense

The defense just couldn't find an answer for Deshun Qualls, who was responsible for 399 of Jersey Village's 502 yards of offense. They couldn't kick the Falcons off the field on 3rd down, either. That 13-18 figure on 3rd downs for Jersey Village is most likely the key statistic of the game. Plain and simple, the Wildcat defense just didn't get it done. But I know they'll bounce back.

Sacks: Wade Carson 1 (8 yards lost)
Interceptions: Shane Lawless 1 (1st of season)

Special Teams

Luis Reyes converted on a 24-yard field goal in the 3rd and hit all 5 of his extra points. Yet another solid performance for the sophomore, who has firmly established himself as the Cats' kicker of the present and future.

Jordan Johnson punted the ball 3 times for a total of 115 yards. He also returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown in the 1st.

Zac Duncan: 4 kicks returned, 31 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 kick returned, 93 yards, TD
Bryson Powers: 1 punt returned, 0 yards

Man of the Match

Jordan Johnson dipped into the well and pulled out 2 big plays. Just goes to show that anyone on this offense is capable of really going off.

I think with his kickoff return TD, the Cats broke the team record for most return touchdowns in a season. Michael Wirt had a pick 6 against Falls, Bryson Powers returned a punt for a score against Lakes, C.J. has his 2 kick return TDs, and now Jordan's on the board with that kickoff.

Honorable Mentions go to Nick Hooper, for stuffing the stat sheet as usual, and to Luis Reyes, whose transformation into a special teams weapon is just about complete.

Looking Ahead

In the 2014 regular-season finale, the Cats will head to the Berry Center where they will play host to Cy Springs on Thursday. Kickoff is at 7:00.

Cy Woods 38, Cy-Fair 31 (OT): Powers Island

2014 Record: 5-3, 5-2 in District 17-6A

Note: I didn't attend this game either, so everything will be from the box score. As much as I enjoy watching the Wildcats play... family first. I hope you understand.

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in October at Pridgeon, the Wildcats got themselves a crucial victory as they knocked off Cy-Fair 38-31 in overtime. With the win, they have a playoff spot all to themselves. They haven't formally punched their ticket to the playoffs just yet, but they're definitely in prime position.

For the first time since 2010, the Cypress Woods Wildcats had more points at the end of a football game than the Cy-Fair Bobcats. It's been a long time coming. This was Wildcats' 2nd overtime game in team history; I don't think you'll need much help remembering the first one.

The Wildcats won despite allowing 223 yards and 3 touchdowns to the district's leading rusher, Jacorey Aleem, committing 11 penalties and turning the ball over 6 times (3 interceptions, 3 fumbles lost). Sheesh. Penalties have been a significant problem for Woods all season, and, including this game, they've committed 9 turnovers in their last 2 contests. Somehow, they emerged from this game with a monumental victory. You know that old saying about how a good team is able to overcome their mistakes....

So, What Happened Was...

48 minutes was apparently not enough time for the outcome this game to be determined. No matter.

Well, the Wildcats had a rather inauspicious start to their afternoon as Aleem led off the game by slicing his way to the endzone from 36 yards out, and then after Nick Hooper was strip-sacked to end Woods' first possesion of the day, the Bobcats added a field goal, and before you knew it, the Wildcats were down 10-0. On the ensuing Woods drive, though, Nick atoned for that earlier mistake by punching it in from 10 yards out to put the Wildcats on the board for the first time.

End 1st: Fair 10, Woods 7

In the 2nd, Aleem struck again from 15 yards. Nick's 3 interceptions all came in the 2nd quarter.

Halftime: Fair 17, Woods 7

Cy Woods came out of the locker room guns blazing as they scored on their first 2 possessions of the 2nd half to take a 21-17 lead. Nick scored his 2nd rushing touchdown of the day from 17 yards out, and he found R.J. Harmon for a 31-yard TD reception. However, Jacorey Aleem would have the last word in the 3rd quarter with his 3rd touchdown run of the day. This one came from 5 yards out and gave Cy-Fair a 24-21 lead heading into the final 12 minutes of regulation.

End 3rd: Fair 24, Woods 21

Elijah Pierson kicked off the 4th quarter with an interception, and then on a reverse pass, Zac Duncan found Nick Hooper for a 6-yard touchdown pass to give the Wildcats the lead once more. All of a sudden, the game took a turn for the worse as R.J. Harmon coughed up the ball and Justin Burrell recovered the loose ball and scored for the Bobcats, giving them a 31-28 lead with 2:25 to go. The Wildcats suddenly had to mount up a response. They were able to move the ball, racking up 3 first downs in the process. However, Nick was dropped for a loss of 4 yards, which forced a 3rd and long, but a facemask penalty against Fair on the play breathed new life into the Wildcats' final drive and put them at the Bobcats' 20. However, nothing doing for them over for the next 3 plays, so... enter Luis Reyes. The sophomore came on to attempt the biggest kick of his young career.... and he nailed a 37-yard field goal with 5 seconds left in regulation.

End of Regulation: Woods 31, Fair 31

The Bobcats won the overtime coin toss, but they let the Wildcats have the ball first. 9 plays later, Nick Hooper punched in his 3rd rushing touchdown of the day from 6 yards out, topping that off by steamrolling Burrell to get in the endzone. Now... it was the defense's turn. 2 Aleem runs put the Bobcats in a 3rd and 6 situation from the Woods 21. Clayton Kopecky dropped back to pass, but Bryson Powers closed out the biggest Wildcat win of the season with his 2nd interception of the campaign.

Final in OT: Woods 38, Fair 31

Turning Points

1. With approximately 4 minutes to go in regulation, Nick Hooper appeared to have a 51-yard touchdown run... only to have that wiped out by a holding call. Because I was not at the game, I cannot speak as to how dubious that penalty was. That run would have given the Wildcats a 2-score lead, and overtime most likely would not have been needed.

2. Two plays later, R.J. Harmon fumbled the ball, and Cy-Fair's Justin Burrell returned the fumble for a touchdown, giving the Bobcats a 31-28 lead.

3. The Bobcats gave the Wildcats the ball to open up overtime. Well, their defense had been so good all season, but it's a double-edged sword when the offense that gets the ball is so explosive.

Ground

Of the 925 yards of offense amassed in the game, 596 of them were on the ground. 301 of those 596 rushing yards belonged to Cy Woods: Nick Hooper and Jacorey Aleem scored 3 touchdowns apiece for their respective teams. C.J. Jones recorded his 3rd 100-yard rushing game of the year, leading the team with 107 yards. R.J. Harmon chipped in with 98 on 14 carries, and Nick got 93 on 28 carries and scored 3 times; his 3rd turned out to be the difference.

Vine by Brian Sutton:


All statistics per TSRN.

C.J. Jones: 18 carries, 107 yards
R.J. Harmon: 14 carries, 98 yards
Nick Hooper: 28 carries, 93 yards, 3 TD
Zac Duncan: 1 carry, 7 yards

Air

Nick had a rough go of it, but then again, opposing QBs have been flayed alive by this Cy-Fair secondary. He threw 3 picks; 2 to Josh Curtis and 1 to Brandon Richmond. However, he found R.J. for a 31-yard TD in the 3rd. Zac Duncan is now 2-2 on the season with 2 touchdown passes. Efficient.

Nick Hooper: 15-26, 254 yards, TD, 3 INT
Zac Duncan: 1-1, 6 yards, TD

Tre' Hart, who transferred to Cy Woods from Louisiana last year, has emerged as a top target out wide in this offense. Nick has caught 2 passes this year, and both have been for touchdowns. Efficient.

Tre' Hart: 5 recs, 87 yards
Zac Duncan: 3 recs, 50 yards
Jordan Johnson: 2 recs, 43 yards
C.J. Jones: 2 recs, 0 yards
Chad O'Donnell: 1 rec, 34 yards
R.J. Harmon: 1 rec, 31 yards, TD
Taylor Tesch: 1 rec, 9 yards
Nick Hooper: 1 rec, 6 yards, TD

Defense

Danny Malone, special teams ace, recorded a big sack early in the 2nd quarter, which forced a Cy-Fair punt. The Wildcat secondary matched the Bobcats as they picked off Clayton Kopecky 3 times. The third one, by Bryson Powers, finished off the victory.

Sacks: Danny Malone 1 (8 yards lost)
Interceptions: Michael Wirt 1, Elijah Pierson 1, Bryson Powers 1; all of them now have 2 interceptions on the season.

Special Teams

Jordan Johnson punted once for 42 yards. Luis Reyes hit all 5 of his extra points, and he sent the game to overtime with his 37-yard field goal.

Johnson returned the 2nd half opening kickoff 31 yards, and Bryson Powers lost 10 yards on a punt return.

Other Notes

Normally when someone commits 4 turnovers, their confidence is supposedly so shot that they find themselves on the bench. Nick, though, showed tremendous character and poise in rebounding from those blunders. And eventually, he rallied his team to a huge win.

This is the 2nd time this season that the Wildcats have won a game despite committing 10+ penalties and turning the ball over at least 5 times.

Men of the Match

As much as I want to knock his grade down a notch with all the turnovers, it's got to be Nick Hooper. Because... despite the turnovers, he was never rattled, and he did not allow those mistakes to snowball into a total disaster. And eventually, when he got the opportunity to lead his team to a win, that's exactly what he did.

Coming into this season, Nick was expected to be a leader for this team, and he's more than delivered on that.

Another Man of the Match goes to Bryson Powers for the pick. And one more for Luis Reyes, who's been quite the find at kicker this season. Game hanging in the balance? Not a problem for him.

Honorable mentions go out to R.J. Harmon and C.J. Jones for their big days on the ground, Danny Malone for his sack early in the game, and Michael Wirt and Elijah Pierson for getting their 2nd picks of the year.

Looking Ahead

On Halloween, the Wildcats will be at Pridgeon for the final time this season as they host the Jersey Village Falcons. Kickoff is at 7:00.

Langham Creek 55, Cy Woods 31: Homecoming VII, Simply Outgunned

2014 Record: 4-3, 4-2 in District 17-6A

Note: I did not attend this game due to a death in my family.

On Homecoming VII, the Wildcats had an unhappy beginning to the weekend as they fell to the Langham Creek Lobos, 55-31. This was also the Lobos' homecoming game, and well, someone had to be saddled with an unhappy one, I suppose. Also, there was a concert going on! Great scheduling! The Wildcats fall to 4-3 all-time in Homecoming games.

This was your garden-variety 17-6A game... 98 points and 1,366 offensive yards, or 0.78 offensive miles. Woods was outgunned in the 2nd half mainly because the Langham defense tightened the clamps on them, and as a result, the wheels fell out from right under them. The Lobos turned the Cats' 3 2nd-half turnovers into 14 critical points.

This loss negated an incredible night from Nick Hooper, who took ownership of the single-game passing yards record (448, previously 442 by Colton Huntsman in 2009) and total yards record (603). Turnovers, man. Also, the offense in the 4th quarter still persists as a serious issue that needs to be addressed. They lost one game in the 4th, almost lost another in the 4th, and well... in this one, they were thumped in the 2nd half because of those turnovers.

Because I wasn't at the Berry Center, all I can do is compose a recap looking at a box score. But then again, that's what I usually do when I recap the games of the Astros' minor league system. All offensive numbers are per TSRN.

So, What Happened Was...

A fun game if you enjoy offenses that put points up on the board at an arena football-like pace, but you probably won't be sleeping for a bit if you're more defensive-minded.

Zac Duncan opened the scoring with a 22-yard touchdown grab. Then, Nick punched it in from 5 yards out to give the Cats a 14-0 lead. Langham Creek got on the board as Paul Watson connected with Quartney Davis for a 33-yard touchdown.

End 1st: Woods 14, Langham 7

In the 2nd quarter, the back-and-forth began as Langham tied the game on a 21-yard run from Toneil Carter. On the ensuing Woods drive, Nick Hooper found Tre' Hart for a 65-yard TD as the Cats regained the lead. Watson then fired a 31-yard touchdown pass to Trelen Norton to re-tie the game at 21, and then on the next Wildcat drive, Luis Reyes untied the game with a 25-yard field goal. After 24 minutes, the game would be tied at 24 as Joel Scarbrough ended the half with a 31-yard field goal.

Halftime: Woods 24, Langham 24

The Lobos seized control of this game because (1) they scored on their first 4 possessions of the 2nd half, and (2) their defense clamped down on the Cats offense. Scarbrough ended the 1st half with a field goal.... and opened the 2nd half with a field goal, this one from 25. Nick then found Jared Taylor for a big gain, but Taylor coughed up the ball, which was recovered by the Lobos. They'd cash in as Watson found Norton for the 2nd time in this game; this one from 9 yards out. Nick Hooper scored his 2nd rushing TD of the night as he ran it in from 11, but the Lobos got a 1-play drive with Paul Watson finding Quartney Davis for a 75-yard score; that was Davis's 2nd receiving TD of the night.

End 3rd: Langham 41, Woods 31

Watson scored on a 1-yard run, and then Nick was picked off by Jordan Murray as the Cats were driving. However, that turnover didn't bite them as they got the ball back right away, as Watson coughed it up. Their next turnover did, though, as Nick coughed it up, and then 1 play later, Toneil Carter iced the game with a 78-yard TD run.

Final: Langham 55, Woods 31

Turning Point

The 2nd half, which the Lobos won 31-7. In the 3rd, Langham scored on all 4 of their possessions (a field goal and 3 TDs) in that frame, while the Cats lost a fumble and turned the ball over on downs, with a touchdown sandwiched in between, on their 3 drives. Langham took a 41-31 lead into the final 12 minutes, and iced the game with 2 TDs in the period.

Ground

In the ground portion of the Nick Hooper Show, he had 22 carries for 155 yards and 2 scores. He constituted 71% of the Cats' rushing attempts, 90% of its rushing yards, and 100% of its rushing touchdowns.

Nick Hooper: 22 carries, 155 yards, 2 TD
Jordan Johnson: 1 carry, 19 yards
R.J. Harmon: 4 carries, 7 yards
Jared Taylor: 1 carry, 0 yards
C.J. Jones: 2 carries, -3 yards
Zac Duncan: 1 carry, -5 yards

Air

If it's any solace to Nick, he's now the new owner of the record for most passing yards in a single game by a Cy Woods quarterback. His 448 bests the 442 put up by Colton Huntsman in 2009 against Klein Oak.

Nick Hooper: 27-37, 448 yards, 2 TD, INT

For the 2nd time this season, Jared Taylor and Tre' Hart both had 100+ receiving yards, while Zac Duncan finished at 97.

Jared Taylor: 6 rec, 116 yards
R.J. Harmon: 6 rec, 46 yards
Zac Duncan: 5 rec, 97 yards, TD
C.J. Jones: 5 rec, 44 yards
Tre' Hart: 3 rec, 112 yards, TD
Taylor Tesch: 1 rec, 32 yards
Chad O'Donnell: 1 rec, 1 yard

Defense

It.... just was not the defense's night. The 55 points allowed ties the record for most points allowed in a game, which last happened against Stony Point in the 2009 playoffs. The 745 yards is most likely a record.

I will compile defensive stats later.

Special Teams

Luis Reyes hit all of his kicks... he had a 25-yard field goal in the 2nd and hit 4 extra points. He also had an 18-yard punt.

1-1 FG (made 25), 4-4 XP

Jordan Johnson punted once for 34 yards.

The return game was quiet, as the Lobos declined to kick the ball in C.J. Jones's general direction.

Bryson Powers: 1 punt returned, 4 yards
Zac Duncan: 2 kicks returned, 3 yards
Jordan Johnson: 2 kicks returned, 33 yards
Taylor Tesch: 1 kick returned, 9 yards

Other Notes

I wasn't in attendance.

Man of the Match

Nick Hooper, for his record-setting performance.

Honorable mentions go out to Tre' Hart, Jared Taylor, and Zac Duncan.

Looking Ahead

In their one and only day game of the season, the Wildcats will take on the Cy-Fair Bobcats next Saturday at Pridgeon. Kickoff is at 1:00, and they'll be the away team.

A team that sports a 4-2 district record is usually sitting pretty.... but in this district, no one sits pretty. Well, except for Langham, I guess, since they're undefeated and all...