Wildcats Through The Years: 2015

The next edition of Wildcats Through the Years takes a look back on the 2015 Cypress Woods Wildcats football team.

Summary

Record: 5-5, 5-4 (5th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs
Points scored: 444 (44.4 per game)
Points allowed: 407 (40.7 per game)
Largest margin of victory: 50 vs. Cy Lakes (70-20)
Largest margin of defeat: 37 vs. Cy Falls (20-57)
Most points scored: 73 vs. Jersey Village
Most points allowed: 74 vs. Jersey Village
Fewest points scored: 20 vs. Cy Falls
Fewest points allowed: 7 vs. Cy-Fair

Individual records set

Most points scored by a kicker (career): Luis Reyes, 143
Most rushing yards in a game: C.J. Jones, 346 vs. Jersey Village
Most receiving touchdowns (career): Jordan Johnson, 14 (tied record)
Most receiving touchdowns (single season): Jordan Johnson, 10 (tied record)
Longest scoring play from scrimmage: Jordan Johnson, 94-yard TD reception vs. Cy Creek

Team records set

Most points scored in a game: 73 vs. Jersey Village
Most points allowed in a game: 74 to Jersey Village

Statistical Leaders

Passing: Bryson Powers, 93/174 (53.5%), 1546 yards, 19 TD, 10 INT
Rushing: C.J. Jones, 108 carries, 948 yards (8.8 yards per carry), 10 TD
Receiving: Jordan Johnson, 25 catches, 710 yards (28.4 yards per catch), 10 TD
Interceptions: Keith Watson, 2

Schedule and Results

Week 1: L 62-21 vs. Klein Collins (game played at NRG Stadium)
Week 3: W 59-31 vs. Cy Ridge (Berry)
Week 4: L 57-20 @ Cy Falls (Berry)
Week 5: L 44-25 vs. Cy Ranch (Pridgeon)
Week 6: L 40-35 @ Cy Creek (Pridgeon)
Week 7: W 70-20 vs. Cy Lakes (Homecoming VIII @ Berry)
Week 8: W 48-33 @ Langham Creek (Pridgeon)
Week 9: W 44-7 vs. Cy-Fair (Berry)
Week 10: L 74-73 vs. Jersey Village (Pridgeon)
Week 11: W 49-39 @ Cy Springs (Berry)

The Rundown

The 2015 Cypress Woods Wildcats nearly overcame a 1-3 start in district play to sneak into the playoffs. Unfortunately, that slow start, and a lackluster defense, were the main factors that prevented them from advancing to the playoffs.

Entering the season, the Cats had questions to answer on the offensive side of the ball, especially with Nick Hooper, a two-year starter at quarterback, departing. Ultimately, Bryson Powers won the quarterback battle, while Austin Goffney, who saw playing time in the first 3 games of the season, wound up transferring. Sophomore Jacob Kainer showed his upside before he went down with an injury. Entering the season, R.J. Harmon and C.J. Jones were touted as the best running back tandem in the district. However, while C.J. continued to build upon his breakout 2014, R.J. was sidetracked by various nagging injuries and never got to truly display his skills in his final season.

The Wildcats returned 3 of their 4 starting receivers from 2014; Jordan Johnson, Jared Taylor, and Tre' Hart. Jared and Tre' had solid seasons, but Jordan was simply on another level. Had the passing game been utilized more often, he would have shattered Isaiah Battle's records.

Skylar Schulz, the lone returning starter on the offensive line, was joined by Jonathan Laven, Mario Treviño, Ryan Kenny, and Josh Beardmore.

The defense struggled mightily in 2015; they only held two of their opponents to 20 points or less. The Cats actually allowed more points in the regular season (407) than they did in 2014 (360), a season in which they ended up allowing 455 points, the most in school history.

Kason Franklin and Myles Wilson were joined in the secondary by Ryan Olvera, Terrell Brown, James Fontenot, and a promising sophomore in Collin Fewox. Brandon DePrato, Keith Watson, and Austin Greaves returned to lead the linebacking corps. Neil Chambers emerged as a key contributor out of the middle linebacker spot. Caleb Smith, Jordan Frazier, Adrian Garcia, Stace Ivie, and Tobi Orundami were the main defensive linemen.

Week 1: L 62-21 vs. Klein Collins (Game played at Reliant Stadium)

Chapter 8 of Cy Woods Football began on August 29, 2015 at Reliant Stadium. Unfortunately, the Wildcats were completely dominated in all facets of the game as they had no answer for the Tigers' vaunted running game falling 62-21 in their first game of 2015. Bryson Powers scored the first points of the season on a 2-yard run in the 1st quarter. Tre' Hart provided a bright spot as he put up 128 receiving yards, including a 56-yard touchdown reception in the 3rd quarter.

Week 3: W 59-31 vs. Cy Ridge


The Cats managed to bounce back from their Opening Day drubbing with a win to open up district play, despite a lethargic start to this game. After falling behind 21-7 following the first quarter, the Wildcats outscored Ridge 52-10 over the final three quarters to secure their first win of the season. C.J. Jones had 4 receptions for 103 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Bryson Powers finished 14-18 through the air for 223 yards and 5 touchdowns. On defense, Kason Franklin returned an interception 96 yards for a touchdown, and Brandon DePrato recovered a fumble in the endzone for another Woods score.

Week 4: L 57-20 @ Cy Falls

I did not attend this game due to prior commitments, but Desmond Hite and Shannon Vaughns wreaked havoc against a hapless Wildcat defense.

Week 5: L 44-25 vs. Cy Ranch

The Wildcats fell behind early to their hated rivals, Cy Ranch, and never seriously threatened the Mustangs. They had a better showing in the 2nd half of this game, but a 28-6 halftime deficit proved to be too much to overcome. Bryson had 176 passing yards and 2 touchdowns and added 117 more yards on the ground. R.J. Harmon had a rushing and a receiving touchdown; he had 67 receiving yards and 73 rushing yards.

Week 6: L 40-35 @ Cy Creek

The Cats' slide continued against the Cougars, who jumped out to a 33-14 halftime lead. Woods fought back valiantly, but a last-gasp heave from Jacob Kainer was picked off by Chance Steverson, sealing the Wildcats' fate. Jordan Johnson caught 6 passes for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns; his 94-yard touchdown reception in this game is now the longest play in Cy Woods history. Tre' Hart also caught 2 touchdown passes and also recovered 2 onside kicks as the Wildcats mounted a furious rally late in the ballgame.

Week 7: W 70-20 vs. Cy Lakes (Homecoming VIII)

The Cats snapped their 3-game losing streak in emphatic fashion with a 70-20 victory over Cy Lakes on Homecoming weekend. Eight different players scored touchdowns for the Wildcats; Keith Watson scored once on defense with an 82-yard interception return and once on special teams when he recovered a blocked punt at the Spartans' 3-yard line. Jared Taylor caught 3 passes for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Matt Ficalora scored his first touchdown at the varsity level with a 45-yard run that represented the final Wildcat scoring play of the evening.

The Cats also set a new school record for scoring in a single quarter with 42 in the 1st quarter.

Week 8: W 48-33 @ Langham Creek

Once again, Cy Woods the playoffs for the playoffs. Their first test was a Langham Creek squad featuring two of the state's most dynamic players in Quartney Davis and Toneil Carter. The specter of a 3-game losing streak to the Lobos also loomed large for Woods, but the Cats exorcised those demons with a 48-33 victory to give their faint playoff hopes a massive boost. C.J. and Bryson ran roughshod on the Langham defense; C.J. ran for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Bryson, who also threw 2 touchdown passes to Jordan Johnson, ran for 159 and 2 touchdowns. The Cats committed 19 penalties in this game, but they did not turn the ball over, either.

The defense bent, but it did not break. They also kept the Lobos off the scoreboard in the 3rd quarter, which proved to be the difference in this game.

Week 9: W 44-7 vs. Cy-Fair

This iteration of the Battle of the Cats was firmly in Cy Woods' favor, as they absolutely dominated the Bobcats in all facets of the game in a 44-7 victory that seemed even more lopsided than the score itself. Unlike last year's tilt, overtime was not needed.

Both of Jordan Johnson's catches resulted in touchdowns, and C.J. continued to be C.J., tearing the Bobcat defense apart for 180 yards and a touchdown.

Week 10: L 74-73 vs. Jersey Village

This game was played almost 8 months ago, and I'm still in shock. It was definitely a game that might not happen for at least another decade. A historic night on offense for the Wildcats was all for naught as eternal nemesis Deshun Qualls stuck a dagger in Woods' playoff hopes by successfully converting a 2-point conversion to put the Falcons up 74-73 with 1:09 left in the game. The Cats' last-ditch effort went for naught, and their playoff fate effectively fell into the Falcons' hands; a Jersey Village win over Cy-Fair the following week would give them the final playoff berth in District 17-6A. Unfortunately, the Falcons failed to do the Wildcats a solid, losing 21-13.

C.J. Jones ran for a school-record 346 yards and scored 4 rushing touchdowns for the second time in his career. Jordan Johnson caught 4 passes for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns; in this game, he tied the Cy Woods single-season and career records for touchdown receptions. Bryson ran for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns. And yet, all of that offensive production was not enough for the Wildcats to get the win. Sports can be terrible, sometimes.

Week 11: W 49-39 @ Cy Springs

Sadly, Cy-Fair's win over Jersey Village eliminated the Wildcats from playoff contention. However, the Class of 2016 ended their time as Wildcat football players on a positive note as they topped Cy Springs 49-39 on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Berry Center. With no quarterback, C.J. Jones basically functioned as the offense. He was 4-10 as the quarterback, but 3 of those completions were touchdowns. C.J. also ran for 141 yards and 2 scores. Keith Watson, in his final game, most likely set a school record with 4 sacks in this game.

A non-playoff season is definitely an unusual event for Cy Woods football. As I said following the season finale, it's never fun when your fate is out of your hands, like it was with the 2015 Wildcats.

Despite missing the playoffs, a few players emerged as key contributors for the Wildcats, most notably Jacob Kainer, Jack Barrientez, Collin Fewox, and Neil Chambers.  The Cats also have some top prospects like Semaj Trahan and Jake Tesch waiting in the wings, as well. C.J. Jones, Kason Franklin, and Myles Wilson will be counted upon to assume leadership roles for the Cats as they head into 2016. Missing the playoffs can put a huge chip on one's shoulder, and I hope that the players returning to the program use 2015 as motivation. As Wildcat football players, they know that they have a tradition to restore and uphold. I expect them to do more than their part in the preseason so that they can experience playoff football once again. They will have to do more, because the other teams in Cy-Fair ISD are getting better every year, and as they found out in 2015, there is almost no margin for error in a district that is as competitive as 17-6A. Slow starts can be reversed, but more often than not, it can really put a team in a bind, because they don't have any leeway to slip up again.

The next chapter will cover the 2016 Cy Woods football team.

Cy Ranch 44, Cy Woods 25: In Which I Cannot Believe That They Still Want to Defer

2015 Record: 1-3, 1-2 in District 17-6A

You want to know an incredibly depressing statistic? Cy Woods has deferred to the 2nd half in all 3 of their losses. They've been outscored 105-19 in the 1st half. In the one game where they took the ball to start, they beat Ridge. Now granted, they lost a fumble on the first play of that game, but they still won. In this latest loss, a 28-6 halftime deficit proved to be too much for the Cats to overcome, and so... for the first time ever, the Cypress Ranch Mustangs have a winning streak over Woods, as they took this one by a final score of 44-25.

I'm still very high on this offense. Although the point output was rather pedestrian, they were able to carve through an outstanding Ranch defense. Unfortunately, they were left to wallow over a couple of massive opportunities in the 2nd quarter: Two solid drives in that quarter yielded a grand total of zero points. Maybe the offense should be the group that leads off the game? I'm not paid to make these decisions, but I feel that when a team defers, they're confident that their defense can set the tone for them. On the other hand, it's a double-edged sword: they're also giving their opponent the first opportunity to set the tone for this game. Considering how it has been an absolute struggle for the Wildcats on the defensive side of the ball to begin this season, they are basically letting their opponents get the jump on them when they defer to the 2nd half.

If you know me, I am always the optimist when it comes to sports, almost to the point where you could say that I am being totally irrational with optimism. Nothing's been decided yet. That doesn't take the sting away from losing a rivalry game, but this season is far from over.

There was a bit of a health scare post-game as Jordan Johnson required medical attention and had to be stretchered off. It looks like he'll be fine, though.

Thank God🙏 pic.twitter.com/DPpQiQsSc9

— Jared Taylor (@JaredTaylor05) September 27, 2015

So, What Happened Was...

Ranch just had an answer for everything Woods threw at them.

The Mustangs opened up the scoring with a 2-yard run from Dylan Proske to cap off the first drive of the game. R.J. Harmon responded with a 37-yard touchdown run, but the extra point was blocked. Collin Rock added a 1-yard touchdown run for Ranch.

End 1st: Ranch 14, Woods 6

The 2nd quarter was where it all got away for the Wildcats. Midway through the frame, they had a nice drive going, but the end result was Bryson Powers getting stuffed on 4th & 1 inside the Ranch 30. On the ensuing Ranch possession, Proske's path to the goal line was completely clogged, but all of a sudden, he saw a completely vacated right side of the Woods defense and managed to bounce outside, enabling him to score his 2nd touchdown of the evening. R.J. Sneed returned a punt for a touchdown with 4 minutes left in the half. Following Sneed's touchdown, the Wildcats drove to close out the half and made it inside the 10, but they fooled around and Luis Reyes ended up missing a 41-yard field goal. I absolutely did not get the halfback pass call. They tried to get cute and it blew up in their faces. 2 good drives, 0 points.

Half: Ranch 28, Woods 6

R.J. caught a 15-yard touchdown pass, which accounted for the only scoring in the 3rd quarter. C.J. Jones had a 75-yard punt return touchdown negated by a holding penalty. Didn't care too much for that call.

End 3rd: Ranch 28, Woods 13

Following a turnover on downs, the Wildcats took over and made their way down the field, culminating in a 10-yard touchdown reception for Jared Taylor. It looked as though the momentum was on the verge of shifting to Woods, right? Well... Ranch ran a fumble back for 2 points on the ensuing PAT, which put everything back in their corner. E.J. Thompson and Terrence Shaw effectively put this game out of reach with scoring runs of 12 and 71 yards, respectively. Jacob Kainer, a sophomore quarterback/wide receiver, threw his first touchdown pass at the varsity level when he connected with Tre' Hart from 32 yards out with 4:34 left in the game.

Final: Ranch 44, Woods 25

Ground

Bryson Powers managed to grind out 115 yards on 25 carries. I'd like to see that number of carries decrease a little, though. R.J. Harmon broke out for a 37-yard touchdown run in the 1st, which represents his longest run of the year. I think he's due for a monster game.

Bryson Powers: 25 carries, 115 yards

R.J. Harmon: 9 carries, 84 yards, TD

C.J. Jones: 5 carries, 8 yards

Jared Taylor: 3 carries, 21 yards

Jack Barrientez: 2 carries, 14 yards

Jacob Kainer: 1 carry, 7 yards

Jordan Johnson: 1 carry, 3 yards

Air

Bryson had a good night of passing, other than a 4th-quarter interception. On that play, he walked off the field in some pain. This kid is tough, though. Jacob Kainer tossed his first touchdown pass late in the 4th. Unlike last year's game against Ranch, the passing game was actually functional.

Bryson Powers: 15-25, 163 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Jacob Kainer: 1-2, 32 yards, TD

C.J. Jones: 8 catches, 46 yards

R.J. Harmon: 5 catches, 58 yards, TD

Jared Taylor: 3 catches, 37 yards, TD

Tre' Hart: 2 catches, 46 yards, TD

Jordan Johnson: 1 catch, 13 yards

Jack Barrientez: 1 catch, 8 yards

Defense

This group has shown that they can hit..... however, hitting is merely a component of tackling. Finishing tackles has proven to be quite the challenge for the Wildcat defense. More often than not, a Ranch ballcarrier was able to wiggle away for a few more yards. I've seen 8 years of Cy Woods football games and I cannot recall seeing a Wildcat defense having so much difficulty (1) with tackling and (2) in getting off the field. They allowed a 23-yard pass play on a 4th & 8 situation in the 2nd quarter, and the Mustangs managed to finish that drive off with a touchdown. Man.

The Wildcats even had to summon Jared, C.J., and Jordan to play cornerback, mostly in passing situations. They haven't really had true shutdown corners since Josh Holley and Deonte Davis way back in 2011. 

Tackles: Kason Franklin 10 (6 assisted), Neil Chambers 7 (5 assisted, 1 for loss), Austin Greaves 5 (3 assisted, 1 for loss), Keith Watson 5 (3 assisted), Caleb Smith 5 (2 assisted), James Fontenot 4 (3 assisted), Brandon DePrato 4 (2 assisted), Stace Ivie 3 (2 assisted, 1 for loss), Adrian Garcia 3 (all assisted), C.J. Jones 3 (1 assisted), Collin Fewox 3 (2 assisted), Terrell Brown 2, Elijah Strang 2, Jared Taylor 2, Trent Bird 2 (1 assisted), Brandon Love 2 (1 assisted), Chase Taulton 1, Luis Reyes 1, Jordan Frazier 1 (assisted, for loss)

Special Teams

It was a rare off night kicking-wise for Luis Reyes. One of his two extra points was blocked, and he missed a 41-yard field goal. He also handled the punting duties in this game.

Luis Reyes: 0-1 FG (missed 41), 1-2 XP (1 blocked); 3 punts, 108 yards, 36 yards per punt

No one is going to kick deep to the Wildcats. I guess they're getting used to that.

Man of the Match

R.J. Harmon put up his best game of the young season as he posted 142 total yards (84 rushing, 58 receiving) and 2 total touchdowns. He's been bothered by various minor injuries dating back to the start of two-a-days, so it's good to see him get back in form. R.J. almost got wiped out on a kickoff return that ended up getting flagged for being a late hit out of bounds, and he was a bit slow getting off the field.

Looking Ahead

A 1-2 district record certainly isn't a sign of impending doom, but the margin of error has shrunk significantly. Oh, the perils of playing in a district where that is essentially the season... but then again, anything and everything will happen in Cy-Fair ISD football.

As the calendar turns to October, the Wildcats will be back at Pridgeon as they'll face the Cy Creek Cougars on Saturday, October 3. Woods will be the away team. Kickoff is at 6:00.

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)

A (Very, Very Early) Look Ahead to 2015, and.... On Cy Ranch Playing for a State Championship

Well... November 29, 2014 marked Day 1 of the 2014-15 offseason for the Cy Woods Wildcats. One thing you should know about me is that I'm always jumping the gun on stuff. This post is no exception. And so... without further ado, here's my look ahead to the 2015 season.

Who's Not Coming Back?

Asterisk indicates a starter.

QB Nick Hooper* 

QB Reece Clark

RB Jacobi Boudreaux

WR Zac Duncan*

WR Taylor Tesch*

WR/long snapper Chad O'Donnell

OL Ty Dendy*

OL T.J. Frank

OL Brian Biddy (injured much of the season)

OL Andrew Gallagher*

OL Wyatt Wozniak*

OL Shiva Reddy*

OL Brandon Kula

OL Hunter Rohles

DL Randall Medlin*

DL Isiah Clay

DL Morgan Tosten*

DL Justyn Johnson*

LB Wade Carson*

LB Tyler Greaves*

LB/Special Teams Ace Danny Malone

LB Shane Lawless*

LB Elijah Pierson*

DB Jake Jones*
DB Robert Barrientez

DB Michael Wirt*

DB Matthew Swalm*

DB Nick Bailey

Who's Coming Back (as far as I know)?

Italics- Junior in 2015

RB R.J. Harmon

RB C.J. Jones

WR Tre' Hart

WR Jared Taylor

WR/QB/P Jordan Johnson

OL Skylar Schulz
OL Andrew Gonzalez

DL Caleb Smith

DL Brandon Love

LB Keith Watson

LB Austin Greaves

LB Brandon DePrato

DB Kason Franklin

DB Myles Wilson

DB Bryson Powers

K Luis Reyes

Returning Statistical Leaders

Passing: R.J. Harmon (this is not a typo), 1-3, 40 yards, TD
Rushing: R.J. Harmon, 122 carries, 1,118 yards, 8 TD (C.J. Jones leads the team with 12 rushing TDs)
Receptions: R.J. Harmon and Jared Taylor, 35 each
Receiving yards: Tre' Hart, 541
Receiving touchdowns: C.J. Jones, 7
Interceptions: Bryson Powers, 3

Questions That Must Be Addressed

1. Who's going to be the QB? 

The Cats went through a similar situation after the 2010 season when Colton Huntsman departed. Gabe West, who made a couple of spot starts in Colton's stead due to an injury, stepped in the following season and while he wasn't electrifying, he provided stability at the QB position and proved to be more than a capable performer. However, this situation is a little different. The Cats will be losing both their starter (Nick) and backup (Reece). Here are three guys who are probably going to be the primary contenders in the mix this spring.

Other than Nick and Reece, Jordan Johnson was the only player on the 2014 team that had QB experience. He has played quarterback at the sub-varsity levels and has performed well in that capacity, so presumably, he might be the front-runner for the job. He got in at quarterback during a couple of blowouts this past season, but he did not attempt a pass. Jordan's an outstanding athlete. He fits the mold of the Wildcat QB: a dual threat who is capable of making plays and extending them with his feet.

Austin Goffney was one of 3 (4, maybe?) players who saw action at QB at the JV Cardinal level this year. That position was a revolving door due to injuries, and the coaching staff was looking to see who could separate themselves from the pack. Goffney also fits the Wildcat QB mold in that he is also a dual threat. Although he might need a little more refinement as a passer, he possesses a good arm. He was also deployed as a receiver and a running back in certain situations this season on the JV level, so he could help as a utility player.

Jacob Kainer, a sophomore (OK, he's a freshman, but as far as the program is concerned, he's a sophomore), performed well as the primary freshman A-team QB. His skill set is rather reminiscent of Nick when he was a freshman, and I thought he played pretty well in the 2 freshman A-team games I saw this year. If (that's the operative word) he were to make the big club as a sophomore, which would also continue a trend of freshman A-team quarterbacks making the jump straight to the varsity, my guess is that he'd be broken in as a receiver, much like Nick and Mason Roberts were when they were sophomores.

Whoever gets the nod will have some weapons at his disposal, and more than likely, in keeping with the Wildcat tradition of employing dual threats at the quarterback position, he'll be a weapon himself. R.J. Harmon and C.J. Jones are both returning; they're looking to build on electrifying 2014 seasons. Tre' Hart and Jared Taylor are the top 2 wideouts. Throw in R.J. and C.J. in the passing game, and the Wildcats are getting their top 4 receivers back for next season. The cupboard will hardly be barren for the new QB. 

2. Who's going to be protecting the QB and creating lanes for the running backs?

The Wildcats will also have to rebuild their offensive line. Skylar Schulz is the only returning starter, and if I'm not mistaken, he was the only non-senior offensive lineman in the rotation for much of the season. The Cats only brought up one offensive lineman during the course of the regular season: a junior named Andrew Gonzalez, and if I remember correctly, his playing time came when the outcome of the game was well in hand. It is pretty much a given that the 2015 season will be the first exposure to varsity football for the vast majority of the offensive linemen.

3. The Defense

The Wildcat defense surrendered 455 points, which is by far the most they've allowed in any season. They gave up 359 in the regular season alone. Again, that was also the most points that they've allowed through the 10-game regular season. I was actually much higher on the defense to begin the season, so their rather poor performance was definitely a surprise.

The front 7 will be a new-look unit in 2015; DLs Brandon Love and Caleb Smith, and LBs Keith Watson, Austin Greaves, and Brandon DePrato, who were all juniors last season, are the 5 returning defensive players on the front line who saw any sort of playing time on the varsity level. In the secondary, Kason Franklin, Myles Wilson, and Bryson Powers were all key contributors as sophomores. Bryson, along with Jake Jones and Michael Wirt, led the team in interceptions with 3. They cut their teeth in 2014 and performed admirably. Now, they're looking to take the next step in 2015.

I think the youth of the secondary was a key factor in the struggles of the defense... I mean, they played 3 sophomores. Then, when injuries thinned the ranks, the Cats had to draw from offensive players. They were also susceptible to the big play through the air. A possible silver lining from all this was that they got a healthy number of interceptions because teams were looking to throw on them quite a bit this year.

Part of this also stemmed from their inability to just get off the field. At times, it felt like the opposing team was converting on every single 3rd down situation, regardless of distance. The Jersey Village game was a prime example of this deficiency. The Falcons went 13-18 on 3rd down, and the 13th was killer, as they got a 12-yard pass play when they needed 7 yards to move the sticks. To top that all off, that occurred when the Cats had the Falcons pinned deep in their own territory late in the 4th quarter. A stop there could have given the offense the ball for one final attempt at a comeback with great field position. They were also hit by the injury bug, especially in the secondary. They had to find receivers that could play corner towards the end of the season. Shane Lawless missed some time. Keith Watson was not totally healthy this season. But... yeah, injuries are a factor, but whoever steps in has to contribute as well. It's a somewhat valid reason, but not totally valid.

Since day one, this is a defense that has subscribed to a "bend, but don't break" philosophy. The amount of yards they gave up didn't matter, as long as they kept the opposing offense out of the endzone. Keeping opponents out of the endzone didn't happen very often with this defense, where teams seemingly put up points at will on them. It's fun watching a shootout, unless you're more defensive-minded. Now, the defense played well for stretches, but they had very few games where they were able to put it all together on that side of the ball.

I'll get this out of the way, too: The offense scoring too quickly is not a valid reason for the defense's struggles. In the past, the Wildcat defense still found ways to stuff opposing offenses even as their own offense was busy running opposing defenses off the field.

I doubt that Coach Faith, who, lest we forget, was a defensive coordinator prior to taking the reins at Cy Woods, was pleased with the team's performance on the defensive side of the ball. Between now and August, I know he and the defensive coaches will be finding solutions in order that a season like this does not happen again on the defensive side.

4. How is this team going to remain a playoff contender even as the landscape of the district changes?

Simplest answer: Find 22 kids on each side of the ball that will compete fiercely on every down.

However, we all know that's easier said than done. Note that I didn't say that it couldn't be done. Thankfully, the Cats have not run into many serious complications in this aspect in the past.

Although.... admittedly, I do have my reservations about the kids coming up from within the system, and these reservations are about the kids that are probably going to be counted on to contribute at the varsity level. I won't openly elaborate on this further, but I have concerns.

5. Is there any reason why the Cy Woods Wildcats can't be a playoff team in 2015?

Maybe it's the blind homerism speaking, but on paper.... no, I don't see a reason why the Cats don't make the playoffs in 2015. But the reality is that there are countless variables that will be in play.

For one, injuries. Some key players will be banged up along the way, some more serious than others. Another factor will be how the new quarterback handles the reins. Nick Hooper's production won't be replaced instantaneously, but sometimes, stability at the quarterback position is what matters most. The defense is going to have to reinforce itself. They will need to step up, because there will be teams in the district that will be bringing back many of their key players on offense.

Cy Ranch's appearance in the state championship game just raised the stakes significantly in this district. Their run to the title game has pretty much ensured that the district will be a slugfest in 2015. Think about it. Not only will the Cats have the Mustangs to contend with, but Langham Creek will be hell-bent on defending their crown. Jersey Village is hell-bent on ending their playoff drought after getting eliminated on the final day of the regular season. Cy-Fair, in all likelihood, will do what they usually do: lean on an outstanding running game and a stout defense to get them to the playoffs.

Even the non-playoff teams look to be much improved. Falls is a proud program that has suffered long enough, and they have key players coming back to give the opposition fits. Creek looks like they've solved a problem that has plagued them for the past few seasons. The revolution at Springs looks like it's about to bear fruit. Like I said... this district is going to be as rugged as ever. But I know that the Cats will be in the mix when the dust settles.

On Ranch playing for State, from the guy who was once a player but now randomly turns up at practices and JV games

Disclaimer: I never played against Ranch, so I found this somewhat easier to type out. I know... yuck. Truth hurts, but it's got to be said.

Consider that their ultimatum. It was an ultimatum that was not just aimed at the rest of the district, but one that was composed with you, the returning Wildcat football players, in mind. Hopefully, they've gotten your full and undivided attention.

Sometimes, teams you don't like are successful. That's sports. There is really no use in being bitter. 

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.