2015 Record: 1-4, 1-3 in District 17-6A
Note: I didn't go.
So, the first half of this season is in the books, and I have to say, it hasn't been pretty. Through the first 5 games of the 2015 season, the Wildcats have:
- Had a sieve of a defense.
- Had to play from behind in every game.
- Allowed 234 points (most ever, through the first 5 games... and in any 5-game stretch in Cy Woods history)
- Allowed at least 30 points in every game (this has never happened in any 5-game stretch in Cy Woods football history before this season; they did allow 30+ in 4 straight last year, though)
- Committed 52 penalties (43 in district play surely has to be the most out of all 10 CFISD teams)
- Committed 13 turnovers (again, probably the most in the district)
You add all of those up and... you get a 1-4 record. And now, the Wildcats' playoff hopes are literally hanging by a sliver.
On Saturday, the Wildcats almost erased a 33-14 halftime deficit.... but that 1 score for Creek in the 2nd half proved to be the difference as they hung on for a 40-35 win. Had the Cougars not scored that touchdown, this would've been about the biggest comeback in Woods history. But instead.....
Having to play from behind and starting out slowly have been the stories of the season so far for Cy Woods. It's not like they're trailing 7-0 for 15 minutes, either. The Cats have consistently found themselves down multiple scores in every game this year, and well, if you've watched sports for a long time, those aren't components for success.
They beat Ridge as a team, but every loss has also been a team effort across the board. Costly turnovers from the offense. Defense ends up having to defend a short field, and then they can't get the opposing team off the field or keep them off the scoreboard. As a result, the hole ends up getting deeper. This cycle is freaking brutal.
But, I'm always the optimist. Despite all of this, nothing has been decided. Don't tell me it's over... it ain't over until the math says it's over. On a more positive note, it looks like the offense is clicking on all cylinders. Now if only they could start the clicking when the game starts....
The Cats' cardinal pants also made their debut and they looked so clean. I loved the white/cardinal look from the early days.
So, What Happened Was...
The Wildcats' opponent got the jump on them once again.
Luke Allen connected with Caleb Horn and Tre Earls for touchdown passes of 25 and 41 yards, respectively. Earls added a 7-yard TD run to put Creek up 21-0. Jordan Johnson put the Cats on the board with a 94-yard touchdown reception, and then Gabe Sequeira added a 31-yard field goal.
End 1st: Creek 24, Woods 7
Sequeira hit his 2nd field goal of the evening, this one from 30. Tre' Hart scored on a 39-yard catch. Allen found Horn for another touchdown, this one from 37 yards out.
Halftime: Creek 33, Woods 14
Bryson Powers' 6-yard run represented the only scoring play of the 3rd quarter.
End 3rd: Creek 33, Woods 21
Earls scored from 2 yards out to put the Cougars up 40-21. Suddenly, the Cats came alive in the final 5 minutes of the game. R.J. scored on a pass from 1 yard out, and they recovered the onside kick. Jacob Kainer then found Tre' from 33 yards out to make it a 5-point game. The Wildcats went to the well one more time and got another onside kick. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, as Kainer got picked off by Chance Steverson, sealing the Wildcats' fate.
Final: Creek 40, Woods 35
Ground
Again, Bryson Powers had most of the carries. I imagine that teams are gearing towards stopping R.J. and C.J. They're due to bust out any time.
Bryson Powers: 19 carries, 154 yards, TD
R.J. Harmon: 7 carries, 34 yards
C.J. Jones: 5 carries, 46 yards
Air
Bryson Powers.... or Brett Favre? This kid slings it like Colton Huntsman used to. Jacob Kainer almost slung his way into Cy Woods lore.
Bryson Powers: 20-37, 291 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT
Jacob Kainer: 1-3, 33 yards, TD, INT
Jordan Johnson's 94-yard touchdown catch is now the longest play from scrimmage in Cy Woods history. His 157 receiving yards is the highest output since Fredrick Anderson put up 164 against Langham Creek in 2010.
Jordan Johnson: 6 catches, 157 yards, 2 TD
Jared Taylor: 5 catches, 60 yards
C.J. Jones: 4 catches, 33 yards
Tre; Hart: 3 catches, 84 yards, 2 TD
R.J. Harmon: 1 catch, 1 yard, TD
Defense
The defense had no answer for Creek QB Luke Allen, who threw for some ungodly amount of yards in the 1st half. On the bright side, they only allowed 7 points in the 2nd half and held the Cougars to 73 yards rushing in this game. That total is a bit deceiving since the Cats got sliced through the air all evening, but if that's a positive sign, I'll take it. I'm all about trying to be positive here.
Wait a minute... Creek got 30 first downs? That's what Varsity Wires said they had. I wasn't there, but if that number's true, then sheesh.
Special Teams
Luis Reyes may have missed a 24-yard field goal, but he hit all 5 of his extra points and successfully hit 2 onside kicks. He's proving to be the best onside kick artist in the district.
Man of the Match
Tre' Hart and Jordan Johnson get the nod. Tre' caught 2 touchdowns and recovered 2 onside kicks. Gotta love Tre' Hart.
It was a historic night for Jordan. Career-high in receiving yards, longest play in school history...
Looking Ahead
It's Homecoming Week!
The 8th Annual Cypress Woods High School Homecoming Game will take place on Friday, October 9 at 7:00 at the Berry Center. The Wildcats will play host to the Cypress Lakes Spartans.
Showing posts with label Tre' Hart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tre' Hart. Show all posts
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Klein Collins 62, Cy Woods 21: BLOOD EVERYWHERE
2015 Record: 0-1
Let's be real here. There is absolutely no reason for me to sugarcoat a 41-point loss. I have watched nearly every Cy Woods football game, and I have never seen a Wildcat football team botch so many snaps. I have never seen the offense have so many plays where they lost 10 or more yards, either. I have never seen a defense miss so many tackles. Put all of those together and, well... you will get what happened Saturday afternoon at Reliant Stadium. There were few, if any, redeeming values to this game. It was definitely a bottom-5 game in this team's history. All the miscues just ended up snowballing and the Cats ended up getting buried under all of it.
But...... if I remember correctly, the Cats got smacked by Klein Collins to open 2014, and ultimately, they ended up having a fine season. Just relax. Repeat after me and take a deep breath in between: It's only the first game. If you plan on voicing your complaints to me, that will be my answer. If you follow sports outside of Cy Woods football, then surely you realize that blowout wins/losses are a part of sports. They will be alright.
Also... with this loss, Cy Woods was swept by Klein Collins, program-wise.
So, What Happened Was...
Not good, to say the least.
Justin Pratt opened the scoring with a 1-yard run. "Justin Pratt touchdown" would be the running theme of the afternoon. Bryson Powers scored the first points of the season on a 2-yard run, but Pratt seized control of this game in a hurry.
End 1st: Klein Collins 14, Cy Woods 7
The wheels completely fell off for the Wildcats in the 2nd quarter. Let's just leave it at that.
Halftime: Klein Collins 34, Cy Woods 7
Tre' Hart's 56-yard touchdown catch opened up the scoring in the 2nd half, but again, it was all Tigers.
End 3rd: Klein Collins 48, Cy Woods 14
The Tigers added a couple more touchdowns in the final stanza for good measure. Austin Goffney had an impressive run as he broke about 4 tackles and tightroped his way down the sideline and into the endzone from 20 yards out.
Final: Klein Collins 62, Cy Woods 21
Ground
So many bad snaps, and all the scrambling around in an attempt to recover the loose balls ended up wrecking a few very promising drives for the Wildcats.
C.J. Jones: 7 carries, 66 yards
Jared Taylor: 3 carries, 45 yards
Jack Barrientez: 4 carries, 18 yards
R.J. Harmon: 4 carries, 4 yards
Josh Carter: 1 carry, 2 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 carry, 1 yard
Bryson Powers: 13 carries, -22 yards, TD
There were also 4 carries that were attributed to no one. The Wildcats lost 31 yards on those 4 "carries."
Air
The Tigers' pass rush terrorized Bryson Powers and Austin Goffney all day. Bryson did throw a touchdown pass, but he was under siege and threw a couple of picks, one of which came on a very unfortunate deflection.
Bryson Powers: 6-16, 133 yards, TD, 2 INT
Austin Goffney: 2-6, 33 yards
Tre' Hart was one of the few bright spots for the Wildcats as he caught 5 passes for 128 yards, which included a 56-yard touchdown. He was one of only 3 players to catch a pass for the Wildcats.
Tre' Hart: 5 rec, 128 yards, TD
Jared Taylor: 2 rec, 18 yards
C.J. Jones: 1 rec, 20 yards
Defense
Just like last year, the Wildcat defense had no answer for Justin Pratt. The theme on defense was missed tackles. 3rd down defense was a serious issue last year, and after this game, that aspect still needs rectifying. Klein Collins converted 10 (8-14 on 3rd, 2-2 on 4th) of their 16 late-down opportunities.
Special Teams
Luis Reyes hit all 3 of his extra points. The Tigers decided to pooch kick for much of the game, even with their lopsided lead.
C.J. Jones: 4 kicks returned, 51 yards; 2 punts returned, 17 yards
Jared Taylor: 4 kicks returned, 37 yards
Kason Franklin: 2 kicks returned, 17 yards
Jordan Johnson: 3 punts, 95 yards, long of 42
Seth Despres: 2 punts, 62 yards, long of 36
Man of the Match
I suppose Tre' Hart wins it with his 128-yard performance. He accounted for 77% of the receiving yards that were compiled.
Looking Ahead
After a bye week, the Wildcats will begin District 17-6A play, which represents the actual season, in case you were wondering, against the Cypress Ridge Rams on Friday, September 11 at the Berry Center.
Let's be real here. There is absolutely no reason for me to sugarcoat a 41-point loss. I have watched nearly every Cy Woods football game, and I have never seen a Wildcat football team botch so many snaps. I have never seen the offense have so many plays where they lost 10 or more yards, either. I have never seen a defense miss so many tackles. Put all of those together and, well... you will get what happened Saturday afternoon at Reliant Stadium. There were few, if any, redeeming values to this game. It was definitely a bottom-5 game in this team's history. All the miscues just ended up snowballing and the Cats ended up getting buried under all of it.
But...... if I remember correctly, the Cats got smacked by Klein Collins to open 2014, and ultimately, they ended up having a fine season. Just relax. Repeat after me and take a deep breath in between: It's only the first game. If you plan on voicing your complaints to me, that will be my answer. If you follow sports outside of Cy Woods football, then surely you realize that blowout wins/losses are a part of sports. They will be alright.
Also... with this loss, Cy Woods was swept by Klein Collins, program-wise.
So, What Happened Was...
Not good, to say the least.
Justin Pratt opened the scoring with a 1-yard run. "Justin Pratt touchdown" would be the running theme of the afternoon. Bryson Powers scored the first points of the season on a 2-yard run, but Pratt seized control of this game in a hurry.
End 1st: Klein Collins 14, Cy Woods 7
The wheels completely fell off for the Wildcats in the 2nd quarter. Let's just leave it at that.
Halftime: Klein Collins 34, Cy Woods 7
Tre' Hart's 56-yard touchdown catch opened up the scoring in the 2nd half, but again, it was all Tigers.
End 3rd: Klein Collins 48, Cy Woods 14
The Tigers added a couple more touchdowns in the final stanza for good measure. Austin Goffney had an impressive run as he broke about 4 tackles and tightroped his way down the sideline and into the endzone from 20 yards out.
Final: Klein Collins 62, Cy Woods 21
Ground
So many bad snaps, and all the scrambling around in an attempt to recover the loose balls ended up wrecking a few very promising drives for the Wildcats.
C.J. Jones: 7 carries, 66 yards
Jared Taylor: 3 carries, 45 yards
Jack Barrientez: 4 carries, 18 yards
R.J. Harmon: 4 carries, 4 yards
Josh Carter: 1 carry, 2 yards
Jordan Johnson: 1 carry, 1 yard
Bryson Powers: 13 carries, -22 yards, TD
There were also 4 carries that were attributed to no one. The Wildcats lost 31 yards on those 4 "carries."
Air
The Tigers' pass rush terrorized Bryson Powers and Austin Goffney all day. Bryson did throw a touchdown pass, but he was under siege and threw a couple of picks, one of which came on a very unfortunate deflection.
Bryson Powers: 6-16, 133 yards, TD, 2 INT
Austin Goffney: 2-6, 33 yards
Tre' Hart was one of the few bright spots for the Wildcats as he caught 5 passes for 128 yards, which included a 56-yard touchdown. He was one of only 3 players to catch a pass for the Wildcats.
Tre' Hart: 5 rec, 128 yards, TD
Jared Taylor: 2 rec, 18 yards
C.J. Jones: 1 rec, 20 yards
Defense
Just like last year, the Wildcat defense had no answer for Justin Pratt. The theme on defense was missed tackles. 3rd down defense was a serious issue last year, and after this game, that aspect still needs rectifying. Klein Collins converted 10 (8-14 on 3rd, 2-2 on 4th) of their 16 late-down opportunities.
Special Teams
Luis Reyes hit all 3 of his extra points. The Tigers decided to pooch kick for much of the game, even with their lopsided lead.
C.J. Jones: 4 kicks returned, 51 yards; 2 punts returned, 17 yards
Jared Taylor: 4 kicks returned, 37 yards
Kason Franklin: 2 kicks returned, 17 yards
Jordan Johnson: 3 punts, 95 yards, long of 42
Seth Despres: 2 punts, 62 yards, long of 36
Man of the Match
I suppose Tre' Hart wins it with his 128-yard performance. He accounted for 77% of the receiving yards that were compiled.
Looking Ahead
After a bye week, the Wildcats will begin District 17-6A play, which represents the actual season, in case you were wondering, against the Cypress Ridge Rams on Friday, September 11 at the Berry Center.
Monday, December 15, 2014
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.
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.
Who's Not Coming Back?
Asterisk indicates a starter.
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 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
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
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
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.
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.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
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...
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...
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