Cy Woods All-Time Roster: Number 80

The countdown continues with number 80. This is the end of the 80s.

Weston Card was the first sophomore to make the Opening Night roster for the Wildcats. Colton Huntsman, his classmate, was a callup in the middle of the 2008 season. He played receiver as an underclassman before moving to safety in his final season. Wes also started at quarterback for one game in 2009, his junior year. He switched to 17 for his final two seasons. 

Life after Woods has been pretty good for Wes... he's been traveling all over the world. 

Weston Card, 2008-10; wore #17 in 2009 and 2010

The next player to wear 80 was Trey Valdez. Trey, whose real name is Edelmiro, was a defensive end. He was undersized for the position, but he was unrelenting. Trey used his speed to wreak havoc at the line of scrimmage and he was one of the hardest workers on the field. He was relentless, even in practice. He also played baseball at Cy Woods and played 4 seasons as an outfielder at Sterling College, an NAIA school in Kansas.

Trey Valdez, 2009

Photo from Sterling College Athletics website

Trey Valdez, OF, Sterling Warriors, 2010-14

Dominic Lane, a backup wide receiver, was the next to wear #80, in 2010.

Dominic Lane (back, right), 2010

Chris Matthews, a backup receiver in 2011, was the next Wildcat to wear #80. His brothers, Andre (offensive lineman) and Nick (linebacker), also played for the Cats. Chris's playing time was mainly spent on the front 5 in the kickoff return game.

Chris Matthews (in background and to the right), 2011

Conner (or Kyle?) Smith, a backup receiver, wore #80 in 2012.

Conner (Kyle?) Smith (in foreground), 2012

Matt Swalm, a safety in 2013, was the next to wear #80. He was assigned this number after his callup to the varsity and he immediately emerged as a key player in the secondary. Matt switched to #27 in 2014, his senior season.

Matt Swalm, 2013-14; wore #27 in 2014

Brandon DePrato, an outside linebacker, wore #80 in 2014. He was assigned #83 when he was called up to the varsity in 2013, his sophomore year. Brandon, who converted to linebacker from wide receiver, recorded 2 interceptions last season and improved markedly as the season progressed. With a full season at a new position under his belt, Brandon, who will wear #11 in 2015 is expected to serve as a leader for the defense as a senior.

Brandon DePrato, 2013-15; wore #11 in 2015

Josh Marvin, a linebacker, wore #80 in 2015. He was a seldom-used backup who suddenly found himself thrust into duty against Jersey Village in Week 10, and he responded by putting up one of the best individual performances on defense from a Cy Woods football player.

Tanner Sherrill, a wide receiver, made the varsity as a sophomore in 2016 alongside his identical twin brother, Cullen.

Tanner Sherrill, 2016-17

Ryne Sterns was promoted to the varsity late in the 2018 season, his sophomore year, and was given this number. Ryne also plays baseball for the Wildcats. Since then, he has switched over to offensive line and also played tight end. In 2019, Ryne became the first Wildcat player to make appearances in the same season while wearing different numbers; he started the season wearing #52 and then switched to #87 later in the year.

Max Nowak (it's actually pronounced Novak), a kicker, was called up for the playoffs in 2019, his freshman year, although he didn't appear in either of the games. Max was one of four freshmen who found themselves on the varsity roster to end the 2019 season. His older sister, Sophia, plays volleyball for Cy Woods.

Photo courtesy: Phlox Photography

Max Nowak, 2019 playoffs

Cy Woods All-Time Roster: Number 81

Next up is 81. One more 80s post until the end of this chapter.

Dylan Parmely, a backup receiver in 2008, was the first to wear 81. Dylan is another former Wildcat in the military; he joined the Marines after graduating from Woods and was stationed in Japan until 2012.

Dylan Parmely, 2008

The next player to wear 81 was Andrew Wells, another backup receiver, in 2009.

Andrew Wells (2nd from right), 2009

Austin Vaughn wore 81 in 2011. He also ran the 400 during track season.

Austin Vaughn (right), 2011

The most recent Wildcat to wear 81 for an entire season was Garner Bussell in 2012.

Garner Bussell (right), 2012

Tanner Fitzgerald, a linebacker, wore 81 in 2014, but he missed most of the season due to an injury. He also played as a goaltender for the Wildcat hockey team.

Cullen Sherrill, a wide receiver, made the varsity in 2016, his sophomore year; his identical twin brother, Tanner, also made varsity that year. The Sherrills also played baseball at Cy Woods and they decided to focus on baseball as seniors.

Cullen Sherrill, 2016-17

Ryan Faulk, a wide receiver, made the varsity as a sophomore in 2018. He's also a shortstop for the Wildcat baseball team. His older brother, Connor, was a three-year letterman in football for the Wildcats; he was a wide receiver from 2016 to 2018.

Photo by Tom Dendy

Ryan Faulk, 2018-present

Cy Woods All-Time Roster: Number 82

And now we're on to 82. Only three Wildcats have worn 82.

Matt Washington, a backup receiver in 2009, was the first to wear this number. He was also a runner (100m) and a high jumper. I remember Matt as being extremely knowledgable about cars, especially in the technical aspect. He also used to argue with Jonathon Breaux with pretty much anything. According to his Facebook page, Matt is now a Mercedes technician, working at a dealership in Dallas.

Matt Washington (2nd from right), 2009

Justin Rossett wore 82 in 2011, his junior season. He moved out of Cy Woods in his senior year.

Justin Rossett (middle), 2011

Taylor Tesch was assigned #82 upon his promotion to the varsity in 2012, his sophomore year, but switched to #6 in 2013 and switched once more, wearing #7 in his senior year. He's the first player to wear three different numbers in three years.

Taylor Tesch, 2012-14; wore #6 in 2013 and #7 in 2014

David Tuel, a kicker, wore 82 in 2014. He had a pretty strong leg, but an injury and the emergence of Luis Reyes relegated him to a backup as a senior. His cousin, Jeff Tuel, was a standout quarterback at Washington State and played for the Buffalo Bills.

Photo by Cameron Brooks

David Tuel, 2014

Peter Cooper, a wide receiver, wore 82 in 2018. Peter also ran the 200m dash and the relays for the Wildcat track team.

Photo by Tom Dendy

Peter Cooper, 2018

John Niles made the varsity in 2019, his junior year, and was mainly a special teams player. His older brother, Brennan, played as a wide receiver in 2016.

Photo credit: Phlox Photography

John Niles, 2019-present

Cy Woods All-Time Roster: Number 83

On to the number 83. Everyone who has worn this number was a wide receiver.

The first player to wear this jersey was Abdul Sule (pronounced "sue-lay," not "sool"). He was the only person in his family to play at Cy Woods; his younger brothers, Sadiq and Abu Bakr, played for Cy Ranch.

Abdul Sule (making tackle), 2008

The next player to wear 83 was Zach Pennington in 2009. He sort of looked like a clean-shaven Hunter Pence. Zach was also a runner at Cy Woods, specializing in the 400m. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma, he joined the Air Force and is currently stationed in Italy.

Zach Pennington, 2009

Jesse Astorga was next, he is currently the only Wildcat to wear 83 for more than one season. He played on the JV Gold (B) team as a sophomore, but he made the varsity in 2010, his junior year. A two-sport athlete, Jesse also played baseball for the Wildcats. On the football field, he was a relentless blocker in the running game and stood out for his outstanding work ethic each and every week. Jesse was selected by his peers to serve as a team captain in 2011, his senior season.

Jesse Astorga, 2010-11

The next Wildcat to wear 83 was Kyle Smith. Or... was it Conner? Well, they're the first set of identical twins to play for the Wildcats at the same time. The Peavys (Brent and Cameron) are also another pair of identical twins who attended Cy Woods, but only Brent, who was a quarterback, played on the varsity for the Wildcats. 

Kyle (or Conner) Smith (front of picture), 2012

Brandon DePrato was given this number when he was called up to the varsity in 2013, his sophomore year. He was a wide receiver at the time. Brandon switched to #80 in 2014 and #11 in 2015.

Brandon DePrato (blonde mohawk), 2013-present; wore #80 in 2014 and #11 in 2015

Dustin Hefner was a backup in 2014. He was a two-time recipient of the Hammer, awarded to the player who had the hardest hit in the previous week's game. Yeah, backups can hit too.

Dustin Hefner, 2014

Theron Johnson wore #83 in 2014.

Braedon Dodson made the Opening Night roster in 2019, his sophomore year, but he was mostly a JV player that year. His older brother, Bobby, was a two-year letterman as a running back for the Wildcats in 2016 and 2017.

Cy Woods All-Time Roster: Number 84

And now, on to 84.

Johnathan Cross, also known as The Flash, or J-Cross, was a part of the first team during his junior year. Johnathan was 2nd on the team in receiving yards in each of his two seasons, is one of 4 players in Cy Woods history with more than 1,000 career receiving yards (1,017), and was a legitimate home-run threat, averaging nearly 20 yards per reception (19.94; 51 catches, 1,017 yards). He holds the Woods single-game record for most receiving yards in a game with 212 against Cy Ridge in 2008. Johnathan was also a 2-time 2nd-team All-District 15-5A selection and also ran the 100, 200, 4x100, and 4x200 during track season.

Johnathan signed with Blinn, but he is no longer playing football. He joined the Army in 2012. His younger brother, Jeff, played as a safety in 2011.

Johnathan Cross, 2008-09

The next player to wear #84 was Jonathan Hastings, a kicker in 2011, his junior year. He did not play as a senior. Jonathan is currently a fútbol player at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Jonathan Hastings, Cypress Woods Wildcats, 2011

UT—Dallas Comets, 2013-present (for soccer)

Marcus Haizlip, a backup receiver, wore #84 in 2012.

Marcus Haizlip, 2012

The most recent Wildcat to wear #84 was Chad O'Donnell, a receiver who also served as the long snapper during his two seasons on the varsity. Chad was also a pitcher for the Wildcat baseball team, and that's what he is doing after Cy Woods; Chad is currently a pitcher at Chattanooga State Community College in Tennessee.

During the Cy Falls game in 2013, he suffered one of the most infamous injuries in Cy Woods history when he was smacked by a blindside block while covering a punt return. I'll leave it at that.

Chad O'Donnell, Cypress Woods Wildcats, 2013-14

Chattanooga State Tigers, 2015-present (for baseball)

Cy Woods All-Time Roster: Number 85

Up next, the Wildcats who have worn #85. All but one have been wide receivers.

Sean Weda, another Wildcat who has answered the call to serve our nation, was the first to wear this number. He joined the Marines after graduating and has served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sean Weda, 2008

Clesmie Burden was assigned this jersey upon his callup in 2009, but he wore #19 in 2010. I'll have more on him when I get to 19.

Brandon La Porte, also known as Coach Whitmore's son, wore #85 in 2010. He used to bear a strong resemblance to a young Tiger Woods but as he's gotten older, he's transformed into Russell Wilson.

After graduating from LSU, Brandon became a coach. He spent the 2015 season as a graduate assistant at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, working with the wide receivers. Brandon served as the video coordinator and an assistant special teams coach at Lamar University in Beaumont in 2016. In 2017, Brandon entered the high school coaching ranks as a wide receivers coach at Seguin High School, where he eventually became the co-offensive coordinator. Brandon then moved to defense in 2020 when he took a position as the safeties coach at Oak Ridge High School in Conroe ISD.

Brandon La Porte (right), 2010

The next player to wear 85 was Ryan Hunter in 2011. 

Ryan Hunter, 2011

Devin Hokanson was called up late in the 2012 season and was assigned #85, but he wore #3 in 2013, his senior year. More on him when I get to #3. 

Luis Reyes, a kicker, wore #85 in 2014, his sophomore year after transferring in from Langham Creek. That season, Luis set a new Cy Woods single-season record for points by a kicker with 95. Luis was nothing short of outstanding in his first season; he proved to be adept at onside kicks and came through when his team needed him most as he drilled a game-tying 37-yard field goal against Cy-Fair to force overtime. He also set a new school record with a 48-yard field goal against Cy Lakes.

Luis wore #7 during his junior season and wore #1 as a senior. He played one season at Texas Southern.

Luis Reyes, Cypress Woods Wildcats, 2014-16; wore #7 in 2015 and #1 in 2016

Texas Southern Tigers, 2017

Tory Spears, a safety, made the varsity in 2016, his junior year. He transferred to Cy Woods from Randall High in Amarillo, where he played wide receiver as a sophomore. Tory also played basketball for the Wildcats.

His father, Marcus, was an offensive lineman who played ten years in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, and Houston Texans.

Tory Spears, Cypress Woods Wildcats, 2016-17

Iowa State Cyclones, 2018-present

Cy Woods All-Time Roster: Number 86

Next up on the Countdown to Kickoff is 86. As was the case with 87, everyone who has worn this number was a wide receiver.

The first player to wear this number was Ryan Vela in 2009. One of his cousins, Ram, played for the United States Naval Academy.

Ryan Vela, 2009

Leading the Wildcats out for the 2nd half against Cy Creek

Albert Baez, a backup, wore #86 in 2010.

Albert Baez (far right), 2010

The next player to wear the #86 jersey was Thomas Schoeller, one of the most recognizable backups in the history of this team. He was selected as a team captain in 2011.

Thomas Schoeller, 2011

Michail Filkins wore 86 in 2013. 

Michail Filkins (front), 2013

Aaron Litzler wore 86 in 2014. He was a student trainer before deciding to put on the pads and helmet.

Aaron Litzler (in front of Chad O'Donnell), 2014

Sam Myers, a quarterback, was given this number when he was called up to the varsity in 2019, his freshman year. When he took the field for the first play against Bridgeland, he became the third freshman to appear in a varsity football game for Cy Woods.

Photo credit: Phlox Photography

Samuel Myers, 2019-present

Cy Woods All-Time Roster: Number 87

The countdown rolls on to number 87. All of the players who wore this jersey were receivers.

The first member of the Wildcat family to wear #87 was Greg Ray in 2008.

Greg Ray, 2008

The next player to wear 87 was Stephen Hilliard in 2009. Stephen is a former Wildcat who has answered the call to serve; he joined the Army in 2010 and served a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2012. 

Stephen Hilliard (right), 2009

Chase Estay wore #87 in 2010.

Chase Estay, 2010

Jake Seaboch was given #87 when he was called up in 2011. He switched to #3 in 2012, his senior year.

Jake Seaboch, 2011; wore #3 in 2012

Andrew Camp wore #87 in 2012.

Andrew Camp (3rd from right), 2012

Marques Branch was the most recent player to wear #87, in 2014. He was also a member of the choir at Cy Woods and performed the National Anthem before a few games.

Marques Branch (standing behind Danny Malone [wearing chains]), 2014

Ryne Sterns wore two numbers in 2019: 52 and 87. He started the year with 52 and then switched to 87 as he switched to tight end.

Photo credit: Phlox Photography

Ryne Sterns, 2018-present; also wore #52 in 2019

Cy Woods All-Time Roster: Number 88

Everyone who has worn 88 at Cy Woods was a receiver except for the first guy.

The first Wildcat to wear the #88 jersey was Josh Theut (pronunciation: "toyte," not "thee-oot"), a defensive end who was also the punter in 2008. He's not hard to spot; at 6'8", he was the tallest player in Cy Woods history until Hunter Rohles, who stands 6'9", surpassed him in 2014. In Woods' first-ever playoff game, he preserved the Wildcats' lead by blocking an extra-point attempt that would have tied the game at 21 late in the 4th quarter. Cy Woods wound up holding off Georgetown 21-20 at Kyle Field that day.

Josh was a 1st-team All-District 15-5A selection in 2008, one of nine Wildcats selected as 1st-team All-District performers that year. Josh signed to play at Tyler Junior College, and I think he played tight end at Sam Houston State for one season.

Josh Theut, 2008

The next player to wear #88 was Jordan Hofbauer, a backup wide receiver. "Hoffy," as we liked to call him, was also an accomplished runner for the Cats; he specialized in the hurdles (110m, 300m), ran the open 400 and the 4x400 relay, and he qualified for regionals in the 300 hurdles. Jordan went on to run track at the University of Houston. 

Profile on UH athletics page

Jordan Hofbauer, Cypress Woods Wildcats, 2009 

Houston Cougars track & field, 2010-14

Spencer Quisenberry wore 88 in 2010; he too was a backup receiver. He spent most of his time at Cy Woods as a quarterback before moving to receiver in his final season.

Spencer Quisenberry, 2010

In 2013, Jordan Johnson, a quarterback/wide receiver/punter, was given this jersey after his callup to the varsity. He switched to #1 in 2014. His older brother, Eric, was a cornerback from 2011-12.

Jordan Johnson, 2013-15; switched to #1 in 2014

With Jordan switching to #1 in 2014, there would be a new face wearing the #88 jersey: Bryson Powers, a receiver/safety. He transferred into the program from North Carolina (but he's originally from Houston) after his father, Steve, took the job as the inside linebackers coach for the Wildcats. He was a varsity player as a freshman in North Carolina and was an All-Conference pick for his previous school.

Bryson turned some heads during 7-on-7 season and ended up making the varsity at Cy Woods as a sophomore. He began the season as a wide receiver, busting onto the scene with 2 touchdown catches against Cy Ridge. The very next week against Cy Falls, he started at a safety spot and remained there for the rest of the season. In the end, he received 2nd-team All-District honors as a safety. He became the starting quarterback and switched to #8 in 2015.

Bryson Powers, 2014-15; wore #8 in 2015

Angel Laca, a wide receiver, made the varsity as a junior in 2016. He decided to focus on track his senior year, where he specialized in the sprints.

Luis Jerez-Nova wore 88 in 2019.

Photo credit: Phlox Photography

Luis Jerez-Nova, 2019