Cy Falls 24, Cy Woods 21: On the Wrong Foot

2017 Record: 2-3

Photo by Kyle Ransleben

Cy Falls QB T.J. Goodwin gets devoured

Photo galleries from this week's games from Tom Dendy; the JV played at home this past week.

Please take a little time to donate to hurricane relief in Puerto Rico. Carmelo Anthony and Carlos Beltran have set up separate relief funds to aid the rebuilding efforts. These are just two of the many funds set up by Puerto Rican professional athletes that you can donate to. In addition, Carlos Correa has teamed up with the Salvation Army for hurricane relief.

The Cypress Woods Wildcats entered the midway point of the 2017 season in a three-way tie at 2-2 with Cy Falls and Cy Creek for the fourth and final playoff spot. Unfortunately, the Cats will be starting their playoff push on the wrong foot as Jacob Kitterman's 22-yard field goal with 34 seconds remaining in the game lifted the Eagles to a 24-21 victory on Thursday at the Berry Center. Meanwhile, the Cougars topped Jersey Village 55-45 at Pridgeon Stadium. As a result, Falls and Creek have kicked Woods out of the playoff picture for the time being.

For... reasons, the Cats decided to use all three of their timeouts... on defense... in a tie ballgame... and two of those occurred while the Eagles had goal to go. That allowed Falls to burn some clock until they sent Kitterman out for his field goal try and left the Wildcat offense with 30 seconds to cover 86 yards.

Catch-22. Obviously, conceding points just to keep the timeouts is incredibly dumb. On the other hand, burning them in the situation I just mentioned seems rather mystifying.

Well, the Cats are up against it now. After Lakes, they will have to run that gauntlet of Cy-Fair, Cy Creek, and Cy Ranch to close out the season.

As Jacob Kainer and Jake Tesch make their returns.... Jack Barrientez went down with a leg injury. He left the stadium on crutches.

Scoring Summary

After Andre Barnes caught a pass from T.J. Goodwin and busted loose for 34 yards to set up first-and-goal for the Eagles from the 5, Goodwin finished off the Eagles' first drive of the evening with a 3-yard touchdown run for the only points of the first 12 minutes.

End of 1st Quarter: Falls 7, Woods 0

Darion Morgan tied the game with a 6-yard run. On Woods' next series,Jake Tesch had a 34-yard touchdown run wiped out on a holding call, but Arkievrick Vitatoe was able to cap off the drive with an 8-yard scoring run. There was no scoring in the third quarter; Jared Swonke missed a 35-yard field goal with five minutes remaining after Trevor Reed had recovered a fumble to put the Cats in the red zone.

Halftime/End of 3rd Quarter: Woods 14, Falls 7

It all unraveled in the fourth quarter and all it took was one play. Dallas Caldwell was stripped of the ball, the Eagles pounced on it, and in the ensuing fracas, Tim Dendy was ejected from the game. One play later, Goodwin hit Jonathan Patrick for a 22-yard touchdown to tie the game at 14. The Cats went three-and-out on their next series. Tobi Orundami delivered an NFL Blitz-style horse-collar tackle to Goodwin, which drew another flag. One play later, Koby Leavatts burst through the middle for a 33-yard touchdown to put Falls in front. Jackson Jones tied the game at 21 with a one-yard quarterback sneak. Kitterman put Falls back in the lead with his kick, and Jackson Jones' last-ditch heave was picked off by Mekhi Davis.

Final: Falls 24, Woods 21

Ground

Arkievrick Vitatoe had some good runs out in space, but the Eagles defensive front made the Cats earn all 199 yards they gained on the ground. Of their 45 attempts, their longest run went for 19 yards, which occurred twice. Jake Tesch had a 34-yard touchdown run erased by a holding call.

All statistics are from Varsity Wires and should be considered unofficial.

Jackson Jones: 13 carries, 58 yards, TD
Arkievrick Vitatoe: 6 carries, 57 yards, TD
Darion Morgan: 13 carries, 44 yards, TD
Christian Scott: 4 carries, 24 yards
Chase Richter: 3 carries, 10 yards
Jake Tesch: 1 carry, 7 yards
Jack Barrientez: 3 carries, 3 yards
Dallas Caldwell: 2 carries, -4 yards; lost fumble

Air

While Jackson Jones has competently helmed the offense in Jacob Kainer's absence, he... looked like a sophomore in this game. The Cats' two longest plays were his two pass completions, but he also came up short on his incompletions... except for the last one, which was the arm-punt to end the game.

Jacob Kainer saw his first action of the season, lining up as a receiver for all of his plays. Although Jackson has done well filling in, Jacob is the incumbent and he'll likely take the reins for the rest of the way. He was up-and-down last season, and he'll probably be the first to admit that. He looked forward to running this offense but the injury sidetracked him to start the year. Now, he'll get a proper chance to make amends for last season.

We had a glimpse of what Jackson is capable of. Consider it a preview of things to come.

Jackson Jones: 2-7, 69 yards, INT

Christian Scott: 1 catch, 38 yards
Dallas Caldwell: 1 catch, 31 yards

Defense

The Cats had no answer for Koby Leavatts, who ran for 212 yards on 28 carries.

The Eagles went 5-13 on third down, which is an improvement from Langham going 9-11 the previous week. That mark could have been even better, had Ryan Gilcrease's hit-stick attempt on Jonathan Patrick been successful. Patrick was knocked back about 6-7 yards, but he kept his feet and wound up getting the first down. Jack Barrientez also missed Andre Barnes on a third down; Barnes ended up scampering all the way down to the Wildcats' 5 to set up the first score.

Ryan also missed a chance for an interception for the second straight game. Barnes got smacked by Collin Fewox and Gilcrease couldn't quite corral the loose ball that was literally his for the taking. Trevor Reed recovered a loose ball that Leavatts coughed up, but Jared Swonke ended up missing a field goal after the offense went backward.

Tackles

Collin Fewox - 14
Ryan Gilcrease - 8
Colin Paterson and Austin Kennedy - 7
Jackson Turnbow - 6
Tobi Orundami and Max Sweet - 5
Clancey Hall - 4
Jack Barrientez - 2
Six Wildcats with 1 tackle

Max Sweet sacked Goodwin for an 8-yard loss on the first drive of the game.

Special Teams

Jared Swonke missed a 35-yard field goal that everyone on the Woods side thought he made. He did convert all three of his extra points.

But, failing to score following a fumble recovery in the red zone... not ideal.

Greg Blaser: 4 punts, 171 yards (42.8 average), long of 45, one punt inside 20

Tevis Adams: 2 kicks returned, 34 yards
Arkievrick Vitatoe: 2 kicks returned, 32 yards
Chase Richter: 1 kick returned, 11 yards

Men of the Match

Collin Fewox was throwing all night. He put his reputation as one of the district's hardest hitters on full display.

Arkievrick Vitatoe has really been quite the pickup. He's a move-in from Louisiana and has really provided a nice spark for the Wildcat offense.

Looking Ahead

In their first Saturday game of the season, Cy Woods will take on Cy Lakes at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium on October 21. Kickoff is at 6:00 and the Wildcats will be the home team in this contest.

Know Your Enemy: Cypress Falls Golden Eagles

Week 5: Cypress Woods Wildcats (2-2) @ Cypress Falls Golden Eagles (2-2)
6:30 PM Thursday, October 12, 2017
Cy-Fair FCU Stadium

Photo by Matt Ramos

Please take a little time to donate to hurricane relief in Puerto Rico. Carmelo Anthony and Carlos Beltran have set up separate relief funds to aid the rebuilding efforts. These are just two of the many funds set up by Puerto Rican professional athletes that you can donate to. In addition, Carlos Correa has teamed up with the Salvation Army for hurricane relief.

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats couldn't quite complete a comeback from a 31-9 deficit against Langham Creek, falling 31-24 despite holding the ball for 30 minutes and outgaining the Lobos on offense. Jackson Jones went 7-10 for 77 yards through the air and threw a touchdown pass to Jack Barrientez in the fourth quarter. Jackson also ran for 100 yards and a touchdown. Mac Bird managed to register 16 tackles despite having to come off with an injury.

The Wildcats enter the midway point of the 2017 campaign with a .500 mark. As the playoff picture in District 17-6A begins to form, Cy Woods finds itself in a three-way tie with Cy Creek... and Cy Falls for the fourth and final playoff spot.

The Cougars play Jersey Village on Friday. One or two of these three teams will move to 3-2. Get ready... the playoff push is underway.

The Enemy: Cypress Falls Golden Eagles

2016 record: 2-8, 2-7 (t-7th) in District 17-6A

Did not qualify for playoffs

Cy Falls season-to-date

L 23-10 vs. Cy Ranch

L 38-12 @ Langham Creek

W 40-26 vs. Cy Lakes

W 14-10 @ Cy Springs

All-Time Series

Cy Falls leads 6-3.

Previous Meetings

October 7, 2016: Falls 27, Woods 10

September 17, 2015: Falls 57, Woods 20
September 20, 2014: Woods 48, Falls 47
October 25, 2013: Woods 37, Falls 15
October 26, 2012: Falls 35, Woods 10
September 10, 2011: Falls 28, Woods 12
September 11, 2010: Falls 28, Woods 20
November 7, 2009: Falls 46, Woods 43
November 8, 2008: Woods 70, Falls 20

Players to Watch

T.J. Goodwin - JR QB #10
Koby Leavatts - JR RB #22
Andre Barnes - SR WR #11
Jyrese Hanchett - JR WR #86
Trent Thompson - SR DL #44
Nick Avila - SR DL #69
DeAndre Collins - SR LB #35
Jordan Ramos - SR LB #21
Jonathan Patrick - SR WR/DB #15
Aaron Durham - JR DB #25

2¢ on Falls

It's been a rather interesting decade for Cy Falls football. The Eagles entered the 2010s as a solid, if unspectacular squad towards the end of David Raffield's tenure. Coach Raffield, who led Falls to the Division II championship game in 2006, moved on to A&M Consolidated following the 2010 season, and Kirk Eaton took over. Coach Eaton guided Falls to the playoffs in his first two seasons, but they crashed to the bottom of the standings in 2013. The Eagles rebounded in 2015 to make the deepest playoff run of any CFISD team, but that was followed by another 2-8 season in 2016.

Coach Eaton was promoted to an assistant athletic director for Cy-Fair ISD last offseason, and the next man up for the Cy Falls head coaching job is Chris Brister. Coach Brister previously served as the defensive coordinator and he takes over a squad that has some interesting pieces.

T.J. Goodwin toiled in his sophomore season, but he's starting to come into his own a junior as the Eagles have re-incorporated elements of the spread offense. His top targets will be Andre Barnes, Jonathan Patrick, and Jyrese Hanchett. Barnes and Patrick, who also plays cornerback, are both burners in the open field. Hanchett, on the other hand, is a wiry athlete, which gives him an advantage in jump-ball situations. No one in District 17-6A has run the ball more than Koby Leavatts; he is the first player in the district to run the ball 100 times this season. Leavatts is also 2nd to Langham Creek's Chris Herron in rushing yards.

The Eagles no longer have the services of Starrland Baldwin, who suffered a season-ending injury in their season opener against Cy Ranch. Baldwin, an Oklahoma pledge, was their top athlete; he is mainly a defensive back, but has also lined up as a receiver and is also a threat in the return game. Nevertheless, the Eagle defense is still one of the most physical units in the district, allowing a mere 255 yards per game through the first four contests. This figure ranks second only to Cy-Fair.

Trent Thompson, Gary Hudson, and Nick Avila form an imposing front line. Avila is a two-year starter at nose tackle. Thompson has become an absolute force in the trenches and his style of play is reminiscent of former Eagles standout Du'Vonta Lampkin. Thompson, like his brother Blake, is also one of the district's top throwers during track and field season. Hudson has also seen playing time on the offensive line due to injuries. The three of them have combined for 70 tackles (14 for loss) and four sacks this season; with the exception of the season opener against Cy Ranch, the Eagles have been led in tackles by either Avila or Thompson. The Wildcat offensive line better be ready for an all-out war.

Jordan Ramos is a converted running back who has made the transition to linebacker and has emerged as another leader for the Cy Falls defense. Baldwin's absence created a significant void in the secondary, but Patrick, Aaron Durham, and Mekhi Davis have all performed capably. Even without Baldwin, the Eagle defense has really stepped up their game.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

Falls came out on top 27-10 in a rather nondescript affair. It was the second time the Wildcats lost to a previously winless team in 2016.

Brighton Gullickson threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Matt Ficalora in the fourth quarter, but he also threw a pick-six to Devon Hayward that sealed the game for the Eagles. The only other Wildcat scoring play was a 21-yard field goal from Luis Reyes in the first quarter. Myles Wilson had 14 tackles. Neil Chambers recorded 9; three of his tackles, which includes a sack, resulted in a loss of yards.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

JV plays at Woods, freshmen at Falls. Game times are 5:00 and 7:00 on Wednesday.

Location of Cypress Falls High School

Can't miss the water tower with the Cy Falls logo off 290...

Langham Creek 31, Cy Woods 24: Welp

2017 Record: 2-2

Photo by Tom Dendy

Jackson Jones prepares for impact as Langham Creek linebacker Chase Hanks closes in

Photo gallery for this week's game; no sub-varsity photos this week, unfortunately.

Please take a little time to donate to hurricane relief in Puerto Rico. Carmelo Anthony and Carlos Beltran have set up separate relief funds to aid the rebuilding efforts. These are just two of the many funds set up by Puerto Rican professional athletes that you can donate to. In addition, Carlos Correa has teamed up with the Salvation Army for hurricane relief.

The Cypress Woods Wildcats hung tough with the undefeated Langham Creek Lobos for 48 minutes and mounted a nice response after it looked as though the Lobos were on the verge of running them out of the Berry Center. But alas, the rally came up short and Langham Creek prevailed 31-24 to remain unbeaten on the year. The Cats, meanwhile, fall back to .500 as we have now reached the midway point of the season.

Cy Woods came out on top in most of the stats; they outgained Langham Creek 337-269 and held the ball for nearly 30 minutes. However, the Lobos ultimately came out on top in the statistic that matters most: points.

I'm still bothered by that fake punt deep in their own territory, which the Lobos converted into a touchdown. Believe me, I'm just as perplexed as you are. Two key moments stand out in this game, and they all went the Lobos' way: the botched fake punt, and when Darion Morgan got stripped and the Lobos got a scoop and score out of it.

Let's be real here, this is a pretty annoying way to lose. Now, this loss is not a death knell with regard to playoff hopes, but the Cats' margin for error has shrunk significantly.

Scoring Summary

Chris Mehn opened the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run, which was the only scoring play in the first 12 minutes.

End of 1st quarter: Langham 7, Woods 0

Jared Swonke put Cy Woods on the board with a 27-yard field goal. The Cats forced a three-and-out on their next defensive series, but as they were looking to drive, Darion Morgan was stripped of the ball. Corien Azema scooped it up and raced 59 yards the other way for a Lobo touchdown. Morgan atoned for that mistake by scoring from a yard out and Kevin Marks kicked a 29-yard field goal to give Langham three more points heading into the half.

Halftime: Langham 17, Woods 9

The Cats did not have a very good start to the second half as Langham wasted little time in getting down the field. Chris Herron capped off the opening drive of the third quarter with a 23-yard touchdown run. The aforementioned ill-advised fake punt was an invitation for the Lobos to score again and Mehn obliged by scoring on a 2-yard run. Jackson Jones reclaimed some momentum for the Cats with a one-yard touchdown run.

End of 3rd Quarter: Langham 31, Woods 15

Jackson connected with Jack Barrientez for a 6-yard touchdown pass and the Cats recovered the ensuing onside kick. Unfortunately, they squandered that opportunity by turning the ball over on downs. Fortunately, on the next Langham Creek drive, Herron botched a handoff to Mehn and Tobi Orundami bulldozed his way through to recover the loose ball. Unfortunately, the Cats had to settle for a 28-yard field goal from Swonke on their next drive. On the ensuing onside kick, the Lobos came out with the ball after a mad scramble.

Final: Langham 31, Woods 24

Ground

Jackson was solid again, but there were a few plays where he was probably better off pitching the ball. He's got plenty of time to learn, though. Bobby Dodson went down with an injury early, so Darion Morgan took over as the primary running back the rest of the way.

The Cats racked up a bunch of yards on the ground, but they also needed a bunch of rushing attempts to do so, as well.

As always, all statistics are from Varsity Wires and are unofficial.

Jackson Jones: 24 carries, 100 yards, TD
Darion Morgan: 18 carries, 80 yards, TD; fumble lost
Arkievrick Vitatoe: 5 carries, 29 yards
Christian Scott: 4 carries, 18 yards
Dallas Caldwell: 3 carries, 14 yards
Jack Barrientez: 4 carries, 14 yards
Bobby Dodson: 2 carries, 9 yards
Greg Blaser: 1 carry, -4 yards

Air

Not much to say here; Jackson continues to make the throws he's supposed to make. His 24-yard completion to Christian Scott was the Wildcats' longest offensive play of the game.

Jackson Jones: 7-10, 77 yards, TD

Christian Scott: 4 catches, 46 yards
Jack Barrientez: 2 catches, 21 yards, TD
Arkievrick Vitatoe: 1 catch, 10 yards

Defense

Mac Bird is halfway to 100 tackles through the first four games.

Once again, however, the Cats simply couldn't find a way to get the opposing offense off the field on third down. Langham Creek went 9-13 on third down and converted their only fourth-down situation. Both defenses did well in limiting the big plays; the longest offensive play in this game was a 26-yard pass from Chris Herron to Devin Lawrence. Chris Mehn, who entered the game averaging almost 9 yards per carry, had an off night by his standards; the Cats held him to 77 yards on 16 carries.

Tobi Orundami left the Cats after one game last season and then made the decision to rejoin the team for his senior year in the offseason. He's been working his way back into the fold behind the scenes and successfully fulfilled the conditions that were set for him in order to play again.

Tobi only had one tackle in his first game back, but he had a crucial fumble recovery in the fourth quarter. He's not quite in shape, but he infused some energy into the defensive line and got some pressure on Chris Herron.

Tackles

Mac Bird - 16  (1 for loss)
Ryan Gilcrease - 8
Matt Roberts, Clancey Hall, and Jackson Turnbow - 4 each
Derrick Brooks - 3 (1 for loss)
Collin Fewox, Jack Barrientez, Colin Paterson, and Max Sweet - 2 each
Trevor Reed, Austin Kennedy, Tyler Redgrave, and Tobi Orundami - 1 each

As mentioned above, Tobi recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter.

Special Teams

Jared Swonke hit both of his field goals. I think this is the first time that a Wildcat kicker has made more than one field goal since Chase McLaughlin did so against Cy Ranch back in 2012.

Greg Blaser's one punt of the night went 35 yards.

Christian Scott: 2 kicks returned, 26 yards
Tevis Adams: 2 kicks returned, 13 yards

Man of the Match

Mac Bird put up 16 tackles despite having to miss part of the second quarter due to a.... nail in his leg? I probably didn't hear this correctly. When he was being attended to, it definitely looked like he was in real distress, which led me to believe that he suffered a more serious injury.

Mac shook it off and wound up posting double-digit tackles yet again, so I suppose he's alright.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will tussle with the Cy Falls Golden Eagles to kick off Week 5 in District 17-6A at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium on Thursday, October 12. Kickoff is at 6:30 and Cy Woods will be the visitors once again.

Know Your Enemy: Langham Creek Lobos

Week 4: Cypress Woods Wildcats (2-1) @ Langham Creek Lobos (3-0)
6:30 PM Thursday, October 5, 2017
Cy-Fair FCU Stadium

Photo by Billy Schuerman

Please take a little time to donate to hurricane relief in Puerto Rico. Carmelo Anthony and Carlos Beltran have set up separate relief funds to aid the rebuilding efforts. These are just two funds that you can donate to. In addition, Carlos Correa has teamed up with the Salvation Army for hurricane relief.

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

It was a happy Homecoming for the Wildcats as they topped Jersey Village 42-35. In the process, they matched their win total from 2016 and recorded their first win over the Falcons since 2012.

Bobby Dodson ran for 146 yards and a touchdown, while Jack Barrientez threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Cullen Sherrill, scored twice on the ground, and added five tackles on defense. Clancey Hall and Mac Bird both recorded 10 tackles.

Week 6 presents the Wildcats with their toughest test to date.

The Enemy: Langham Creek Lobos

2016 record: 8-4, 6-3 (4th) in District 17-6A
Lost 29-21 to Cinco Ranch in Area round of 6A Division II, Region III playoffs

Cy Ridge took a 28-6 lead on the Lobos with 11:33 in the third quarter... and then Langham proceeded to outscore them 40-0 the rest of the way to come out with the 46-28 victory. The Lobos capitalized on 5 Rams turnovers, most of which came in the second half.

Langham Creek has won their first three games of 2017; they topped Cy Creek 45-26 to open the year and then dominated Cy Falls 38-12.

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-4.

Previous Meetings


September 29, 2016: Langham 62, Woods 35
October 16, 2015: Woods 48, Langham 33
October 17, 2014: Langham 55, Woods 31 (Homecoming VII)
September 13, 2013: Langham 48, Woods 20
September 14, 2012: Langham 32, Woods 31 (Homecoming V)
October 14, 2011: Woods 50, Langham 44
October 15, 2010: Woods 55, Langham 27 (Homecoming III)
October 31, 2009: Woods 42, Langham 7
November 1, 2008: Woods 58, Langham 20

Players to Watch

QB Chris Herron, RB Chris Mehn, WR Golden Eke, OL Owen Okonsky, DB Corien Azema, DB Darren Woodson, LB Brad Pinkerton, DL Ernest Thomas

2¢ on Langham

The Lobos begin life without Toneil Carter, who is arguably the greatest player in their program's history. Nevertheless, they still have plenty of weapons at their disposal, most notably their starting backfield.

Chris Mehn averaged 10 yards per carry as Carter's backup last season. This year, he's merely averaging 9 yards per rushing attempt, so he's regressed somewhat. All joking aside, Mehn is a legit home run threat. Chris Herron ran roughshod on the Cats last season and he is coming off a game in which he ran for 181 yards and 5 touchdowns. He'll sling the ball to Golden Eke and Devin Lawrence, but he can really inflict damage with his feet. Owen Okonsky, a first-team All-District selection last season, will anchor the Lobos' offensive line.

Corien Azema had a fine sophomore season in which he earned second-team All-District honors as a linebacker. He's moved over to the secondary, where he'll team up with Darren Woodson and Mauricio Alvarado. Brad Pinkerton and Jermaine Wright lead the linebackers, but D.J. Harris and Chase Hanks have busted onto the scene by going 1-2 in tackles through the first third of the season. Ernest Thomas has seized a starting spot in the trenches as a sophomore; the Lobos are expecting big things from this young lineman.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

The Lobos forced five Cy Woods turnovers, put up 42 points at halftime, and cruised to a 62-35 victory. Jacob Kainer threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

JV plays at Woods, while the freshmen will travel to Langham Creek. Game times are 5:00 and 7:00 on Wednesday.

Location of Langham Creek High School

Cy Woods 42, Jersey Village 35: Happy Homecoming.

2017 Record: 2-1

Photo by Tom Dendy

Arkievrick Vitatoe beats the last Jersey Village defender for a 48-yard touchdown run.

Here is the photo gallery from this week, including the freshman games against Jersey Village and the Homecoming Parade, courtesy of Tom Dendy.

Also, please take a little time to donate to hurricane relief in Puerto Rico. Carmelo Anthony and Carlos Beltran have set up separate relief funds to help spur the rebuilding efforts.

Happy Homecoming, Wildcats.

Cy Woods held off the Jersey Village Falcons and came away with a 42-35 victory on Homecoming Friday at the Berry Center. The Cats also earned their first victory over the Falcons since the 2012 season finale, snapping a four-game losing streak to JV in the process.

Strong response from this team after they dropped their season opener in disappointing fashion. Also safe to say that Cy Woods is in the thick of the District 17-6A playoff race as the first third of the season comes to a close. Now, the push really begins with a tough test against Langham Creek looming.

As the offense begins to get comfortable with its new system, we are starting to see them rattle off more and more explosive plays, which was lacking in the first game.

Scoring Summary

The Falcons wasted little time in opening the scoring; they marched right down the field and Tre Richardson finished it with a 6-yard touchdown run. Cy Woods responded with a 12-play drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run from Bobby Dodson. After the defense forced a punt, Dallas Caldwell broke off a 28-yard run to start the Cats' next drive and one play later, Arkievrick Vitatoe slashed his way through the Jersey Village defense for a 48-yard touchdown run.

End of 1st Quarter: Woods 14, JV 7

Jack Barrientez and Kendon Flowers scored on two runs for their respective teams in the second quarter: Jack scored from 14 and 7 yards out, while Flowers scored from 7 and found the end zone again from a yard out right before halftime.

Halftime: Woods 28, JV 21

Jersey Village took control in the third quarter with two touchdowns in a 19-second span. Richardson scored from 4 yards out to tie the game at 28. After the Wildcats lost the ball on the ensuing kickoff, Richardson connected with a wide-open John Gilbert for a 16-yard touchdown pass. The Cats had the ball to end the quarter, but they faced a fourth down after Jackson got sacked.

End of 3rd Quarter: JV 35, Woods 28

On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Cats busted out the old halfback pass, and it worked like a charm as Jack Barrientez found Cullen Sherrill, who used every inch of his 6'5" frame to snag Jack's pass for a 33-yard touchdown. The defense forced a three-and-out on the next Falcon series and the offense went on a drive that culminated in a 26-yard touchdown run for Jackson Jones. The Cat defense held their ground once again and the offense ran out thelast 3:57 to secure the win.

Final: Woods 42, JV 35

Ground

That was the triple-option at its finest. Bobby Dodson consistently chewed up yards, while Arkievrick Vitatoe busted loose for a few good runs to the outside. Darion Morgan was effective when called upon, and Jackson Jones showed great vision in the open field, even as he was flailing around as he made his way upfield. He had a 55-yard touchdown run erased on a holding penalty but ended up getting the decisive score halfway through the final quarter.

Bobby did not lose yardage on any of his 24 carries. The only Cy Woods rushing attempt that lost yards occurred when Jackson got sacked to end the third quarter.

As always, all statistics are from Varsity Wires and are unofficial.

Bobby Dodson: 24 carries, 146 yards, TD
Jackson Jones: 11 carries, 88 yards, TD
Arkievrick Vitatoe: 4 carries, 83 yards, TD
Darion Morgan: 12 carries, 56 yards
Dallas Caldwell: 1 carry, 28 yards
Jack Barrientez: 2 carries, 21 yards, 2 TD
Christian Scott: 1 carry, 5 yards
Team: 3 carries, -5 yards; Jackson took a knee to end the first half and kneeled twice to end the game.

Air

The Cats threw five passes and completed them all. We'll see a little more passing to keep opposing defenses honest as the year progresses.

Jackson Jones: 4-4, 110 yards
Jack Barrientez: 1-1, 33 yards, TD

Bobby also made an impact on the passing game, providing a solid safety valve for Jackson.

Bobby Dodson: 3 catches, 61 yards
Cullen Sherrill: 2 catches, 83 yards, TD

Sherrill Twins Receiving Touchdown Tracker

Cullen 6
Tanner 0

Defense

After the Cy Ridge offense found ways to stay on the field on third down and scored three times on fourth down, no doubt that the late downs were a point of emphasis all week. The Falcons went 3-8 on third down and scored on their only fourth down situation. That's not great, but it's certainly a step forward after they allowed Ridge to convert 10 times on third and fourth down.

Jordan Jones had 5 catches for 55 yards, but he made a minimal impact at best on the proceedings for Jersey Village.

Three games, three games with double-digit tackles for Mac Bird.

Tackles

Clancey Hall - 10 (1.5 for loss)
Mac Bird - 10 (0.5 for loss)
Derrick Brooks - 6 (1 for loss)
Jackson Turnbow - 6 (1 for loss)
Jack Barrientez, Ryan Gilcrease, and Jozef Taylor - 5 each
Collin Fewox, Max Sweet, and Austin Kennedy - 3 each
JoJo Guillory and Trevor Reed - 2 each
Tyler Redgrave - 1

The Wildcats did not force any turnovers in this game.

Special Teams

Jared Swonke hit on all six of his extra point attempts. The Wildcats did not punt in this game.

Vitatoe had a nice kickoff return. Tevis Adams can fly, and he nearly broke free twice.

Tevis Adams: 2 kicks returned, 60 yards
Arkievrick Vitatoe: 1 kick returned, 28 yards
Cam Sowell: 1 kick returned, -6 yards

Men of the Match

Bobby Dodson is probably my offensive MVP for the first third of the season. Every time he touches the ball, he's almost guaranteed to gain 4-6 yards. The Cats have leaned heavily on him to deliver those 4-6 yards and he has more than fulfilled his end of the bargain. Bobby's pass-catching out of the backfield will be a real asset for Jackson Jones as he continues to grow into his position as QB1.

The Wildcats have gotten solid contributions from Mac Bird all season and he turned in another solid performance. But in this game, Clancey Hall and Jackson Turnbow really stepped up and left their mark. This group has definitely been a strength for the Cat defense in the early going.

Looking Ahead

Cy Woods will take on Langham Creek at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium on Thursday, October 5 at 6:30 PM. The Wildcats will be the visitors in this contest.

Know Your Enemy: Jersey Village Falcons

Week 3: Cypress Woods Wildcats (1-1) vs. Jersey Village Falcons (1-1)
7:00 PM Friday, September 29, 2017
Homecoming X at Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Stadium

Photo by Billy Schuerman

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats escaped Pridgeon Stadium with a 35-34 win over Cy Ridge, their first win of 2017. Jack Barrientez scored on a 51-yard run, caught a 68-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Jones, and also recorded 6 tackles on defense. The defense was once again paced by Mac Bird, who had 13 tackles, 5.5 of which resulted in a loss of yards. Although the Rams scored with 1:28 remaining in the contest, the Cats defense stopped them on a two-point conversion attempt which ultimately secured the victory.

On Homecoming Friday, the Wildcats will tussle with a team that has had their number in recent years. This will be the first time that Cy Woods will play Jersey Village at the Berry Center/Cy-Fair FCU Stadium.

The Enemy: Jersey Village Falcons

2016 record: 3-7, 3-6 (6th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs

The Falcons won their season opener 26-16 over Cy Ridge after jumping out to a 19-0 lead after the first quarter. Last Saturday, they hung tough with Cy Ranch for three quarters but couldn't find the breakthrough score and ultimately fell 26-14.

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-4.

Previous Meetings

September 24, 2016: JV 58, Woods 46
October 30, 2015: JV 74, Woods 73
October 31, 2014: JV 44, Woods 38
November 9, 2013: JV 42, Woods 0
November 10, 2012: Woods 35, JV 14
October 1, 2011: Woods 63, JV 24
October 2, 2010: Woods 35, JV 14
October 3, 2009: Woods 31, JV 13
October 4, 2008: Woods 56, JV 6

Players to Watch

WR Jordan Jones, WR John Gilbert, QB Blake Johnson, RB Kendon Flowers, ATH Tre Richardson, DL Carson Wendt, DB Jireh Thompson, WR/DB Jacobi Whooper

2¢ on JV

The Wildcats absolutely dominated this series at the outset, but in recent years, the Falcons have seized control as players such as Deshun Qualls, Christian Taylor, Jordan Williams, Lavance Moore, and Rokeem Paul have all proven to be massive thorns in Cy Woods' collective side. The four-game losing streak to Jersey Village, which dates back to the 2013 regular-season finale, is the Wildcats' longest current skid against a single opponent.

Jordan Jones had a fine sophomore campaign in 2016 and will be the #1 target for Tre Richardson and Blake Johnson. Richardson and Johnson have both started the season in a platoon at quarterback, but Richardson took a majority of the snaps against Ranch. He'll also play in the secondary when Johnson is at quarterback.

John Gilbert and Jacobi Whooper are both reliable options in the passing game; Whooper will also see time in the secondary. Kendon Flowers had a solid junior season after coming in from Clear Falls and will take over as the feature back, as Jireh Thompson has now moved to defensive back. Jones and Richardson are also their starting cornerbacks, as it looks like a few teams in this district are starting to play their best athletes both ways. Simeon Roberts, Darius Johnson and Tristan Pickney round out a deep secondary corps for the Falcons.

The front seven is young but promising. Carson Wendt has emerged as a player on the defensive line; he had a sack against Ridge and led JV with 7 tackles against Ranch. The linebackers are a little undersized, but they'll fly around and make plays. Kelvin Cruse, a sophomore, has played well in the first two games of his high school football career.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

In the 100th game in Cy Woods football history, the Wildcats led 31-17 at halftime, but the Falcons turned the tables in the second half and emerged with a 58-46 victory. Jacob Kainer went 22-31 for 333 yards and threw touchdown passes to Jack Barrientez and Cullen Sherrill. Jacob also ran for 125 yards and three touchdowns. Jack threw a touchdown pass to Brennan Niles and had 116 receiving yards.

The Cats had no answer for Thompson, who finished with 242 yards and four scores on 23 carries. They didn't have any answers for the Falcon passing game either as Jones and Gilbert both had 100+ receiving yards, while Alec Wechsler threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

Freshmen are at home, while the junior varsity heads to Jersey Village. Game times, as always, are at 5:00 and 7:00.

Location of Jersey Village High School

Cy Woods 35, Cy Ridge 34: Thrilling End

2017 Record: 1-1

Photo by Tom Dendy

Jack Barrientez darts upfield on his way to the end zone.

Hello, win column.

The Cypress Woods Wildcats escaped Pridgeon Stadium with a 35-34 victory over the Cypress Ridge Rams to record their first victory of the 2017 campaign.

With this win, the Cats snapped a four-game losing streak dating back to the end of last season which was extended to four when they lost to Springs to begin this season. They also erased a double-digit deficit to win a game for the first time since 2015 against... Cy Ridge.

Big victory over a solid Ridge team that still has plenty of returning talent from a 4th-round playoff team last season. I expect them to still remain in the playoff hunt down the road. This gives the Cats positive momentum heading into Homecoming and is also a massive confidence boost for a sophomore quarterback who was starting his first varsity football game. Jackson Jones showed great poise and certainly was not intimidated by a solid Rams defense. After a dearth of explosive plays against Springs, the offense rebounded with three scoring plays of over 50 yards. Woods ran the triple option as well as any team could, especially in the second half, where they dominated the time of possession.

This was a "character win" for the Cats: their character was on full display as they came back from a 21-6 halftime deficit and kept the Rams off the scoreboard for much of the second half. Last year, that deficit would have widened significantly in the second half. The Cats turned the tables in the final 24 minutes by outscoring the Rams 29-13. The Cats had two scoring drives of 15 (this one began in the third quarter) and 16 plays in the fourth quarter... which set the stage for a frantic and thrilling conclusion in which both teams scored two touchdowns apiece in two minutes. The difference in this game was a failed two-point conversion that would have given Ridge the lead after they had scored with 1:28 left in the game to cut the Woods lead to one point.

In this district, every game matters, especially in this abbreviated season. Had the Cats been in Ridge's situation at the end of last night's game, I'm sure they would have gone for two. I respect Coach Thiebaud's decision to go for the win. I'm also glad that the Cats foiled his team's bid to win the game.

Cy Woods did not commit a single penalty in this game. I believe that is the first time that this has occurred.

Scoring Summary

Jack Barrientez opened the scoring by slicing and dicing his way into the end zone from 51 yards out. Unfortunately, Jared Swonke banged the ensuing extra point off the left upright. Noah Smith busted loose for a 35-yard touchdown run and the Rams converted their extra point.

End of 1st Quarter: Ridge 7, Woods 6

The second stanza belonged to Cy Ridge. On 4th and 20, Justice Porter rolled out to his right and connected with Jakobe Jackson for a 30-yard touchdown pass to start the quarter. Porter snuck in from less than a yard out on another fourth down. Matt Roberts stole a little momentum for Woods with an interception in the endzone after Ryan Gilcrease tipped the ball.

Halftime: Ridge 21, Woods 6

The Cats ended the first half by forcing a turnover, and they started the second by forcing a turnover. Mac Bird jarred the ball loose from Ridge running back Leslie Wellington and Tyler Redgrave pounced to give Cy Woods the ball. On their first possession of the second half, Jackson Jones floated a ball to Cullen Sherrill, who took it 50 yards for a touchdown.

End of 3rd Quarter: Ridge 21, Woods 13

Jackson capped off a 15-play drive that started with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter with a 4-yard touchdown run. He was stopped just before crossing the goal line on the two-point conversion attempt, so the Cats still trailed 21-19. The defense forced a three-and-out, and the offense proceeded to go on a 16-play drive that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown run for Arkievrick Vitatoe and a two-point run from Jackson that gave Cy Woods a 27-21 lead with 3:23 to play. So, all the Cats needed to do was play sound, smart football for the final 3:23. Ehh... what happened next wasn't the best example of sound, smart football.

The ensuing kickoff from Swonke went out of bounds. Porter then completed all five of his passes, the last of which was a 17-yard strike to Noah Smith, who still found the end zone despite having four Wildcats trying to bring him down.

The next Cy Woods offensive drive did not start out well as Jack was forced out for a 4-yard loss on first down. No matter... one play later, he caught a pass from Jackson and scored from 68 yards out with exactly two minutes to go. Once again, Jackson got the two points.

The Rams had one last answer, though... on another fourth down, Porter found Jakobe Jackson again, and Jackson outran everyone on his way to a 67-yard touchdown reception. On the ensuing two-point conversion, the Cats made the one stop they had to make as they repelled Smith from the goal line to preserve a 35-34 lead.

Final: Woods 35, Ridge 34

Ground

Bobby Dodson wasn't as effective in getting chunks of yardage as he was against Cy Springs, but he did not fumble. Christian Scott had a couple of nice runs on pitchouts.

All statistics are from Varsity Wires and are unofficial.

Jack Barrientez: 7 carries, 69 yards, TD
Bobby Dodson: 15 carries, 51 yards
Jackson Jones: 13 carries, 35 yards, TD; 1 fumble lost
Christian Scott: 5 carries, 34 yards
Darion Morgan: 5 carries, 15 yards
Arkievrick Vitatoe: 4 carries, 12 yards, TD
Connor Faulk: 2 carries, 3 yards
Team: 3 carries, -3 yards; Jackson kneeled three times at the end of the game

Air

I'm still trying to get used to seeing a Cy Woods football team throw the ball four times in a football game. No, that is not a typo; the Cats only had four passing attempts all evening.

Fortunately, two of those attempts were complete and they both resulted in touchdowns.

Jackson Jones: 2-4, 118 yards, 2 TD

Sherrill Twins Touchdown Reception Tracker

Cullen 5
Tanner 0

Jack Barrientez: 1 catch, 68 yards, TD
Cullen Sherrill: 1 catch, 50 yards, TD

Defense

The defense was not exactly placed in ideal positions, especially in the first half. They stepped up in a huge way in the second half before cracking a little towards the end. Fortunately, they made the most important stop of the night to keep the Cats in the lead.

Getting opponents off the field in the later downs has been an Achilles' heel for years for the Cy Woods defense. They allowed the Rams to convert 6 of 12 third down opportunities and all four of their fourth-down situations on Friday. In fact, three Ridge touchdowns came on fourth down. That simply cannot continue if the Cats want to have success this season.

Tackles

Mac Bird - 13 (5 assisted, 5.5 for loss)
Jack Barrientez and Matt Roberts - 6 each (Jack's all solo; Matt 3 assists)
Colin Paterson - 4 (2 assisted)
Six Wildcats with 3 - Collin Fewox, Clancey Hall, Ryan Gilcrease (all solo; Collin and Ryan had 1 tackle for loss), Jozef Taylor (1 assisted, 1 for loss), Jackson Hosemann (2 assisted), Austin Kennedy (all assisted)
Three Wildcats with 2 - Derrick Brooks, Trevor Reed, Tyler Redgrave (1 assisted)
Four Wildcats with 1- Omar Acosta, Max Sweet, Jackson Turnbow (all solo), Cam Sowell (assisted)

Fumbles: Collin Fewox and Mac Bird both forced a fumble. Tyler Redgrave recovered the one Mac forced.

Interceptions: Matt Roberts 1, returned for 1 yard

Special Teams

Not the greatest night on this front. Jared Swonke's first extra point hit the post. One of his kickoffs went out of bounds and Ridge took advantage with a touchdown. Arkievrick Vitatoe dropped the ball on a kickoff, and Cam Sowell had a couple of sophomore moments; he fielded a kick and stood there for the Rams to nail him and he was also supposed to be on the field for a punt late in the fourth quarter, which forced the Cats to burn a timeout and resulted in him receiving a severe chewing-out session from Coach Zachos during the stoppage.

Jared Swonke: 1-2 XP
Greg Blaser: 2 punts, 60 yards, long of 43

Arkievrick Vitatoe: 2 kicks returned, 27 yards
Jack Barrientez: 1 kick returned, 23 yards
Cam Sowell: 1 kick returned, 0 yards

Men of the Match

Three Cats share the honors: Jack Barrientez, Jackson Jones, and Mac Bird.

Jack is one of the gutsiest kids I've seen in a Wildcat uniform. No question, he left it all out on the field. 140 total yards (he had a 23-yard kick return), two touchdowns, and six tackles out of the secondary... the Cats needed all of his contributions on Friday.

Mac Bird turned in another outstanding performance on defense as he basically lived in the Ridge backfield all night. Mac has 25 tackles in the first two games and eight have resulted in a loss of yards. He has proven to be a legitimate disruptive force for the Wildcat defense in the early going.

Welcome to the big leagues, Jackson Jones. As long as Jacob Kainer is out, you're the man. Every second you spend on the field will be valuable as you continue to develop as a football player. Jackson wasn't counted on to do everything, but he performed capably and showed why he is considered a top prospect for the Wildcats.

Looking Ahead

It's Homecoming at the Woods!

In the tenth Cypress Woods Homecoming football game, the Wildcats will take on the Jersey Village Falcons at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium on Friday, September 29 at 7:00 PM.

Looking for Pictures?

If you are a parent or a player and are looking for pictures, Mr. Dendy will be shooting at all varsity games this season. He will also take photos at home sub-varsity games.

The link to all of his photos for the 2017 season is on the sidebar of the blog.

Know Your Enemy: Cypress Ridge Rams

Week 2: Cypress Woods Wildcats (0-1) @ Cypress Ridge Rams (0-1)
7:00 PM Friday, September 22, 2017
Pridgeon Stadium

Photo by Billy Schuerman

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats came undone thanks to four lost fumbles and stumbled out of the gate with a 27-9 loss to Cy Springs, their first loss in 10 all-time meetings with the Panthers. Bobby Dodson ran for 77 yards on 14 carries. Jared Swonke hit a 30-yard field goal and Jack Barrientez scored on a 3-yard run. On defense, Mac Bird posted a dozen tackles and sacked Cy Springs quarterback Xayvion West for an 11-yard loss.

Next up for Cy Woods is a matchup against the last CFISD team standing in 2016.

The Enemy: Cypress Ridge Rams

2016 record: 11-3, 7-2 (3rd) in District 17-6A

Lost 34-17 to Cinco Ranch in 6A Division II, Region III Final

In their season opener, the Rams fell behind 19-0 to Jersey Village after the first quarter and those opening 12 minutes proved to be the difference as the Falcons came out on top by a final score of 26-16. Noah Smith ran for 96 yards, caught 6 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, and completed 9 of his 10 passes for 106 yards.

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-4.

Previous Meetings

September 17, 2016: Ridge 36, Woods 21

September 11, 2015: Woods 59, Ridge 31

September 13, 2014: Woods 59, Ridge 28
September 19, 2013: Woods 28, Ridge 26
September 20, 2012: Ridge 54, Woods 21
October 29, 2011: Woods 45, Ridge 13
October 30, 2010: Woods 49, Ridge 40
September 25, 2009: Ridge 46, Woods 20 (Homecoming II)
September 26, 2008: Ridge 43, Woods 41

Players to Watch

ATH Noah Smith, RB Alex Jacobs, ATH Justice Porter, OL Tyrese Williams, DL Melik Owens, LB Tyler Cockle, LB Branden Nguyen, DB Pierre Cole, DB Davion Bradley

2¢ on Ridge

In 2014, Cy Ridge underwent a youth movement and crashed to the bottom of the table with a 2-8 record. Two years later, they posted the best season in school history behind an outstanding senior class led by Trelon Smith, Kevin LeDee, Tyson Williams, D'Juan Matthews, TyRae Thornton, and James Froehlich.

With the Class of 2017 moving on, the Rams have a little rebuilding to do. That being said, they've established a solid foundation and their returning players are no slouches. Tyrese Williams returns to anchor the offensive line. Noah Smith and Justice Porter are dynamic athletes who can play any offensive skill position. Smith is their top returning receiver and they both split time at quarterback against Jersey Village. 

Alex Jacobs saw significant action as Trelon Smith's understudy last season and now it's his turn to shine. However, the Rams went without his services against JV.

Ridge continues to boast a solid front seven year in and year out. Melik Owens garnered Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors last season, and in doing so, he continued a streak of Cy Ridge defensive linemen winning that award: Kamari Staton and D'Juan Matthews earned this honor in 2014 and 2015, respectively. I believe that his 9 sacks last season led the district. Owens will be counted on to serve as a leader in the trenches, where he'll be joined by Zed Asowata, Wes Freeman, Rashad Smith, and Centarus Smith. Tyler Cockle gained some valuable experience as a sophomore and finished second on the team with 4.5 sacks. Brendan Nguyen posted 8 tackles in his first varsity game last week. 

The Rams have some rebuilding to do in the secondary as James Froehlich, Zac Lancaster, Kobe House, and TyRae Thornton have all moved on. Pierre Cole transferred in from Morton Ranch and delivered a solid first impression by posting 6 tackles. Davion Bradley was a reserve last year, but he's now getting his chance in the spotlight.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

The Wildcats somehow held a 13-8 lead at halftime despite only gaining 25 yards of offense. Unfortunately, the total lack of production on that side of the ball eventually came back to haunt the Cats and the Rams seized control by outscoring them 28-8 in the second half to come out with a 36-21 victory. They got two touchdown runs apiece from Trelon Smith and Alex Jacobs in the final 24 minutes.

Semaj Trahan returned an interception 86 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Jacob Kainer scored on a 1-yard run in the second and threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jack Barrientez in the third quarter. Kason Franklin and Myles Wilson both finished with 13 tackles in this game.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

JV teams will play at Woods while the freshmen head to Cy Ridge. Game times are at 5:00 and 7:00 on Thursday.

The JV Gold team will take on Kingwood Park at 5:00 as the Rams only have one JV team.

Location of Cypress Ridge High School

Help Wanted

Once again, I am trying to find a few Cy Woods football players to serve as guest writers for the blog. Preferably, I would like to have one player from each grade as a contributor. I know that expressing one's thoughts isn't the most comfortable thing, but doing it on a media form other than Twitter can help immensely, especially when you attempt to do it using a pen and paper. It's also a great opportunity for the community to get to know you.

If you're interested, message me through Twitter or send me an email; my email is on the right-hand column of this blog. If you're too lazy to search for it, it's dustin2810 at gmail.

Cy Springs 27, Cy Woods 9: Sputter

2017 Record: 0-1 in District 17-6A

Photo by Kyle Ransleben, The Crimson Connection

Turnovers, man.

Four lost fumbles doomed the Cy Woods Wildcats on Thursday night as they fell 27-9 to the Cy Springs Panthers to open their 2017 campaign.

And so for the first time ever, Cy Woods lost to Cy Springs in a varsity football game. This is also the first time that Cy Woods has been held to single digits in a game since they were trounced 51-7 by Katy in the area round of the 2013 playoffs.

The Cats have handled the Panthers rather effortlessly in the past, but this affair would be a little daunting, considering the firepower that Springs brought back for 2017. Their Fantastic Four of Taye Barber, Leon O'Neal, Jah'marae Sheread, and Xayvion West showed why they are highly regarded players and they all impacted the game in a significant way.

This game was also a bit irritating because the Cats really did have a chance to steal it thanks to the Panthers' poor discipline; they just kept squandering those opportunities. Springs also came out on top because they managed to get a big play when they needed it. Kameron Chappell only had two catches, but they went for 40 and 34 yards. Jah'marae Sheread tallied 127 total yards on offense and scored on a 24-yard run and caught a 25-yard touchdown from Xayvion West. Springs had more than their fair share of penalties, but that was countered by the fact that they played a clean game on offense.

On the other hand, Woods couldn't capitalize on their big plays. Tory Spears had a 60-yard kickoff return and the offense proceeded to go three-and-out on the next series. They got into the red zone thanks to a late hit in the 3rd quarter but ended up turning the ball over by losing yet another fumble.

In switching to the triple-option offense, Woods hoped to control their tempo. It's a radical departure from the Wildcat teams of years past, which went 100 miles per hour all the time. To me though, there were times during this game where it felt that their pace was rather deliberate. I imagine that the deliberate tempo might have stemmed from running a new offensive system in a real game for the first time. Finding that happy medium in terms of tempo will be crucial.

On the bright side, Jackson Jones acquitted himself well in his first varsity football game. Colin Paterson and Mac Bird really shined on defense. That side of the ball should benefit greatly from the slightly toned-down pace.

All six sophomores listed on the roster saw playing time in this game, most notably Jackson, who took most of the reps at quarterback in the 2nd half. This still essentially a squad that is mainly relying on juniors and a few sophomores to play prominent roles. These kids will provide some electrifying moments. They'll also mess up quite a bit as well. The road back to contention will be arduous, but a few good breaks and an upset or two could get Cy Woods back into the top four.

Despite the result of this game, it's good to have football back. It's another step towards normalcy after the havoc wreaked by Harvey.

Scoring Summary

After Woods turned it over on their first offensive possession of the 2017 season, Jah'marae Sheread made them pay as he opened the scoring with a 24-yard run. The first Cy Woods points of the season came on a 30-yard field goal from Jared Swonke.

End of 1st quarter: Springs 7, Woods 3

The Panthers had the only scoring play of the 2nd quarter as Xayvion West connected with Sheread for a 25-yard touchdown pass.

Halftime: Springs 14, Woods 3

Just like they did in the first half, the Cats lost a fumble on their opening drive of the second half. Taye Barber made them pay one play later with a 4-yard touchdown run.

It took 35:47, but Jack Barrientez scored the first Cy Woods touchdown of 2017 with a 3-yard run.

End of 3rd quarter: Springs 21, Woods 9

On the Panthers' last drive of the night, Kevonne Hyde ran for 51 yards on a 3rd down and one play later, Xayvion West punched it in from a yard out for the final points of the game.

Final: Springs 27, Woods 9

Ground

In contrast to the Panthers, the Wildcats' longest offensive play was a 21-yard run from Dallas Caldwell. Bobby Dodson was quite effective in gaining yards in chunks.

But again.... turnovers kill.

All statistics are from Varsity Wires and are unofficial.

Bobby Dodson: 14 carries, 77 yards; 2 fumbles lost
Connor Faulk: 6 carries, 27 yards
Jack Barrientez: 12 carries, 20 yards, TD
Dallas Caldwell: 2 carries, 10 yards; 1 fumble lost
Jackson Jones: 3 carries, 6 yards

The Cats also lost another fumble that was not charged to anyone in particular (it falls under "TEAM" in the box score).

Air

Jack Barrientez started his first game at quarterback since... CFSA? Goodson? Ever?

Jackson Jones took over for most of the second half. The Cats will still pass, but it's going to be less prominent than ever before. Unfortunately, Jacob Kainer will be out of commission due to an injury he suffered in practice.

Jackson Jones: 6-12, 60 yards
Jack Barrientez: 2-2, 26 yards

Cullen Sherrill absorbed some big hits but he also made a couple of tough catches.

Cullen Sherrill: 3 catches, 52 yards
Connor Faulk: 3 catches, 20 yards
Dallas Caldwell: 1 catch, 14 yards
Jack Barrientez: 1 catch, 0 yards

Defense

It's early, but I think this team may not be bad at defense. Unfortunately, the Panthers got some big plays when they needed it, especially on third down.

Tackles

Mac Bird - 12 (7 assisted, 2.5 for loss)
Colin Paterson - 7 (3 assisted, 4.5 for loss)
4 Wildcats with 4 - Tory Spears and Derrick Brooks (all solo), Tyler Redgrave (3 assisted), Ryan Gilcrease 4 (all assisted)
Collin Fewox (all solo) and Jack Barrientez (all assisted) - 3
3 Wildcats with 2 - Matt Roberts (both solo), Austin Kennedy and Max Sweet (1 solo, 1 assisted)
Clancey Hall and Omar Acosta: 1 (both assisted)

Mac sacked Xayvion West for an 11-yard loss early in the third quarter.

Special Teams

Tory Spears fielded a kickoff 6 yards deep in the end zone and provided a bit of a spark with a 60-yard return in the second quarter. Unfortunately, the Cats went backwards on their ensuing drive. That might have been the longest kick return for Woods in at least a couple of years.

Tory Spears: 1 kick return, 60 yards; 1 punt return, 10 yards
Dallas Caldwell: 3 kick returns, 39 yards
Collin Fewox: 1 punt return, 19 yards
Arkievrick Vitatoe: 1 kick return, 19 yards

Jared Swonke's 30-yard kick in the opening quarter was the Wildcats' first points of the season. Greg Blaser's only official punt went for 36 yards and was downed inside the 20. He also had a 49-yard punt that was erased because he got run into.

Collin Fewox blocked a punt and the Cats were able to parlay that into a touchdown on their next possession.

Men of the Match

Mac Bird and Colin Paterson share the honors.

Good linebacker play has been missing for a few years at the Woods, but the two of them were active all evening and provided a huge spark for the Wildcat defense.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will face Cy Ridge on Friday, September 22 at 7:00 at Pridgeon. Cy Woods will be the visiting team in this contest.

Know Your Enemy: Cypress Springs Panthers

Week 3: Cypress Woods Wildcats vs. Cypress Springs Panthers
6:30 PM, Thursday, September 14, 2017
Pridgeon Stadium

Photo by Billy Schuerman

This is also the 212th post on the blog. 

The Cypress Woods Wildcats were originally supposed to start the 2017 season against Klein Collins on September 1, but Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Texas coast and threw everyone into flux; the first two weeks of the season were canceled, which means that all ten teams in District 17-6A will now have a nine-game season consisting solely of district contests. 

Hopefully, the start of the high school football season is another sign of normalcy returning. However, there are still many in our community who are still picking up the pieces and still in need of our help. In addition, towns such as Rockport, Refugio, Corpus Christi, Victoria, and Beaumont/Port Arthur all bore the brunt of Harvey's fury. As Texans, we look out for our own. Please, don't forget the communities of the Texas coast. 

I'm sure that area charities are still accepting donations. Houstonia Magazine has a list of local charities that you can donate to. Also, there are many, many opportunities to contribute financially toward the Harvey recovery. For starters, there is J.J. Watt's Houston Flood Relief Fund and Mayor Sylvester Turner's Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. And if you wish to volunteer, here are several Texas organizations that you can contact. This recovery will take a long time so do what you can, give what you can.

Now... on to football. Cy Woods and Cy Springs will open up the 2017 football season in District 17-6A on Thursday.

The Enemy: Cypress Springs Panthers

2016 record: 3-7, 2-7 (t-7th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 9-0.

Previous Meetings

September 9, 2016: Woods 69, Springs 34

November 7, 2015: Woods 49, Springs 39

November 6, 2014: Woods 70, Springs 44

October 4, 2013: Woods 57, Springs 14 (Homecoming VI)
October 5, 2012: Woods 48, Springs 13
November 5, 2011: Woods 47, Springs 0
November 6, 2010: Woods 51, Springs 41
October 16, 2009: Woods 23, Springs 13
October 17, 2008: Woods 48, Springs 14 (Homecoming I)

Players to Watch

DB Leon O'Neal, QB Xayvion West, ATH Taye Barber, WR Jah'marae Sheread, DL Josh Jolivette, LB Chandler Ojiaku, DL Jose Cirlos, DL Kolbi Lewis

2¢ on Springs

The Panthers have been regarded as a sleeping giant, but three straight 3-7 seasons following two years of improving win totals may have stagnated their momentum somewhat. Springs is still loaded with tremendous upside, but moral victories don't guarantee a playoff berth, and they feel that they are well past the "moral victory" stage. With dynamic athletes like Leon O'Neal, Taye Barber, and Jah'marae Sheread, 2017 may be the best chance for the Panthers to end the district's longest active playoff drought. One thing is for sure: these are not the Cy Springs Panthers who routinely brought up the rear in Cy-Fair ISD football.

Springs boasts one of the most explosive trios in the city in West, Sheread, and Barber. Xayvion West is the district's leading returning passer, and he didn't even enter last season as their starting quarterback. Barber, a TCU commit, has taken extremely well to a super-utility role that has maximized his impact on games. Sheread, who is also a serious threat in the return game, is coming off a 1,000-yard season. The three of them should put up obscene numbers in 2017.

Where the Panthers finish this season will most likely hinge on how well their defense, which turned in one of the worst performances in CFISD football history in 2016, improves in 2017. They were the only team in District 17-6A to allow more than 500 points last season. They'll turn to Leon O'Neal to lead the defense. O'Neal led the district with 147 total tackles last year. He is also one of the country's most highly-sought after recruits and pledged to Texas A&M in the offseason. With 8 returning starters on the defensive side of the ball, Springs leads the way in that category, so that should certainly help facilitate a turnaround.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

Cy Woods lit up the new-look Pridgeon Stadium, racing out to a 62-21 lead after three quarters and cruising to a 69-34 victory. Jacob Kainer threw for 303 yards and five touchdowns and added 128 yards and three more touchdowns on the ground. 

Sub-Varsity Game Information

JV teams play at Cy Springs, while the freshmen are at home. Game times are 5:00 and 7:00 on Wednesday.

Location of Cypress Springs High School

Hurricane Harvey

I originally posted this on What the Heck, Bobby?

At last. After nearly five consecutive days of endless rain, Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey has finally made his exit from the Greater Houston area. I'm fortunate that my family and I sustained minimal losses from Harvey, but withstanding the storm does not mean that everything will instantaneously return to normal.

For many along the Texas coast, their perception of "normal" has been shattered and for them, there is a very real possibility that it may never be repaired. This is only the beginning of a long and arduous healing process. With that being said, the images I have seen this weekend of first responders working round the clock to coordinate rescue and evacuation efforts and the influx of volunteers from Texas and the nation lending a helping hand to these efforts truly give me hope.

Now, the rebuilding process begins and we all have a part to play in it. Not just in Houston, but all along the Texas coast as well. Houston may get the headlines because of its status as the 4th-largest city in the United States, but towns such as Rockport, Refugio, Corpus Christi, and Victoria all bore the brunt of Harvey's fury. As Texans, we look out for our own. Please, don't forget the communities of the Coastal Bend.

There are many, many opportunities to contribute financially toward the Harvey recovery. And if you wish to volunteer, here are several Texas organizations that you can contact. This recovery will take a long time so do what you can, give what you can.

Wildcats Through the Years: 2016

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

Photo credit: Matt Ramos, The Crimson Connection

Summary

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

Team Records Set or Tied

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

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

Individual Records Set or Tied

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

Statistical Leaders

Stats from Varsity Wires

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

Schedule and Results

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

The Rundown

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

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

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

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

Regular Season

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

Week 1: Klein Collins 42, Cy Woods 14

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

Week 3: Cy Woods 69, Cy Springs 34

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

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

Week 4: Cy Ridge 36, Cy Woods 21

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

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

Week 5: Jersey Village 58, Cy Woods 46

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

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

Week 6: Langham Creek 62, Cy Woods 35

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

Week 7: Cy Falls 27, Cy Woods 10

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

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

Week 8: Cy Woods 36, Cy Lakes 33

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

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

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


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

Week 10: Cy Creek 24, Cy Woods 23

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

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

Week 11: Cy Ranch 52, Cy Woods 13

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

In Conclusion

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

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

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

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

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

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

Time to revive 212 once again.

2017 Schedule

Here is how the 2017 schedule shapes up for Cy Woods as they look to return to respectability after nearly collapsing into the cellar with a 2-8 record in 2016.

The schedule is essentially the same order of opponents from last year, only the games are played on different days. This is technically the tenth football team, but the ninth season since Cy Woods began varsity football.

Cy Woods will play all ten of its regular-season games at the two Cy-Fair ISD stadiums this year. They'll also have two Saturday day games on the docket.

Homecoming X is September 29 against Jersey Village at CF-FCU. It will also be the first time that the Wildcats will face the Falcons at the Stadium Formerly Known as the Berry Center. This is not the earliest Homecoming game for the Cats; Homecoming II (2009) against Cy Ridge was the district opener that year.

212! Cy Woods leaps into the 2017 season with Klein Collins at Pridgeon Stadium. They'll play @JerseyVillageHS in their Homecoming game. pic.twitter.com/3HkvdnTFNT

— Varsity Wires (@VarsityWires) April 7, 2017