Cy Woods 49, Cy Springs 39: The End.

Final 2015 record: 5-5, 5-4 in District 17-6A



This is the second final-game recap I've done since starting this blog, and after doing one following the Manvel game last season, I thought this one would be a little easier. I was sorely mistaken.

On a rainy, chilly Saturday afternoon at the Berry Center, the Cypress Woods Wildcats closed out the 2015 season with a 49-39 victory over the Cy Springs Panthers. It turned out to be a bittersweet swan song for the Class of 2016, as Cy-Fair's 21-13 win over Jersey Village on Friday eliminated the Wildcats from playoff contention. And so, for the first time since 2012, Cy Woods will not be taking part in the festivities that we call the playoffs.

It's never fun when your fate isn't in your hands. Left for dead in the district. Fighting just to get back in the mix... only to see it all slip away. That is as cruel as it gets. For these seniors, this was probably the least fun life lesson that they've had to learn. But... life is all about learning lessons, and sometimes, we must learn these lessons in our darkest hours. It is harsh when the countless hours of hard work you put in end up going unrewarded. I know that these kids wanted to be rewarded with a trip to the playoffs, and all throughout this game, I had that feeling that they deserved so much better.

Although it was a high-scoring affair, this wasn't exactly the highest-quality game. Then again, it was raining steadily throughout the afternoon, which is not exactly ideal conditions for a football game. At least it wasn't a thunderstorm. It was cold, though, which also meant that it was pretty uncomfortable. Don't you just hate it when the weather puts its symbolism on full display sometimes?

So, What Happened Was...

Jordan Johnson opened up the scoring with a 2-yard run. The extra-point attempt was botched due to a bad snap, so Woods was on the board first with a 6-0 lead. Following a turnover on downs that put them in the red zone, Jordan found a wide-open C.J. Jones for a 15-yard touchdown.

End 1st: Woods 13, Springs 0

The Panthers suddenly sprang to life as Taye Barber connected with Jah'marea Sheread for a 62-yard touchdown pass. On the ensuing Wildcat possession, Jordan was strip-sacked, and Eric Carter put Springs in the lead by returning the loose ball 12 yards for another touchdown. Woods regained the lead as Jack Barrientez hauled in a pass from C.J. and outran everyone for a 76-yard touchdown. Barber struck once again; this time he found Jervarius Seals from 26 yards out. The extra point attempt was no good, however, and so the first 24 minutes ended in a deadlock.

Halftime: Woods 20, Springs 20

The 3rd quarter was largely nondescript, but business picked up late. Barber connected with Sheread again for an 11-yard scoring pass to put Springs back in front with 4:45 left in the period. Woods pulled even as Tre' Hart caught a rainbow from C.J. and scored from 31 yards out. However, the Panthers regained the lead as Barber had a Colton Huntsman-esque 76-yard touchdown run,

End 3rd: Springs 33, Woods 27

The Wildcats were finally able to seize control of this game in the final stanza of the season. R.J. caught another rainbow from C.J. and outran 5 Panthers for a 27-yard touchdown pass. C.J. then punched it in from 3 yards out. Barber mishandled a snap in his own endzone, and Adrian Garcia very nearly fell on it for a touchdown. They'd have to settle for a safety, but C.J. sealed the deal with a 31-yard touchdown scamper with 85 seconds left in the game. Jah'marea Sheread hauled in his 3rd touchdown catch of the game with 22 seconds remaining.

Final: Woods 49, Springs 39

Ground

The Panthers were well-prepared for the Wildcats' rushing attack. Woods was able to break a couple of big runs, but they either got called back thanks to holding calls, or they followed it up by losing 7 yards on the next play.

C.J. Jones finished 19 yards shy of a 1,000 yard season. R.J. Harmon, in his final game at Cy Woods, recorded 57 yards on the ground.

C.J. Jones: 24 carries, 141 yards, 2 TD
R.J. Harmon: 19 carries, 57 yards
Jordan Johnson: 8 carries, -10 yards, TD
Luis Reyes: 1 carry, -7 yards

Air

With no Bryson Powers, Jordan Johnson got his first start at the varsity level at the position he first played when he entered Cy Woods: quarterback. He mainly ran, although he fired a 15-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Jones on his first pass attempt of the game.

C.J. then took over at quarterback midway through the 2nd quarter. He had some nice throws that sadly fell incomplete, but he also unleashed some rainbows that fortunately fell into the hands of receivers. This might be the only time that he'll ever be the #1 QB.

C.J. Jones: 4-11, 155 yards, 3 TD
Jordan Johnson: 2-3, 7 yards, TD

4 of the 6 passes that were completed resulted in touchdowns. That's pretty efficient, wouldn't you say?

R.J. Harmon: 2 catches, 19 yards, TD
Jack Barrientez: 1 catch, 76 yards, TD
Tre' Hart: 1 catch, 31 yards, TD
Jared Taylor: 1 catch, 21 yards
C.J. Jones: 1 catch, 15 yards, TD

Defense

Keith Watson, in his final game, recorded 4 sacks. Although defensive stats are rarely ever tracked (don't know why it still hasn't caught on), I'm pretty sure that it's a Cy Woods record. Neil Chambers and Jordan Frazier chipped in with a couple of sacks of their own.

Special Teams

Nondescript return game, although C.J. was on the verge of a 60-yard punt return touchdown before he got tripped up by Taye Barber. Kickoffs were rather adventurous, as they muffed a couple that the Panthers ended up reccovering.

Luis Reyes hit 5 extra points. He'll finish this season as Cy Woods' new all-time leader in points scored by a kicker with 143, and he has one more season to add to that total. He also had some excellent punts, averaging 49 yards a boot on the afternoon.

Man of the Match

This goes out to the Class of 2016. For four years, you have built lifelong friendships with your teammates and toiled alongside each other for countless hours with the goal of bettering yourself, not just as a football player, but as a person as well. You all represented Cy Woods with class and have competed fiercely and fearlessly on the gridiron, like those who have come before you.

Although your time playing football at Cy Woods ended much, much earlier than you anticipated, hold your heads high, because you finished as winners.

I hope that when you find yourselves reminiscing over these days years from now, that you remember these days fondly. Remember these friendships that you have built. Remember the hours that you spent in the weight room and on the track in the hopes of becoming a better athlete. Remember the battles that you fought with your brothers. Remember the incredible support of your friends and the community. You will realize that you truly were a part of something special.

In Conclusion....

For many of the players on the Wildcat football team, this is the last time that they will represent Cypress Woods High School in athletics. Some will move on to the hardwood. Others will head to the baseball diamond or the track as they represent this school one more time.

Enjoy the rest of your time in high school. Go to as many basketball/baseball/softball games and as many Cy Woods-related activities as you possibly can. Support your fellow athletes and classmates, because they represent Cy Woods as much as you do. Savor every last moment you spend at Cy Woods.

Of Cypress Woods, we'll always be a part. You may not think that it does right now, but the last 8 words of the school song will resonate with you, long after you leave the school. Trust me on this... I graduated from Cy Woods 5 years ago. I don't even know the lyrics to the school song, but after all this time, I remember the last 8 words to it.

And so, Chapter 8 in the book of Cy Woods football has been completed. The torch is now in the hands of the Class of 2017. See you in the spring for Chapter 9.