Know Your Enemy: Langham Creek Lobos

Week 6: Cy Woods Wildcats vs. Langham Creek Lobos
7:00 PM Thursday, September 29, 2016
Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Stadium

Photo credit: Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

On Saturday, in the 100th game in school history, the Wildcats squandered a 31-17 halftime lead to Jersey Village, who flipped the script by outscoring them 41-15 in the second half to come away with a 58-46 victory. Jacob Kainer finished 22-31 for 333 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 123 yards and three scores. Jack Barrientez caught seven passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Myles Wilson recorded five tackles and recovered two fumbles, returning them (or one of them) for a total of 42 yards.

No doubt, they let that game get away. However, a short week gives them a chance to get back to work and minimize the time spent wallowing over the loss. The Wildcats will kick off Week 6 with a crucial matchup against a Langham Creek squad that is currently in a three-way tie at 2-1. This will be a chance for them to close out the first half of their schedule on a positive note, and also a chance for them to muddle up the early playoff picture in District 17-6A.

The Enemy: Langham Creek Lobos

2015 record: 5-5, 5-4 (6th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs

Langham Creek season-to-date

W 29-28 @ Klein Oak
W 54-20 vs. Cy Creek
W 22-14 @ Cy Falls
L 23-17 vs. Cy Ridge

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-3.

Previous Meetings

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

(A few) Players to Watch

RB Toneil Carter, QB Jacob Walls, QB Kacey Pryor, WR Chase McCray, WR Praise Okorie, DL Chidi Ogbonnaya, DL Isaac Salazar, LB Corien Azema, LB David Eggleton, DB Jordan Murray, DB Darren Woodson, DB Noah McGee

2¢ on Langham Creek

Langham Creek entered 2015 as the defending district champions, and they had the talent to repeat as champions. Unfortunately... an 0-4 start destroyed those ambitions, and even though they went 5-1 in their final six games, the damage from that awful start was too much for them to overcome.

Since Coach Thompson has taken over, the Lobos' reputation has been built on an explosive offense; guys like the Juergens brothers (okay, they were in the previous era), Conner Feist, Dominique Harris, Quartney Davis, and a host of others have put up gaudy numbers in their frenetic system.

The centerpiece of this offense is Toneil Carter, a four-year letterman, one of the most coveted high school football players in the country, and the face of Langham Creek football. Toneil enters the week a mere 9th in rushing yards, but there's no denying that he is a truly special talent who can carry this team to a victory if need be. The Lobos have a platoon at quarterback with Kacey Pryor and Jacob Walls. Pryor was a defensive back last season and is the runner, while Walls is more of a packet passer. Both have been efficient in throwing the ball; Pryor has yet to throw an interception in 44 attempts this season. The platoon isn't necessarily performance-based, because the two of them have made the most of their opportunities.

Langham has had a solid pipeline of wide receivers, and the torch has been passed to Chase McCray and Praise Okorie. McCray leads the district in receptions and is third in receiving yards, while Okorie is fourth in receiving yards and third in yards per reception among players with more than 20 catches.

The Langham defense enters this matchup allowing the third-fewest yards per game, and Coach Thompson is extremely high on this unit, especially along the defensive line. Ogbonnaya provides an imposing presence, and Salazar has really come on as a playmaker in the trenches. David Eggleton leads a deep linebacker corps, and he'll team up with Brad Pinkerton, Jermaine Wright, and an emerging sophomore in Corien Azema.

The Lobos lead the district with six interceptions. Azema, Eggleton, and Pinkerton all have one, and Jordan Murray, their quarterback in the secondary, is one of six players in the district with two picks. Noah McGee, Darren Woodson, and Paul Darks round out a talented secondary.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

In a game featuring two teams with dwindling playoff hopes, the Wildcats kept theirs alive with a 48-33 victory, breaking a three-game losing streak to the Lobos.

Bryson Powers ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns, both of which went to Jordan Johnson. C.J. Jones ran for 174 yards and two touchdowns and also returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

Since the varsity plays on Thursday, the sub-varsity teams play tonight. The freshmen will play at Cy Woods, while the JV will travel to Langham Creek. Game times are at 5 and 7.

Location of Langham Creek High School

Winner & Top 3 330

Hi everyone :)

What a lot of fantastic entries and comments for our last challenge.

Thank you :)

Our sponsor is...

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JuliaSpiri

 Prize : 2 digital stamps of choice from store

Congrats to our Winner!

17. Sheila H

Please contact Lisa at craftyourpassion@gmail.com with Challenge 330 Winner in the subject line within (7) days to claim your prize. Any prize not claimed by 10/05/2016 will be given to a new winner!

Now for our Top 3...

45. Ema Martinez

94. Donna Mundinger

129. Marie

Well done to all!

Don't forget to take your badges from the sidebar :)

Jersey Village 58, Cy Woods 46: Falcons' Supremacy Continues

2016 Record: 1-3, 1-2 in District 17-6A

Photo credit: Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

No team had ever defeated the Cypress Woods Wildcats in football in four consecutive years. That changed on Saturday, though, as Jersey Village came away with a 58-46 victory to extend their winning streak over the Wildcats to... four.

Well... the Cats are not in dire straits yet, but this was surely another game that they felt they let get away, especially considering that they led 31-17 at halftime. The Falcons turned the tables in the second half by outscoring the Wildcats 41-15.

After a dud against Cy Ridge, the Wildcat offense reverted to its usual, explosive self. Jacob Kainer had an excellent night as he was responsible for five touchdowns, and Jack Barrientez continues to be an impact player, but someone has to emerge to take some of the burden off of Jacob and Jack while C.J. Jones continues to be on the mend. Nijah Surtain and Jake Tesch have shown promise in their sophomore campaigns, but it's apparent that they are both trying to adapt to the varsity level. Brennan Niles had a solid night catching the ball; he could become a reliable option in the passing game if he gets the targets, and that would take a huge amount of pressure off of Jack, who has really been the Wildcats' one consistent receiving threat this season.

One loss? Fine. Two losses, however, makes things more dicey. Heading towards the second half of the season, each game begins to take on more significance in terms of the playoff picture, and at the same time, the margin for error has virtually vanished. In Cy-Fair ISD, every game counts, and this next game against Langham Creek is the game that the Wildcats must win if they want to stay within striking distance of a playoff spot.

So, What Happened Was...

Emerson Garcia opened the scoring in Jersey Village's favor with a 27-yard field goal. Woods responded with an eight-yard touchdown run from Jacob Kainer and a 28-yard field goal from Luis Reyes.

End 1st: Woods 10, JV 3

Alec Wechsler connected with Jordan Jones for a 36-yard touchdown pass to tie the game, but the Wildcats responded with 21 unanswered points. Jacob punched it in from a yard out, and Jack Barrientez found Brennan Niles on the patented halfback pass for a 28-yard touchdown. Jacob then found Cullen Sherrill for a 61-yard touchdown pass. The Falcons got a three-yard touchdown run from Jireh Thompson just before the half.

Halftime: Woods 31, JV 17

That score before halftime sparked a 28-0 Jersey Village run, and Thompson scored all four of those touchdowns. In the third, he scored on runs of seven, 71, and 12 yards; the 12-yard run gave JV their first lead of the evening. Jacob scored on a two-yard run, his third rushing touchdown of the game, for the Wildcats' only points of the 3rd.

End 3rd: Woods 38, JV 38

Thompson took over in the third quarter, but in the final stanza, he turned it over to his quarterback, Wechsler, who proceeded to torch the Wildcats for three touchdown passes. His second touchdown pass to Jones put the Falcons back in front. Jack caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Jacob for a score, and then Myles Wilson fought his way into the endzone for the go-ahead two-point conversion, putting Cy Woods up 46-45. Wechsler would have the final say in this one, though, as he hit John Gilbert for a 69-yard touchdown to give Jersey Village the lead for good, and he sealed the deal with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Thompson.

Final: JV 58, Woods 46

Ground

C.J. has been missed, and that really puts the burden of the running game on Jacob, who already has more than enough on his plate. Nijah is still trying to adjust, so the Cats' options at running back are pretty limited. Jack has basically been thrust into a utility role, sort of like the role Jared Taylor played at times last year.

Jacob left the game due to an injury in the fourth quarter, but it doesn't seem to be too serious.

Jacob Kainer: 29 carries, 123 yards, 3 TD
Jack Barrientez: 7 carries, 25 yards
Nijah Surtain: 6 carries, 37 yards
Matt Ficalora: 1 carry, 3 yards

Air

Jacob had a new career-high in passing yards, and this was the best that the passing game has looked all season, because more receivers are getting looks in the passing game. On the other hand, a cynic may say that that may be a product of trying to see who will step up.

We already know that Jacob and Jack have already established a solid rapport together, but as the other receivers are getting more acclimated, we're seeing more of them getting involved.

Judging by their numbers, Jake and Brennan were both targeted quite a bit in this game, and I think that's a good sign for this offense moving forward; as I mentioned in the beginning of this post, Jack is clearly the primary option, so one of these guys must emerge as a #2 receiver in the passing game. It could be Jake, whose exciting skill set is reminiscent of Mason Roberts. It could be Brennan, who has steadily improved each year and is getting his shot to shine. It could be one, or even both, of the Sherrills. With their size, they are instant mismatches on the outside.

Jacob Kainer: 22-31, 333 yards, 2 TD
Jack Barrientez: 1-1, 28 yards, TD
Brighton Gullickson: 1-3, 8 yards, INT

Jack Barrientez: 7 catches, 116 yards, TD
Jake Tesch: 6 catches, 68 yards
Brennan Niles: 4 catches, 82 yards, TD
Tanner Sherrill: 2 catches, 38 yards
Sam Landingham: 2 catches, 0 yards
Cullen Sherrill: 1 catch, 61 yards, TD
Connor Faulk: 1 catch, 12 yards
Nijah Surtain: 1 catch, 2 yards

Defense

Unfortunately, the defense was gashed by the opposing team's running back for the second straight week, and the Wildcats could not find an answer for the Falcons' offensive assault in the second half. JV running back Jireh Thompson ran for 242 yards on 23 carries and scored four touchdowns. In addition, Alec Wechsler threw for 368 yards and four more scores, and John Gilbert and Jordan Jones both exceeded 100 receiving yards.

Tackles

Trent Bird: 7 (1 for loss)
Christian Jones, Myles Wilson and Kason Franklin: 5 (all solo)
Cody Eggleston: 5 (1 assisted, 1 for loss [sack])
Elijah Strang and Micheal Young: 4
Tory Spears, Semaj Trahan, and Collin Fewox: 2 (all solo; Fewox had 1 tackle for a loss)
Deon Jones, Eron Vanduren, Chris Statom: 1 (all solo)
Evan Alexander, Matt Ficalora, Collin Joyce: 1 (assisted)

Takeaways

Fumbles forced: Trent Bird, Tory Spears, Christian Jones: 1
Fumbles recovered: Myles Wilson 2

Special Teams

Luis Reyes converted on his first field goal attempt of the season and also hit on all five of his extra point attempts.

1-1 FG (made 28); 5-5 XP; 4 punts, 133 yards (33.3 yards per punt)

Return opportunities have been scarce in recent weeks, but Nijah Surtain got plenty of work with five kickoff returns.

Nijah Surtain: 5 kicks returned, 102 yards
Matt Ficalora: 1 kick returned, 10 yards
Jake Tesch: 1 punt returned, 5 yards

Man of the Match

Before the season, I felt that Jack Barrientez was primed for a breakout season, and his versatility would be a huge asset for the offense. C.J. Jones' absence has thrust Jack into a starring role, and he has responded by putting up All-District caliber numbers in the early going.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will alternate between Thursday and Friday games from here on out. They'll kick off Week 6 in District 17-6A with a tilt against the Langham Creek Lobos at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium this Thursday at 7:00. Cy Woods will be the home team in this contest.

Challenge 331 ~ Always Anything Goes

Welcome to Craft Your Passion :)

Thank you so much to everyone who shared their 

beautiful creations and comments with us :)

Prize : $12 Gift Card to spend in store

Hello! I’m so happy to be here as a Sponsor for  Craft Your Passion Challenges! Sami Stamps provides a variety of high quality Digital Stamps in both JPEG and PNG formats.  I hope you enjoy crafting with Sami Stamps images as much as I enjoy illustrating them!

If you’re having fun here, please feel free to come check us out!

Blog: www.samistamp.blogspot.com

Blog Shop: http://samistampsshop.blogspot.com/

Etsy Shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/SamiStamps

Always Anything Goes

And now here's some amazing inspiration,as always,from 
Design Team A  featuring images kindly provided by our sponsor...

Catherine

Elizabeth

Veronica

Jools

Alethea

Zeljka

Valentina

Lisa 

An InLinkz Link-up

Winner & Top 3 329

Hi all :)

It was lovely to have you join in our challenge with all your amazing

creations.Thank you :)

And to those who were kind enough to comment.

Our sponsor is...

https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/SasayakiGlitter?ref=pr_shop_more

 Prize : 1 digi of choice

Congrats to our Winner!

28. mijn kaartenplezier : jongleren

Please contact Lisa at craftyourpassion@gmail.com with Challenge 329 Winner in the subject line within (7) days to claim your prize. Any prize not claimed by 09/28/2016 will be given to a new winner!

Here are the Top 3...

5. GingerCrafter


119. Carol Gill


121. Luna

Please grab your badges from the sidebar :)
Well done eveyone!

If I Was Your Girl

Description: Amanda Hardy is the new girl in school in Lambertville, Tennessee. Like any other girl, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is keeping a secret. There’s a reason why she transferred schools for her senior year, and why she’s determined not to get too close to anyone.
  And then she meets Grant Everett. Grant is unlike anyone she’s ever met—open, honest, kind—and Amanda can’t help but start to let him into her life. As they spend more time together, she finds herself yearning to share with Grant everything about herself…including her past. But she’s terrified that once she tells Grant the truth, he won't be able to see past it. Because the secret that Amanda’s been keeping? It’s that she used to be Andrew.

Review: After being beaten up in a mall bathroom, Amanda goes to live with her estranged father in Lambertville, Tennessee, where no one knows her from her pre-transition life. I loved Amanda's voice and liked her right away. She is incredibly brave for being open and honest of who she is despite all of the obstacles that she faces. The story consists of Amanda's previous life, during, post-suicide attempt, and transition which are interspersed with her current life throughout the story. I learned many things about the transitional experience that I didn't know about before reading this book. The push of wanting to be open and experiencing life with unexpected friendships with people from various backgrounds and sexual orientations and even possibly starting a romance of her own and the pull of her own fear of her secret and her father's constant admonitions to fly under the radar is real, authentic, and a familiar story for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.
 What I really liked about this book is that it is not overwrought with unnecessary drama, sentimental nor heavy handed. The initial romance between Amanda and Grant is sweet, but things are in flux once Grant finds out about Amanda's past. Like Amanda, Grant is also keeping secrets regarding his family. It is nice to see that both of these characters balance each other out.
   An author's note at the end of the book reveals that the author herself is transgendered and has admitted that there are instances that she took liberty in telling Amanda's story. For instance, Amanda is blessed to physically, seamlessly blend and the price of very expensive drugs did not seem to be a financial issue with her family. Some readers may have issues with these unrealistic portions of the book, but I see it as giving hope that things will get better for transgendered teens. I also appreciated that the book does not end in a happily ever or wrap up in a bow, especially when her romantic relationship is concerned, but rather Amanda is willing to educate those around her on what it means to be transgendered.  If I Was Your Girl is a much needed, timely book in YA. 


Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language including homophobic slurs, underage drinking and drug usage, scene of attempted sexual assault, and scenes of heavy making out with some mention of nudity. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Rethinking Normal by Katie Rain Hill, Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

Know Your Enemy: Jersey Village Falcons

Week 5: Cy Woods Wildcats @ Jersey Village Falcons
6:00 PM Saturday, September 24, 2016
Pridgeon Stadium

Photo credit: Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

Despite leading Cy Ridge 13-8 at halftime with just 26 yards of total offense, it was only a matter of time before Cy Woods' lackluster offensive performance came back to haunt them. The Rams outscored the Wildcats 28-8 in the second half, which included a 21-0 fourth quarter, to come away with a 36-21 victory on Saturday at Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Stadium. 

Cy Woods was outgained 552-202 on offense, and the offensive woes eventually became too much for the defense to overcome. Semaj Trahan returned an interception 86 yards for a touchdown, while Jacob Kainer ran for 68 yards and a touchdown. Jacob also threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jack Barrientez in the third quarter.

Now, the Wildcats will move on to their final Saturday game of the regular season. This will be the 100th game in Cy Woods football history. 

The Enemy: Jersey Village Falcons

2015 Record: 2-8, 2-7 (t-8th) in District 17-6A

Did not qualify for playoffs

Jersey Village season-to-date

L 42-30 vs. Cinco Ranch

L 60-28 @ Cy Ridge

L 35-7 vs. Cy Ranch

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-3.

Previous Meetings

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

QB Alec Wechsler, RB Kendon Flowers, WR Jordan Jones, WR Blake Johnson, LB Emerald Blueitt, LB Jacob Clarkson, DL Greyson Newton

2¢ on Jersey Village

After coming up one game away from a playoff berth for two consecutive seasons, the Falcons crashed to the bottom of the standings in 2015. They have had a rough beginning to their 2016 campaign, but this is a team that has had the Wildcats' number in recent seasons. Jersey Village has beaten Cy Woods three years in a row, mainly due to the efforts of Deshun Qualls, who is now at Abilene Christian.

The Falcons, much like the Wildcats, are breaking in a brand-new cast of characters on the offensive side of the ball. Rokeem Paul and Austin Lynch, the district's most productive wide receiver tandem in 2015, have also moved on. Qualls also led the team in rushing, and their top running back, Anthony Ajao, transferred to Alief Hastings.

Alec Wechsler is now at the controls of the Falcon offense, and while he's not the dynamic threat that Qualls was, he's probably a better passer than Qualls. Wechsler enters the week in with 778 passing yards and nine touchdowns; only Cy Creek's Mateo Renteria leads him in those categories. Jordan Jones, a sophomore, has emerged as the Falcons' #1 receiver. Blake Johnson and John Gilbert have also become reliable targets for Wechsler. Kendon Flowers, a transfer from Clear Falls, has made an impact in his first season with the Falcons; he is their leading rusher and is also a threat in the return game.

Defense had been one of the Falcons' strengths, but one of the biggest reasons as to why they finished 2-8 in 2015 was the severe regression that they suffered on defense; they allowed 414 points last season after giving up just 399 in the previous two seasons combined. Jersey Village brings back an experienced group of linebackers led by Jacob Clarkson, Emerald Blueitt, and Victor Abrego, while Greyson Newton anchors the defensive line.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

In a game that we may not see for another decade, maybe even longer, Deshun Qualls did things that I'm pretty sure not even Kyler Murray did in a single night, and both teams re-wrote Cy-Fair ISD's record book. Even now, when I think about that game, I am still in utter disbelief. Not even outstanding individual performances from C.J. Jones, who set a Cy Woods single-game record with 346 rushing yards, and Jordan Johnson, who had 200 receiving yards, and Josh Marvin, a seldom-used linebacker who recorded two sacks and an interception after getting pressed into duty, were enough to keep the Wildcats' playoff hopes alive, because Qualls was simply in another realm that night.

In a game where both teams combined for 1,643 yards of offense, Jersey Village prevailed 74-73, effectively eliminating Cy Woods from playoff contention.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

The junior varsity games will take place at Cy Woods, while the freshmen will play at Pridgeon, because the track and the playing field at Jersey Village is undergoing renovations. Game times, as always, are at 5 and 7.

Please welcome our newest DT members

Please give our talented new DT members a warm welcome...

Pam

Hello! My name is Pam and I live in a small town in Wisconsin, U.S., just a couple of blocks from the beautiful shore of the great Lake Michigan. First and foremost I am a Christian and my family is very import to me. My husband and I have two adult daughters, one sweet kitty and I am enjoying being retired from my job as a paramedic. I've been stamping for close to 20 years and it is the only hobby I've stayed completely interested in. I love everything about stamping but I think my stamping friends are what makes it even better!! I have never considered myself really artistic but stamping makes it easy. I use all types of stamps, digis and die cuts and the inspiration never quits. It has been fun designing cards for all these years and when I look back I really see the changes in my creations. You can always find me in Blogland working on my blog or helping out on other DTs. I am super excited to be joining Craft Your Passion and getting to know everyone!

***********************************************

Tinka (Valentina)

Hi there!

My name is Valentina and kids in scouts call me Tinka and that is the reason behind my Blog's name. 

I'm 38 years and I come from a small city Koprivnica that is in Croatia.

I am a wife for a 15 years and a proud mother of two wonderful girls Gabriela (13) and Mihaela (10)

Since I was a little girl I was always doing something crafty and tried crocheting, polymer clay, sewing, needlepointing,

but then my daughters started to go in kindergarten and on birthday but all the cards was so lame, 

so I started to make them and finding out the amazing world of scrapbooking

With scrapbooking I have being playing in about 7 years and I'm loving it ;)

Hope that you will like them too

 ♥Hugs Valentina♥

***********************************************

Khushboo

Hello. I’m Khushboo and I’m from India. I know you guys might not be familiar with such a name, so here’s a little something about it. Khushboo actually means ‘fragrance’ in the English language, and I absolutely love it!

I’m 29 years old and I love, love, love crafting. I’ve always had a knack for creative hobbies (painting, writing, photography to name a few). I liked doing these, but I could not quite find the passion that I was looking for. And then in 2015, I stumbled upon a mixed media tutorial and I was completely awed by it. I was introduced to the magnificent and fun world of crafting! It’s unbelievably engrossing and satisfying. And as a person, I’m all about the colours and vibrancy. So playing with my crafts and supplies fills me with a lot of positivity. 

I love creating altered projects, mini albums, mixed media, decoupaged works; and I love experimenting and trying out new techniques and products. I’m so excited to be a part of the team and I look forward to share my creativity and projects with everyone :)

***********************************************

Snow White

 Matt Phelan's Snow White is a beautiful and artistic blend of historical fiction and fairy tale retelling. Many thanks to Candlewick Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy of the graphic novel.

Description: The scene: New York City. The dazzling lights cast shadows that grow ever darker as the glitzy prosperity of the Roaring Twenties screeches to a halt. Enter a cast of familiar characters: a young girl, Samantha White, returning after being sent away by her cruel stepmother, the Queen of the Follies, years earlier; her father, the King of Wall Street, who survives the stock market crash only to suffer a strange and sudden death; seven street urchins, brave protectors for a girl as pure as snow; and a mysterious stock ticker that holds the stepmother in its thrall, churning out ticker tape imprinted with the wicked words "Another . . . More Beautiful . . . KILL."

Review: Phelan re-imagines the famous Grimms' fairy tale in the glittery, pre–Depression era New York City setting. The book opens in 1928 with a detective questioning a street urchin, “What’s the story here?” as the NYPD cordons off what seems to be a crime scene of a woman's dead body in a Macy's window holiday display. We go back in time in order to find the answer and to see what events lead up to this moment. 
  In a flashback to 1918, we see happy little Samantha “Snow” White playing with her mother in Central Park. There are allusions that her Snow's mother is dying of tuberculosis. Fast forward ten years later, a Ziegfeld Follies showgirl easily casts a spell, ensnares, and marries Samantha's wealthy older father. I loved the telegraph as a device that replaces the magic mirror in the fairy tale and it also predicts the fall of the stock market which also serves as a catalyst for the stepmother's actions in sending Samantha away to boarding school and poisoning her husband. 
 Samantha's stepmother, furious upon learning that the dead man left the bulk of his estate to his daughter, decides that Samantha is next. The graphic novel follows the rest of the fairy tale quite faithfully. The seven dwarfs are actually seven, diverse, street boys who view Samantha as a mother figure. The moment where each boy tells Samantha his name is sweet and touching.
 The graphic novel reads like a silent movie. Most of the pages are wordless, but Phelan's wonderful illustrations still maintains its pace and furthers the storytelling in showing it. The gray, smokey tones gives an old school noir feel, and the occasional spots of color such as the red for the poisoned apple and the blushed cheeks and rosy lips really pop. The various fonts when dialogue is included add drama and sense of urgency in the story. Readers who are use to action packed graphic novels much be taken aback by this graphic novel's format, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. This graphic novel should be read slowly as you taken in every stroke and image on the page. I would definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy a fresh, new take on fairy tale retellings.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 5 and up.

If you like this book try: Bluffton by Matt Phelan, The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman

Challenge 330 ~ Always Anything Goes

Welcome to Craft Your Passion :)

Thank you to those who took the time to share your talents with us 

and it was so nice to read all your comments too :)

Our sponsor is...

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JuliaSpiri

 Prize : 2 digital stamps of choice from store

Always Anything Goes

Here's some delightful inspiration from Design Team A

featuring images kindly provided by our sponsor...

Shamita

Sadly this is Shamita's last project for us.

We wish her well for the future :)

Fiki

Michelle

Patti

Bonnie

Lynn

Rina

Carolyn

Denitsa

using her own supplies

An InLinkz Link-up

Cy Ridge 36, Cy Woods 21: Coming Undone

2016 Record: 1-2, 1-1 in District 17-6A

Photo credit: Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

The Wildcats held a potent Cy Ridge offense to just six points (the other two came on a safety) and actually led 13-8 after the first 24 minutes of action despite accumulating just 27 yards of offense. Unfortunately, the offense did not fare much better in the second half, and a defense that held out valiantly against the Rams in the first half eventually cracked, and Ridge outscored the Wildcats 21-0 in the fourth quarter to emerge with a 36-21 victory. The Cats did win the turnover battle in this contest, but again, a lackluster offense meant that most of those opportunities went by the wayside.

One loss is not a backbreaker, and district play is just getting underway. Cy Woods is definitely still in the mix, but their margin for error has shrunk quite a bit.

So, What Happened Was...

The Rams opened the scoring..... with a safety. On their ensuing offensive possession, however, Semaj Trahan scored his first touchdown at the varsity level.... with an 86-yard pick six. Woods had the ball for less than two minutes in the first quarter and managed to come out with the lead.

End 1st: Woods 6, Ridge 2

TyRae Thornton muffed a punt inside the five, and the Wildcats pounced on the ball at the Rams' two-yard line. Jacob Kainer parlayed the miscue into the game's first offensive touchdown with a one-yard run. Kevin LeDee caught an 11-yard touchdown pass right before halftime.

Halfitme: Woods 13, Ridge 8

Jack Barrientez caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Jacob, and Connor Faulk ran the ball in for two points to put Cy Woods up 21-8, but Cy Ridge finished this game on a 28-0 run. Trelon Smith scored his first touchdown of the evening from nine yards out with just under three minutes to go in the third.

End 3rd: Woods 21, Ridge 15

Smith opened up the fourth quarter with a bang, scoring from 88 yards to give Ridge the lead. Alex Jacobs finished off the Cats with two touchdown runs from one yard and 23 yards.

The Wildcats have been outscored 41-7 in the fourth quarter this season. This is the first game in which the fourth quarter was not garbage time.

Final: Ridge 36, Woods 21

Ground

A lot of carries, not a lot of yards. Nijah Surtain is a sophomore who was recently made eligible for varsity competition; he is one of three sophomores who were promoted to the varsity this past week, bringing the total number of tenth-graders on the roster to nine.

Jacob Kainer: 24 carries, 68 yards, TD

Nijah Surtain, 10 carries, 45 yards

Jack Barrientez: 7 carries, 15 yards

Bobby Dodson: 1 carry: 0 yards

Brighton Gullickson: 2 carries, -9 yards

Air

Sounds like drops haunted the Cats in this game. Jack Barrientez has caught ten passes this season. Ten other Wildcats have combined for 18 receptions; none have caught more than three. Someone is going to have to step up and become a threat in the passing game, or else the Cats will be running a bunch for very few yards.

Jacob Kainer: 6-17, 106 yards, TD, INT
Bobby Dodson: 0-1
Brighton Gullickson: 0-1

Jack Barrientez: 3 catches, 22 yards, TD
Angel Laca: 1 catch, 43 yards
Bobby Dodson: 1 catch, 27 yards
Tanner Sherrill: 1 catch, 14 yards

Defense

The offense's woes ensured that it would be a long night for the defense. They did well to hold the Rams offense to just six points in the first half, but you get the feeling that it would only be a matter of time before they cracked. On the other hand, they must have realized that taking the ball away from the other team is a beneficial tactic. Too bad the offense couldn't get more points off of those turnovers.

Kason Franklin and Myles Wilson had 13 tackles apiece for the Cats. Semaj Trahan scored Cy Woods' first touchdown with his pick six.

Interceptions: Semaj Trahan 1, returned 86 yards for a touchdown
Fumbles forced: Elijah Strang and Micheal Young, 1 apiece
Fumbles recovered: Tory Spears, Myles Wilson, Micheal Young; Spears returned his fumble 12 yards.

Tackles

Kason Franklin 13
Myles Wilson 13
Elijah Strang, Tory Spears, Neil Chambers 7
Micheal Young and Collin Fewox 4
Cody Eggleston 3
Ryan Kenny, Connor Faulk, Tyler Redgrave 2
Nine players recorded one tackle.

Special Teams

It was a pretty adventurous Saturday night for Luis Reyes. He hit one of his two extra point attempts; the first one was blocked following a bad snap. Luis also had a snap sail over his head when he was lining up to punt, and that resulted in a safety.

Luis Reyes: 1-2 XP; 6 punts, 235 yards (39.2 yards per punt)

Jack Barrientez now has the longest kickoff return this season for Cy Woods.

Jake Tesch: 1 kick returned, 21 yards; 2 punts returned, 10 yards
Jack Barrientez: 1 kick returned, 43 yards
Matt Ficalora: 1 kick returned, 18 yards
Jake Fennis: 1 kick returned, 8 yards

Man of the Match

I'll have to go with Semaj Trahan. I know he would probably rather stay on offense, but this team is in dire need of difference makers on defense, and especially in the secondary. Five years ago, Cy Woods had the best secondary in the district, hands down. Semaj is an incredibly talented player who can make a difference at any skill position. On Saturday, in his first game at a position he just started learning, he held his own against Kevin LeDee, one of the district's top receivers.

Semaj seems to have handled the transition well... I'm sure he had some reservations at first, but now that he knows that he can make an impact on defense, I hope he's there to stay. 

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will take on the Jersey Village Falcons on Saturday, September 24 at Pridgeon Stadium in the 100th game in Cy Woods football history. The Cats will be the away team in this contest. Kickoff is at 6:00.

As Brave As You

Description: Genie's summer is full of surprises. The first is that he and his big brother, Ernie, are leaving Brooklyn for the very first time to spend the summer with their grandparents all the way in Virginia—in the COUNTRY! The second surprise comes when Genie figures out that their grandfather is blind. Thunderstruck and—being a curious kid—Genie peppers Grandpop with questions about how he covers it so well (besides wearing way cool Ray-Bans).
   How does he match his clothes? Know where to walk? Cook with a gas stove? Pour a glass of sweet tea without spilling it? Genie thinks Grandpop must be the bravest guy he's ever known, but he starts to notice that his grandfather never leaves the house—as in NEVER. And when he finds the secret room that Grandpop is always disappearing into—a room so full of songbirds and plants that it's almost as if it's been pulled inside-out—he begins to wonder if his grandfather is really so brave after all.
   Then Ernie lets him down in the bravery department. It's his fourteenth birthday, and, Grandpop says to become a man, you have to learn how to shoot a gun. Genie thinks that is AWESOME until he realizes Ernie has no interest in learning how to shoot. None. Nada. Dumbfounded by Ernie's reluctance, Genie is left to wonder—is bravery and becoming a man only about proving something, or is it just as important to own up to what you won't do?

Review: As Brave As You is an enjoyable and thought provoking story of an African American family working to overcome its tumultuous past in hopes of a better future. Genie Harris is an inquisitive tween who has a notebook full of questions, ranging from the superficial and ridiculous to the introspective. While his parents try to figure out their relationship, Genie and his brother Ernie find themselves spending their summer in rural Virginia at their grandparents house in the country.   
   Reynolds does a great job blending humor from the various horrible events such as breaking a family heirloom, and accidentally poisoning of their grandfather's pet bird along with serious discussions regarding the boy's great-grandfather's suicide, their grandfather's vulnerability and pride for asking help due to his disability, their Uncle Wood's sudden death during the Desert Storm. Though the plot is mostly made up of slice of moments on a long, hot summer day, there are long buried feelings of guilt, anger, resentment simmer beneath the surface until they reach a climax as Ernie is peer pressured to fire a gun as a symbol of becoming a man, with unfortunate results. Thankfully, the novel doesn't end with any fatalities and a family trying to work out their issues.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 4 and up.

If you like this book try: The Watson's Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis, One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Symptoms of Being Human

Description: Riley Cavanaugh is many things: Punk rock. Snarky. Rebellious. And gender fluid. Some days Riley identifies as a boy, and others as a girl. The thing is…Riley isn’t exactly out yet. And between starting a new school and having a congressman father running for reelection in uber-conservative Orange County, the pressure—media and otherwise—is building up in Riley’s so-called “normal” life.
  On the advice of a therapist, Riley starts an anonymous blog to vent those pent-up feelings and tell the truth of what it’s REALLY like to be a gender fluid teenager. But just as Riley’s starting to settle in at school—even developing feelings for a mysterious outcast—the blog goes viral, and an unnamed commenter discovers Riley’s real identity, threatening exposure. Riley must make a choice: walk away from what the blog has created—a lifeline, new friends, a cause to believe in—or stand up, come out, and risk everything.

Review: After being bullied at a Catholic high school and a failed suicide attempt, Riley Cavanaugh is looking for a fresh start at Park Hills High. By starting a new school, Riley braces for the question that will be inevitably asked when someone spots Riley, "Is that a girl, or a guy?" Riley quickly gets pegged as an "it", unable to be easily put in a box labeled by a specific gender. Riley identifies as gender fluid, waking up some mornings feeling more like a girl and other mornings feeling more like a boy and would prefer to dress in a manner that reflects this, a secret that she keeps closely to herself. 
 I was not familiar with gender fluidity until reading this book and I learned a lot. Riley is presented androgynously in order to avoid negative attention especially since her father is in the public eye and running for office. The author does a great job in showing Riley's wide range of inner emotions from anxiety, vulnerability, excitement, strength and confidence without ever resorting to describing Riley's physical features. It actually doesn't matter what Riley looks like because Riley is much more than a checkbox: Riley is smart, funny, and a great writer. 
  In addition to a real, three dimensional protagonist, a sweet budding romance, there are some flaws in the book that requires a bit of suspension of disbelief. For instance, Riley takes a suggestion of a therapist and starts an anonymous blog about what it's like to be gender fluid. The blog goes viral instantly and quickly accumulates followers overnight, which as a blogger myself found that hard to believe. I also had hard time believing that people would seek out life advice about serious issues from a very inexperienced teen on a blog, but despite these issues Symptoms of Being Human opens up a discussion on identity, gender, and a good starting place about gender fluidity. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language including homophobic slurs, scenes of bullying, and mentions about a failed attempted suicide. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Lizard Radio by Pat Schmatz, Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard

Winner & Top 3 328

Hi everyone :)

It was fantastic to see all your creativity flowing last challenge.

Thank you for joining us and for your lovely comments too :)

Our sponsor is...

Prize : 3 Digi stamps of choice in store

Congrats to our Winner!

70. NanaConnie

Please contact Lisa at craftyourpassion@gmail.com with Challenge 328 Winner in the subject line within (7) days to claim your prize. Any prize not claimed by 09/21/2016 will be given to a new winner!

Now on to the Top 3...

129. Elena F

155. Norma

186. zubmomi

Well done to all!

Please take your badges from the sidebar :)

Know Your Enemy: Cypress Ridge Rams

Week 4: Cy Woods Wildcats vs. Cy Ridge Rams
6:00 PM, Saturday, September 17, 2016
Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Stadium

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats started off District 17-6A play on the right foot by blowing away Cy Springs 69-34 in the new-look Pridgeon Stadium on Friday. Jacob Kainer accounted for seven touchdowns in the win, throwing for 241 yards and four touchdowns while adding 133 yards and three scores on the ground. Jack Barrientez caught four passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

Next up for Cy Woods... a very intriguing early-season matchup against a resurgent Cy Ridge squad.

The Enemy: Cypress Ridge Rams

2015 record: 4-6, 3-6 (7th) in District 17-6A

Did not qualify for playoffs

After edging Morton Ranch 35-30 in their season opener, the Rams dominated Jersey Village in all facets of the game on Saturday, cruising to a 60-28 victory.

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-3.

Previous Meetings

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

RB Trelon Smith, RB Alex Jacobs, WR Kevin LeDee, QB Tyson Williams, DB TyRae Thornton, DL D'Juan Matthews, DB Kobe House, LB Yusuf Sham, LB Josh McDade, DB James Froehlich

2¢ on Ridge

After the Rams took the first two meetings between these two schools, Cy Woods has won five of the last six meetings to seize control of the series.

In 2014, the Rams posted their worst record ever. That year, they underwent a massive youth movement, in which players like Trelon Smith, Kevin LeDee, TyRae Thornton, Kobe House, and James Froehlich, who were all sophomores that season, were pressed into feature roles.

Although Ridge also missed the playoffs in 2015, they proved to be a tough out for the district's playoff representatives, and they also came away with three of the district's four individual accolades; Smith was named the district's Offensive MVP, while Lucky Jeffery, who has since moved on to Lamar, was chosen as Defensive MVP. In addition, D'Juan Matthews shared Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors with Cy-Fair's Jace Bobo. 

Now, it's 2016. The sophomores who took their lumps in 2014 are now seniors, and they are looking to return the favor to the rest of the district. 

Smith, an Arizona State commit (Go Devils) is probably one of the five best players in the entire district. He has picked up right where he left off in 2015, leading the district in rushing and scoring in the early going. Smith has enjoyed playing against the Wildcats in the past; he returned a kickoff for a touchdown as a sophomore and scored three touchdowns in the first quarter last year. Alex Jacobs has also been an effective second option in the running game. Kevin LeDee has firmly entrenched himself as the Rams' #1 receiver, and his blend of size and speed gives him the advantage in any matchup. Tyson Williams has waited for his turn to operate the Rams offense, and he has been excellent; he was 14-15 against the Falcons last week.

Cy Ridge's defense, year after year, has featured some truly talented players, and this year is no different. The Rams boast a veteran secondary that features TyRae Thornton, Kobe House, James Froehlich, Zac Lancaster, and Chavous Gwynn. Thornton, a Rice commit, was a third-team selection on Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Super Team in the preseason and has turned himself into a shutdown corner, while Froehlich led them in interceptions a year ago. D'Juan Matthews, like his former teammates Kamari Staton and Lucky Jeffery, is a disruptive, high-motor player in the trenches. McDade and Sham, who has also played tight end in his career, lead the linebackers. 

Last Time These Two Teams Met

Trelon Smith tore the Wildcats apart in the first quarter, single-handedly giving the Rams a 21-7 lead after the opening 12 minutes. Woods wound up turning the tables by outscoring Ridge 52-10 over the final three quarters on their way to a 59-31 victory. Bryson Powers threw for five touchdowns, three of which went to C.J. Jones, who recorded 110 receiving yards. Kason Franklin returned an interception 96 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

The freshmen will play at Cy Woods, while the JV will play at Cy Ridge. I believe that Ridge is only fielding one JV team. Game times are 5 and 7.

Location of Cypress Ridge High School