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