2016 Record: 2-7. 2-6 in District 17-6A
Photo credit: Matt Ramos, The Crimson Connection
A long season just got a little bit longer, because despite a valiant effort, the Cy Woods Wildcats fell 24-23 to Cy Creek after Luis Reyes' 39-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left with eight seconds remaining in the game.
No Cy Woods football team had lost more than six games in a season... until now. To say that it's been a tough year is a rather large understatement.
With their fates already sealed, the Cats could have just gone through the motions in this game and been content with getting smacked 55-0. On the contrary, I did not see anybody quit in this game; they played as though they were still in a playoff chase, and it makes me sick to see them put forth that amount of effort, only for them to fall short of a victory.
Creek missed a game-winning field goal against Woods in my senior year (that one was not even close), so I suppose both teams are even now.
This was the first time that Woods went with the white/gold uniform combination, and it looked excellent. What was not excellent: the PA announcer. I was not aware that Cy Woods changed their mascot to the Tigers.
So, What Happened Was...
This game had a heated beginning. Tyler Redgrave got into it with Pryce Pearson during the opening kickoff, and Tyler ended up losing his helmet in the process. In retaliation, he ripped off Pearson's helmet and chucked it about ten yards. Obviously, his actions resulted in his ejection.
Hopefully this serves as a lesson for him. Things do get testy on the football field, but there are times where you just have to be the bigger man.
Jacob Kainer was picked off on the second play of the game, and the Cougars turned that into three points with a 22-yard field goal from Ryan Nealy. After Creek ran a fake punt on fourth down.... inside their own 15-yard-line and fumbled the ball away, Luis responded with a 31-yard field goal with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Yes, that fake punt was a thing that actually occurred in this game.
End 1st: Woods 3, Creek 3
Jack "Barren-tinez" scored twice in the second quarter; his first came on a 34-yard run. Then, with just over two minutes remaining, Brighton "Gullilckson" saw that Jack was totally uncovered, lobbed the ball to him, and Jack took it from there, scoring from 31 yards out. Creek found the endzone right before halftime as Miles Battle scored on a 14-yard pass from Mateo Renteria.
Halftime: Woods 17, Creek 10
Brighton scored on a two-yard run, which was the only scoring play of the third quarter. The extra point was not attempted due to a bad snap.
End 3rd: Woods 23, Creek 10
Battle scored twice in the fourth quarter, and both of his touchdown catches came on fourth-down plays. The first went for eight yards in the back corner of the endzone and it looked as though he was out of bounds. The official closest to the play did not see it that way, though, and the replay looked like it showed that he had a foot down. The second came when he caught a screen pass and outran everyone for a 42-yard touchdown. The extra-point attempt following that touchdown was moved back because of a false start, and the retry was nearly blocked by Tre Minix, but Nealy was able to convert the PAT.
Following a punt, the Wildcats regained possession with 2:45 left. Jacob Kainer did what he was supposed to do; put Woods in a position to win the game. It all fell to Luis Reyes, who came on for a 39-yard attempt to win the game. He was iced twice, and that strategy, unfortunately, paid off, because the kick went wide left.
The extra point that didn't get kicked turned out to be the difference in this game.
Also, the fourth quarter continues to be absolute torture for the Wildcats; they have now been outscored 117-36 in the final period this season.
Final: Creek 24, Woods 23
Ground
Jack Barrientez continues his star turn.
Jack Barrientez: 18 carries, 111 yards, TD
Jacob Kainer: 10 carries, 31 yards
Brighton Gullickson: 8 carries, 19 yards, TD
Jake Tesch: 1 carry, 4 yards
Air
Connor Faulk was targeted a fair amount in this game, especially when the Wildcats needed first downs, and he made the most of his chances; four of his six receptions resulted in first downs, and he was the team's leading receiver in this game. There is a lot of upside with this wide receiver group with him and the Sherrill twins; all three of them are just sophomores, and they are just scratching the surface of their potential.
Jacob Kainer: 11-21, 107 yards, INT
Brighton Gullickson: 5-10, 92 yards, TD
Jack Barrientez: 0-1
Connor Faulk: 6 catches, 58 yards
Jack Barrientez: 4 catches, 63 yards, TD
Matt Ficalora: 3 catches, 37 yards
Brennan Niles: 1 catch, 17 yards
Jake Fennis: 1 catch, 14 yards
Jake Tesch: 1 catch, 10 yards
Defense
Although the secondary had their hands full with Miles Battle, the defensive unit turned in an inspired performance. Collin Fewox was in on seemingly every play on Thursday. I really like what I saw from Collin in this game... he's fearless and he's playing with an edge that has been sorely missing from the Cy Woods defense for a few years now. He also intercepted a Mateo Renteria pass near the goal line to stop a potential Creek scoring drive, and Cody Eggleston also had an interception; he looked sort of surprised that the ball hit him in the hand at first, but he stuck with the play and was able to secure the ball.
Tackles
Collin Fewox - 15
Neil Chambers - 14
Cody Eggleston - 10
Tre Minix - 7
Johnathan Hunter - 5
Elijah Strang - 5
Micheal Young - 4
Evan Alexander and Collin Joyce - 3
Hunter Magallan, Myles Wilson, Ryan Kenny, and Christian Jones - 2
Connor Faulk, Adrian Venzor, Hunter Husbands, Trevor Reed, Trent Bird, and Ethan Agnew - 1
Interceptions
Collin Fewox 1, returned 29 yards
Cody Eggleston 1
Fumbles recovered
Evan Alexander 1
Special Teams
Keep your head up, Luis. The great thing about this game is that no matter the result of your last run, reception, or kick, you will get another chance to do it again.
Luis also took a vicious hit on a punt after a bad snap forced him to scramble after the loose ball, and somehow he managed to get the kick away. No penalty was assessed because he became a runner when he ran to recover the ball and kicked it rugby-style. I'm amazed that (1) he was not seriously hurt, and (2) that kick was not blocked.
Luis Reyes: 1-2 FG (made 31, missed 39), 2-2 XP; 7 punts, 233 yards
Tre Minix: 2 kicks returned, 38 yards
Jake Tesch: 1 kick returned, 14 yards; 1 punt returned, 4 yards
Myles Wilson: 1 kick returned, 5 yards
Jake Fennis: 1 kick returned, 5 yards
Man of the Match
Without a doubt, Jack Barrientez has been the Wildcats' most valuable player this season.
An honorable mention goes out to Collin Fewox. That kid is tough, and he really plays with some reckless abandon.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats will close out 2016 with a showdown against the Cy Ranch Mustangs at the Berry Center at 7:00 on Friday, November 4. Cy Woods will be the home team.
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