Wildcats Through The Years: 2015

The next edition of Wildcats Through the Years takes a look back on the 2015 Cypress Woods Wildcats football team.

Summary

Record: 5-5, 5-4 (5th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs
Points scored: 444 (44.4 per game)
Points allowed: 407 (40.7 per game)
Largest margin of victory: 50 vs. Cy Lakes (70-20)
Largest margin of defeat: 37 vs. Cy Falls (20-57)
Most points scored: 73 vs. Jersey Village
Most points allowed: 74 vs. Jersey Village
Fewest points scored: 20 vs. Cy Falls
Fewest points allowed: 7 vs. Cy-Fair

Individual records set

Most points scored by a kicker (career): Luis Reyes, 143
Most rushing yards in a game: C.J. Jones, 346 vs. Jersey Village
Most receiving touchdowns (career): Jordan Johnson, 14 (tied record)
Most receiving touchdowns (single season): Jordan Johnson, 10 (tied record)
Longest scoring play from scrimmage: Jordan Johnson, 94-yard TD reception vs. Cy Creek

Team records set

Most points scored in a game: 73 vs. Jersey Village
Most points allowed in a game: 74 to Jersey Village

Statistical Leaders

Passing: Bryson Powers, 93/174 (53.5%), 1546 yards, 19 TD, 10 INT
Rushing: C.J. Jones, 108 carries, 948 yards (8.8 yards per carry), 10 TD
Receiving: Jordan Johnson, 25 catches, 710 yards (28.4 yards per catch), 10 TD
Interceptions: Keith Watson, 2

Schedule and Results

Week 1: L 62-21 vs. Klein Collins (game played at NRG Stadium)
Week 3: W 59-31 vs. Cy Ridge (Berry)
Week 4: L 57-20 @ Cy Falls (Berry)
Week 5: L 44-25 vs. Cy Ranch (Pridgeon)
Week 6: L 40-35 @ Cy Creek (Pridgeon)
Week 7: W 70-20 vs. Cy Lakes (Homecoming VIII @ Berry)
Week 8: W 48-33 @ Langham Creek (Pridgeon)
Week 9: W 44-7 vs. Cy-Fair (Berry)
Week 10: L 74-73 vs. Jersey Village (Pridgeon)
Week 11: W 49-39 @ Cy Springs (Berry)

The Rundown

The 2015 Cypress Woods Wildcats nearly overcame a 1-3 start in district play to sneak into the playoffs. Unfortunately, that slow start, and a lackluster defense, were the main factors that prevented them from advancing to the playoffs.

Entering the season, the Cats had questions to answer on the offensive side of the ball, especially with Nick Hooper, a two-year starter at quarterback, departing. Ultimately, Bryson Powers won the quarterback battle, while Austin Goffney, who saw playing time in the first 3 games of the season, wound up transferring. Sophomore Jacob Kainer showed his upside before he went down with an injury. Entering the season, R.J. Harmon and C.J. Jones were touted as the best running back tandem in the district. However, while C.J. continued to build upon his breakout 2014, R.J. was sidetracked by various nagging injuries and never got to truly display his skills in his final season.

The Wildcats returned 3 of their 4 starting receivers from 2014; Jordan Johnson, Jared Taylor, and Tre' Hart. Jared and Tre' had solid seasons, but Jordan was simply on another level. Had the passing game been utilized more often, he would have shattered Isaiah Battle's records.

Skylar Schulz, the lone returning starter on the offensive line, was joined by Jonathan Laven, Mario Treviño, Ryan Kenny, and Josh Beardmore.

The defense struggled mightily in 2015; they only held two of their opponents to 20 points or less. The Cats actually allowed more points in the regular season (407) than they did in 2014 (360), a season in which they ended up allowing 455 points, the most in school history.

Kason Franklin and Myles Wilson were joined in the secondary by Ryan Olvera, Terrell Brown, James Fontenot, and a promising sophomore in Collin Fewox. Brandon DePrato, Keith Watson, and Austin Greaves returned to lead the linebacking corps. Neil Chambers emerged as a key contributor out of the middle linebacker spot. Caleb Smith, Jordan Frazier, Adrian Garcia, Stace Ivie, and Tobi Orundami were the main defensive linemen.

Week 1: L 62-21 vs. Klein Collins (Game played at Reliant Stadium)

Chapter 8 of Cy Woods Football began on August 29, 2015 at Reliant Stadium. Unfortunately, the Wildcats were completely dominated in all facets of the game as they had no answer for the Tigers' vaunted running game falling 62-21 in their first game of 2015. Bryson Powers scored the first points of the season on a 2-yard run in the 1st quarter. Tre' Hart provided a bright spot as he put up 128 receiving yards, including a 56-yard touchdown reception in the 3rd quarter.

Week 3: W 59-31 vs. Cy Ridge


The Cats managed to bounce back from their Opening Day drubbing with a win to open up district play, despite a lethargic start to this game. After falling behind 21-7 following the first quarter, the Wildcats outscored Ridge 52-10 over the final three quarters to secure their first win of the season. C.J. Jones had 4 receptions for 103 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Bryson Powers finished 14-18 through the air for 223 yards and 5 touchdowns. On defense, Kason Franklin returned an interception 96 yards for a touchdown, and Brandon DePrato recovered a fumble in the endzone for another Woods score.

Week 4: L 57-20 @ Cy Falls

I did not attend this game due to prior commitments, but Desmond Hite and Shannon Vaughns wreaked havoc against a hapless Wildcat defense.

Week 5: L 44-25 vs. Cy Ranch

The Wildcats fell behind early to their hated rivals, Cy Ranch, and never seriously threatened the Mustangs. They had a better showing in the 2nd half of this game, but a 28-6 halftime deficit proved to be too much to overcome. Bryson had 176 passing yards and 2 touchdowns and added 117 more yards on the ground. R.J. Harmon had a rushing and a receiving touchdown; he had 67 receiving yards and 73 rushing yards.

Week 6: L 40-35 @ Cy Creek

The Cats' slide continued against the Cougars, who jumped out to a 33-14 halftime lead. Woods fought back valiantly, but a last-gasp heave from Jacob Kainer was picked off by Chance Steverson, sealing the Wildcats' fate. Jordan Johnson caught 6 passes for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns; his 94-yard touchdown reception in this game is now the longest play in Cy Woods history. Tre' Hart also caught 2 touchdown passes and also recovered 2 onside kicks as the Wildcats mounted a furious rally late in the ballgame.

Week 7: W 70-20 vs. Cy Lakes (Homecoming VIII)

The Cats snapped their 3-game losing streak in emphatic fashion with a 70-20 victory over Cy Lakes on Homecoming weekend. Eight different players scored touchdowns for the Wildcats; Keith Watson scored once on defense with an 82-yard interception return and once on special teams when he recovered a blocked punt at the Spartans' 3-yard line. Jared Taylor caught 3 passes for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Matt Ficalora scored his first touchdown at the varsity level with a 45-yard run that represented the final Wildcat scoring play of the evening.

The Cats also set a new school record for scoring in a single quarter with 42 in the 1st quarter.

Week 8: W 48-33 @ Langham Creek

Once again, Cy Woods the playoffs for the playoffs. Their first test was a Langham Creek squad featuring two of the state's most dynamic players in Quartney Davis and Toneil Carter. The specter of a 3-game losing streak to the Lobos also loomed large for Woods, but the Cats exorcised those demons with a 48-33 victory to give their faint playoff hopes a massive boost. C.J. and Bryson ran roughshod on the Langham defense; C.J. ran for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Bryson, who also threw 2 touchdown passes to Jordan Johnson, ran for 159 and 2 touchdowns. The Cats committed 19 penalties in this game, but they did not turn the ball over, either.

The defense bent, but it did not break. They also kept the Lobos off the scoreboard in the 3rd quarter, which proved to be the difference in this game.

Week 9: W 44-7 vs. Cy-Fair

This iteration of the Battle of the Cats was firmly in Cy Woods' favor, as they absolutely dominated the Bobcats in all facets of the game in a 44-7 victory that seemed even more lopsided than the score itself. Unlike last year's tilt, overtime was not needed.

Both of Jordan Johnson's catches resulted in touchdowns, and C.J. continued to be C.J., tearing the Bobcat defense apart for 180 yards and a touchdown.

Week 10: L 74-73 vs. Jersey Village

This game was played almost 8 months ago, and I'm still in shock. It was definitely a game that might not happen for at least another decade. A historic night on offense for the Wildcats was all for naught as eternal nemesis Deshun Qualls stuck a dagger in Woods' playoff hopes by successfully converting a 2-point conversion to put the Falcons up 74-73 with 1:09 left in the game. The Cats' last-ditch effort went for naught, and their playoff fate effectively fell into the Falcons' hands; a Jersey Village win over Cy-Fair the following week would give them the final playoff berth in District 17-6A. Unfortunately, the Falcons failed to do the Wildcats a solid, losing 21-13.

C.J. Jones ran for a school-record 346 yards and scored 4 rushing touchdowns for the second time in his career. Jordan Johnson caught 4 passes for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns; in this game, he tied the Cy Woods single-season and career records for touchdown receptions. Bryson ran for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns. And yet, all of that offensive production was not enough for the Wildcats to get the win. Sports can be terrible, sometimes.

Week 11: W 49-39 @ Cy Springs

Sadly, Cy-Fair's win over Jersey Village eliminated the Wildcats from playoff contention. However, the Class of 2016 ended their time as Wildcat football players on a positive note as they topped Cy Springs 49-39 on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Berry Center. With no quarterback, C.J. Jones basically functioned as the offense. He was 4-10 as the quarterback, but 3 of those completions were touchdowns. C.J. also ran for 141 yards and 2 scores. Keith Watson, in his final game, most likely set a school record with 4 sacks in this game.

A non-playoff season is definitely an unusual event for Cy Woods football. As I said following the season finale, it's never fun when your fate is out of your hands, like it was with the 2015 Wildcats.

Despite missing the playoffs, a few players emerged as key contributors for the Wildcats, most notably Jacob Kainer, Jack Barrientez, Collin Fewox, and Neil Chambers.  The Cats also have some top prospects like Semaj Trahan and Jake Tesch waiting in the wings, as well. C.J. Jones, Kason Franklin, and Myles Wilson will be counted upon to assume leadership roles for the Cats as they head into 2016. Missing the playoffs can put a huge chip on one's shoulder, and I hope that the players returning to the program use 2015 as motivation. As Wildcat football players, they know that they have a tradition to restore and uphold. I expect them to do more than their part in the preseason so that they can experience playoff football once again. They will have to do more, because the other teams in Cy-Fair ISD are getting better every year, and as they found out in 2015, there is almost no margin for error in a district that is as competitive as 17-6A. Slow starts can be reversed, but more often than not, it can really put a team in a bind, because they don't have any leeway to slip up again.

The next chapter will cover the 2016 Cy Woods football team.

All-District Wildcats

Congratulations to the 15 Wildcats who received All-District honors in District 17-6A.

WR Jordan Johnson and RB C.J. Jones were Cy Woods' two representatives on the 1st team. C.J. is the first Wildcat running back to be selected to the 1st team since Fredrick Anderson in 2010.

4 Wildcats were named to the 2nd team: OL Skylar Schulz, WR Tre' Hart, QB Bryson Powers, and DB Kason Franklin.

9 Wildcats were Honorable Mentions:

- C Jonathan Laven
- RB R.J. Harmon
- WR Jared Taylor
- WR Jack Barrientez
- LB Neil Chambers
- LB Austin Greaves
- LB Keith Watson
- K Luis Reyes
- DB Myles Wilson

And finally... 25 Wildcats received Academic All-District honors. Often, the balance between athletics and academics is delicate. Football is the most physically taxing sport, and the rigors of playing this game can also become mentally taxing, which in turn will affect a player's performance in the classroom. I hate to sound cliché, but getting good grades in the classroom matters. It is, after all, the key to your future. Well, that's what I was told....

For these players, they successfully balanced the demands of their schoolwork with the countless hours they've put in on the gridiron, and that is certainly a feat that is worthy of respect. There's no superhuman effort required to keep a harmonious balance between academics and athletics; a little effort towards effective time management makes a tremendous difference.

Sophomores

DB Collin Fewox
QB Jacob Kainer
WR Jack Barrientez
OL Tim Dendy

Juniors

LB Trent Bird
LB Elijah Strang
DL Cody Eggleston
DB Kason Franklin
DB Myles Wilson
OL David Heskin
OL Ryan Kenny
OL Mario Treviño
QB Bryson Powers

Seniors

OL Jeff Aykroyd
OL Josh Beardmore
OL James Compton
OL Jonathan Laven
DB Dylan Bert
DB Terrell Brown
DB Ryan Olvera
LB Brandon DePrato
LB Tim Reed
DL Caleb Smith
WR Seth Despres
WR Josh Carter

Jersey Village 74, Cy Woods 73: Devastating.

2015 Record: 4-5, 4-4 in District 17-6A

Photo by Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

Man... I'm having an incredibly difficult time trying to process this, and I have no idea where to start. This game defied all logic. Name any play and any possible outcome for a play, and this game had it all.

- Both teams combined for 147 points. Will they even come close to this score during basketball season?
- Both teams combined for 1,642 total yards of offense. Or... 0.93 miles.
- Both teams (!!!!!!!) surpassed the district's record for points in a single game.
- Just about every record under the sun (well, technically the moon [no wait, it was cloudy, so we couldn't see the moon]) was broken. Let's just say that both teams' record books weren't the only ones that needed changing after this game....

The 2015 Cypress Woods Wildcats can probably be summed up in one word: almost. Almost completed a comeback against Cy Creek. Almost found a way to escape the highest scoring game in this district's history. Almost clawed their way back from a 1-3 start in district play. But, as we all know, there's no rhyme or reason in this district, so anything and everything can and will happen. Before you go all Jim Mora on me with "PLAYOFFS????????????" just remember that the math says that there's still a chance.

Out of the Wildcats' 5 losses this season.... this one was by far the most devastating. Quite possibly the most devastating loss in Cy Woods' football history. Even a historic night on offense was not enough for Cy Woods.... because Jersey Village's night on offense was even more historic, and that made all the difference in the Falcons' 74-73 victory in a game that the Wildcats sorely needed to win.

Deshun Qualls.... you have to tip your hat to him. He was absolutely sensational for Jersey Village. OK, that's an understatement. His performance in this game probably won't be replicated for decades. Never seen anything like what he did, and I probably won't see anything like that again for 20 years. He made one unbelievable throw after another, and Rokeem Paul, Austin Lynch, and Christian Green made one unbelievable catch after another. He kept plays alive with his feet, and his receivers finished them off. Unreal effort all around.

Qualls joins Collin Rock, Logan Taylor (Cy-Fair 2011-12), and Troy Mitchell (Cy Falls 2010-11), as the only starting quarterbacks in the district to win multiple starts against the Wildcats. However, out of this quartet, Qualls is the only one to go 3-0 against Cy Woods.

So, What Happened Was....

Deshun Qualls became Kyler Murray.

On a little more serious note, this was the most chaotic football game I have ever seen. I have never seen a losing team score 70 points.

It looked as though it would be a blowout early, as the Falcons scored on all 4 of their possessions in the 1st quarter. Deshun Qualls opened up the scoring with a 60-yard touchdown run on 3rd and..... 26. Qualls having a hand in a Jersey Village touchdown would be the running theme of this game. He struck again with a 23-yard touchdown run. Bryson Powers put Woods on the board as he broke ∞ tackles to score from 36 yards out. One play later, Qualls threw a bomb, and Austin Lynch made an off-balance catch, and he somehow regained his balance and broke free for an 82-yard touchdown. Josh Bland scored on a 15-yard run to put JV up 27-7, but C.J. Jones was able to regain some positive momentum for Woods as he had a 10-yard touchdown run.

End 1st: JV 27, Woods 13

C.J.'s first touchdown run sparked a 31-0 run that gave the Wildcats the lead at halftime. Bryson Powers and Jordan Johnson connected for 3 touchdowns. The first went for 48 yards, and the other two capped off one-play drives good for 62 and 60 yards. Bryson also had a 1-yard TD run. Qualls found Christian Green, who dove to make a 13-yard touchdown catch shortly before halftime to snap the run.

Halftime: Woods 38, JV 33

Qualls opened up the scoring in the 2nd half when he hit Rokeem Paul for 76 yards. Then, he found Austin Lynch again, this time from 59 yards out. Bryson responded with a 4-yard scoring run. Qualls had the Falcons on the move again, but that drive ended abruptly after Bland coughed up the ball, and Trent Bird fell on it. Two plays later, C.J. Jones left everyone in the dust, scoring on an 85-yard run. Qualls found Christian Green for the 2nd time; that was a 22-yard connection. The Wildcats blocked what would have been the go-ahead extra point, so we entered the final 12 minutes in a deadlock.

End 3rd: Woods 52, JV 52

On the first play of the 4th quarter, Rokeem Paul won a jumpball battle with Jordan Johnson at the Cy Woods 5. Josh Bland coughed up the ball once again at the goal line, and Jordan emerged with the ball and returned it all the way down to the Falcons' 33-yard line. C.J. turned that takeaway into points with a 10-yard run. But, Deshun Qualls had an answer for everything. His next answer was a 2-yard touchdown run. C.J., however, kept Woods in the lead by blocking the extra point. Terrell Brown picked up the loose ball and almost gave the Wildcats 2 points, but he was caught at the 15-yard line of Jersey Village. One play later, C.J. scored on a 75-yard scamper. Again, he outran everyone. On the ensuing Falcon possession, Josh Marvin had a huge interception. Unfortunately, this takeaway turned into a giveaway, as C.J. put the ball on the ground inside the Falcon 5, and Juwan Morgan recovered, and returned it to the Woods 35. Morgan actually lost the ball himself, but Clabe Holmes backed him up. And on the next Falcon drive, Qualls scored to tie the game at 66. Bryson responded.... well, he coughed it up in the end zone, and Skylar Schulz had a chance to recover it, but it skipped off of his hands, as well. Ultimately, Jonathan Laven, the center, emerged from the pile with the ball, and well... that's a touchdown.

Unfortunately, the Wildcat defense could not stop the ensuing Jersey Village possession, which turned out to be the decisive drive of the game. Qualls (who else) capped it off by finding Christian Green for the 3rd time in this game, and he (again, who else) put the Falcons in front with a 2-point conversion.

The Wildcats were left with 69 seconds on the clock. Play #1 started off well enough, as C.J. ran for 8 yards. An incomplete pass brought up 3rd down. C.J. failed to get back to the line of scrimmage on a play that Woods ran at least 50 times in this game, and that set up a 4th down, which saw Bryson's pass fall to the ground, incomplete. Jaylen Miller, who attended Cy Woods for 3 years, broke up the pass and made the play that sent his friends to a crushing defeat.

Final: JV 74, Woods 73

Ground

C.J. Jones and Bryson Powers had their way with the Falcon defense. C.J. ran for 346 yards on 32 carries and scored 4 touchdowns. It's the 2nd time in which he has scored 4 rushing touchdowns in a single game, and the 346 yards is a new Cy Woods single-game record. Meanwhile, Bryson ran for 188 and 3 touchdowns on 24 carries.

In all, the Wildcats ran for 547 yards, which is a new team single-game record. The previous high was 464 in the 2011 regular-season finale against Cy Springs.

And yet... it was not enough.

C.J. Jones: 32 carries, 346 yards, 4 TD
Bryson Powers: 24 carries, 188 yards, 3 TD
R.J. Harmon: 2 carries, 13 yards

Air

Jordan Johnson had a night to remember as he caught 4 passes for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns. He's now tied with Gary Tesch for the most receiving touchdowns in Cy Woods history. Jordan also tied the Cy Woods single-season record for most receiving touchdowns in a single season with 10, which had been shared by Fredrick Anderson and Gary.

And yet... it was not enough.

Bryson Powers: 5-13, 217 yards, 3 TD, INT

Jordan Johnson: 4 catches, 199 yards, 3 TD
Jack Barrientez: 1 catch, 18 yards

Defense

They allowed 886 yards. That's their story for this game. They had their moments where they punished Deshun Qualls, but they were at his mercy all night long.

Josh Marvin, a seldom-used senior linebacker who found himself pressed into duty, had the game of his life as he got 2.5 sacks and an interception. If only he could've run that pick back for a touchdown.....

Interceptions: Josh Marvin 1 (returned 30 yards)

If only Jordan could've run the fumble he recovered back for a touchdown....

Fumbles recovered: Trent Bird 1, Jordan Johnson 1 (returned 67 yards), Jonathan Laven (fell on ball in endzone for a touchdown)

Sacks: Josh Marvin 2.5 (35 yards lost), Neil Chambers 1 (1 yard lost), Trent Bird 0.5 (5 yards lost), Brandon Love 0.5 (5 yards lost)

They also got to Qualls for a 14 yard loss in the 2nd (I think Marvin was in on that play) and another time for 3 yards in the 3rd.

Special Teams

Luis Reyes made 5 extra points, and he is now the highest-scoring kicker in Cy Woods history with 138 points. The previous record for points scored by a Wildcat kicker (career) was 133. That record was held by my good friend, Andrew Klink.

If only C.J. could've picked up that blocked extra point cleanly.....

If only Terrell Brown had enough left in his tank to run another blocked extra point back for 2 points....


PSA

Parents, if you're going to let your kids run around during the game (I have no earthly idea as to why you would allow them to do this in the first place, but I guess this lack of understanding comes from me not being a parent so I wouldn't know...), please, PLEASE, keep an eye on them.

During this game, I saw two little girls slip off the bleachers (in the lower section) and hit themselves on the cement. Yes, they were being watched over. Thankfully, neither of them seemed to be seriously hurt.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will wrap up the 2015 regular season at the Berry Center on Saturday, November 7, against the Cy Springs Panthers. Kickoff is at 1:00. Depending on what happens with Cy-Fair, this game may serve as the swan song for the Class of 2016.

Cy Woods 44, Cy-Fair 7: Still Dreaming.

2015 record: 4-4, 4-3 in District 17-6A

Note: I only saw the 2nd half because I was teaching on Thursday.

Photo by Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

That's a bet👌💯 pic.twitter.com/BM3bt8cGYg

— CeeJay Jones (@CeeJaay21) October 22, 2015

The second Thursday game of the season had a much happier outcome as the Cypress Woods Wildcats ran the Cy-Fair Bobcats out of the Berry Center with a 44-7 victory to kick off Week 9 in CFISD football. This is the Wildcats' third consecutive win, which allowed them climb back to .500 overall, above the .500 mark in district, and also delayed the gratification of the teams directly above them while keeping their own hopes for a playoff spot alive. This team could have fallen apart after Creek, when they dropped their 3rd straight to fall to 1-4. Instead, they've willed themselves back into the playoff picture after everyone thought for sure that they would miss the playoffs, and now, the dream of making a monumental comeback in order to secure another playoff berth is one step closer to becoming reality. The Wildcats do have a favorable schedule to close out the season, but given the nature of this district, this statement is utterly meaningless. The games still have to be played.

Mr. Greaves came up to me after the game and asked, "Can we restart this season?" I'm with him.

I'm sure these kids had a vastly different script for how this season would turn out, but reality tends to work differently, and in ways that we least expect. This is a proud group of kids; instead of pointing fingers at each other and falling apart, they have come together and are on the verge of doing something unprecedented at Cy Woods. Kids like R.J. Harmon and Brandon DePrato and Jared Taylor have been part of playoff teams here. They know what it takes to make a playoff run, and you're seeing that they don't want their final memory at Woods to be one where they miss the playoffs in their senior season.

In the first half of the season, this was a team that was still trying to find its way on offense, couldn't stop anyone on defense, and found themselves having to climb up the Himalayas just to stay in games. It wasn't too difficult to see why Cy Woods started off 1-4.

Even though they lost to Cy Ranch, the offense looked as though they had found some consistency during that game. Although they didn't put up the point totals we've been so accustomed to, they were able to carve through a strong defensive unit. They found a way to keep that momentum going, and then the points came. Now, everything is clicking. With the exception of 4 turnovers against Lakes, the Wildcats have taken exceptional care of the ball during this winning streak; this was their 2nd game in a row without committing a turnover.

The defense was well on its way to giving up 500 points this season. Since the Creek game, which put them at 234 points allowed, they've given up 60, and you can see the progress that this team has made on defense over the last three games. They've helped themselves as well by forcing turnovers, which was something that was sorely lacking in the early part of the season. The Wildcat defense might have gotten themselves started against a clearly inferior opponent in Lakes, but they had to start somewhere, right? They was just beginning to scratch the surface of what they were truly capable of that night. At times against Langham Creek, they bent. But in the end, they got the stops they needed against the Lobos and came out with a massive victory. In this game, they flat-out dominated Cy-Fair for 48 minutes.

Besides, this isn't the first time that Woods has been counted out of the playoff picture. They've always thrived whenever they've been doubted.

So, What Happened Was...

Unlike last year's tilt, overtime was not needed for this game, in which the Wildcats dominated in all facets.

Jordan Johnson opened up the scoring by catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Bryson Powers. After Brandon DePrato's interception, Bryson and Jordan connected on another touchdown pass; this one was 39 yards. Bryson later added a 1-yard touchdown run towards the end of the 1st.

End 1st: Woods 20, Fair 0

Luis Reyes hit a 32-yard field goal, and then Bryson scored on the ground again, this time from 4 yards out.

Halftime: Woods 30, Fair 0

The Bobcats spoiled the shutout in the first series of the 2nd half as Brock Wright scored on a 38-yard pass from Hayden Wesneski. That turned out to be the only time that Cy-Fair put points on the board. C.J. Jones responded with a 2-yard touchdown run, and following a fumble recovered by Myles Wilson, Jack Barrientez scored the final points of the night with a 50-yard touchdown catch, his first touchdown at the varsity level. Neither team scored in the 4th quarter.

Final: Woods 44, Fair 7

Ground

Woods beat Fair at one aspect of their own game. No R.J. Harmon? Well, his absence didn't turn out to be much of a hindrance in this game, because I hear that C.J. Jones guy is pretty good. He has come alive in the running game in the last two games, and his production was sorely missed. His 180 yards is a season high, and he probably could've had well over 200 if some of his runs hadn't been wiped out by penalties.

Hope R.J. is back to health though... he's another dangerous element to a Wildcat offense that is firing on all cylinders.

C.J. Jones: 21 carries, 180 yards, TD
Bryson Powers: 10 carries, 48 yards, 2 TD
Jared Taylor: 5 carries, 22 yards
Matt Ficalora: 2 carries, 16 yards
Sean Despres: 6 carries, 8 yards
Jack Barrientez: 1 carry, 3 yards

Air

Bryson Powers didn't need to throw much, but when he did, he was effective. Only 3 players caught passes in this game, which is so unlike Cy Woods.

Bryson Powers: 9-11, 186 yards, 3 TD

Seth Despres was the only receiver who didn't score, but his 27-yard catch on a 3rd down in the 2nd quarter put the Wildcats in the red zone and set up Bryson Powers' 2nd touchdown run of the evening.

Jack Barrientez: 6 catches, 95 yards, TD
Jordan Johnson: 2 catches, 64 yards, 2 TD
Seth Despres: 1 catch, 27 yards

Defense

Woods soundly beat Fair at another aspect of their own game. The 202 yards that Woods allowed to the Bobcats was the fewest since October 10, 2014, when they held Cy Lakes to 200.

The Wildcats absolutely suffocated the Bobcats' vaunted running game, holding them to a mere 4 yards per carry and not allowing a single run of over 20 yards. They consistently won on the early downs and never allowed Cy-Fair to build any momentum on offense.

The Bobcats had 10 possessions in this game; 7 of them ended in punts. The Wildcats also killed two other Cy-Fair drives by forcing turnovers. Out of Cy-Fair's 10 offensive possessions, they ran a grand total of 8 offensive plays in Cy Woods territory. They also went 2-10 on 3rd down, and they even got a Cy Woods penalty on 3rd down to keep a drive in the 1st quarter alive. On the other 8 3rd down situations, the Bobcats did this:

1. Pass for -3 yards (this was on the same drive in which Woods was penalized on 3rd down)
2. Run for no gain
3. QB sacked, -2 yards
4. Incomplete pass (they had converted on 3rd down with a 13-yard pass earlier in the drive)
5. 1 yard run, fumble lost
6. Incomplete pass (they had converted on 3rd down with a 13-yard pass earlier in the drive)
7. Incomplete pass
8. Run for -2 yards

So, on their unsuccessful 3rd downs, Cy-Fair ran 8 plays, lost 6 yards, and lost a fumble. The Wildcats amped up the intensity on third down and totally shut down any momentum that the Bobcats were hoping to build.

Interceptions: Brandon DePrato 1 (2nd of season, returned 14 yards)

Fumbles forced: Brandon DePrato 1
Fumbles recovered: Myles Wilson 1

Sacks: Collin Fewox 1 (2 yards lost), Trent Bird 0.5 (9 yards lost), Cody Eggleston 0.5 (9 yards lost), Elijah Strang 0.5 (2 yards lost), Jordan Frazier 0.5 (2 yards lost)

Special Teams

Luis Reyes went 5-6 on his extra points and hit a 32-yard field goal in the 2nd. He is now 1 point away from tying Andrew Klink for the most points scored by a kicker in Cy Woods history.

C.J. had some evil intentions in the punt return game; however, he ended up getting tripped up at midfield each time. Nevertheless, he still gained over 40 yards on 2 of his 3 returns.

C.J. Jones: 3 punts returned, 88 yards
Jared Taylor: 1 punt returned, 8 yards

Man of the Match

Congratulations on scoring your first varsity touchdown, Jack Barrientez. The future is bright for this sophomore wide receiver/tailback.

Notes

- This is the most points that Cy Woods has ever put up against Cy-Fair.
- This is also the biggest margin of victory in the series.
- The Wildcats held their opponent to single digits (non-shutout) for the first time since they beat Eisenhower 42-7 in the 1st round of the 2011 playoffs.
- The Wildcats have their first winning streak over Cy-Fair since taking the first 3 meetings (2008-10).

Looking Ahead


The Wildcats will play at Pridgeon Stadium for the final time in the 2015 regular season as they take on the Jersey Village Falcons at 7 PM on Friday, October 30. Cy Woods will be the home team in this contest.

Cy Creek 40, Cy Woods 35: Almost.

2015 Record: 1-4, 1-3 in District 17-6A

Note: I didn't go.

So, the first half of this season is in the books, and I have to say, it hasn't been pretty. Through the first 5 games of the 2015 season, the Wildcats have:

- Had a sieve of a defense.
- Had to play from behind in every game.
- Allowed 234 points (most ever, through the first 5 games... and in any 5-game stretch in Cy Woods history)
- Allowed at least 30 points in every game (this has never happened in any 5-game stretch in Cy Woods football history before this season; they did allow 30+ in 4 straight last year, though)
- Committed 52 penalties (43 in district play surely has to be the most out of all 10 CFISD teams)
- Committed 13 turnovers (again, probably the most in the district)

You add all of those up and... you get a 1-4 record. And now, the Wildcats' playoff hopes are literally hanging by a sliver.

On Saturday, the Wildcats almost erased a 33-14 halftime deficit.... but that 1 score for Creek in the 2nd half proved to be the difference as they hung on for a 40-35 win. Had the Cougars not scored that touchdown, this would've been about the biggest comeback in Woods history. But instead.....

Having to play from behind and starting out slowly have been the stories of the season so far for Cy Woods. It's not like they're trailing 7-0 for 15 minutes, either. The Cats have consistently found themselves down multiple scores in every game this year, and well, if you've watched sports for a long time, those aren't components for success.

They beat Ridge as a team, but every loss has also been a team effort across the board. Costly turnovers from the offense. Defense ends up having to defend a short field, and then they can't get the opposing team off the field or keep them off the scoreboard. As a result, the hole ends up getting deeper. This cycle is freaking brutal.

But, I'm always the optimist. Despite all of this, nothing has been decided. Don't tell me it's over... it ain't over until the math says it's over. On a more positive note, it looks like the offense is clicking on all cylinders. Now if only they could start the clicking when the game starts....

The Cats' cardinal pants also made their debut and they looked so clean. I loved the white/cardinal look from the early days.

So, What Happened Was...

The Wildcats' opponent got the jump on them once again.

Luke Allen connected with Caleb Horn and Tre Earls for touchdown passes of 25 and 41 yards, respectively. Earls added a 7-yard TD run to put Creek up 21-0. Jordan Johnson put the Cats on the board with a 94-yard touchdown reception, and then Gabe Sequeira added a 31-yard field goal.

End 1st: Creek 24, Woods 7

Sequeira hit his 2nd field goal of the evening, this one from 30. Tre' Hart scored on a 39-yard catch. Allen found Horn for another touchdown, this one from 37 yards out.

Halftime: Creek 33, Woods 14

Bryson Powers' 6-yard run represented the only scoring play of the 3rd quarter.

End 3rd: Creek 33, Woods 21

Earls scored from 2 yards out to put the Cougars up 40-21. Suddenly, the Cats came alive in the final 5 minutes of the game. R.J. scored on a pass from 1 yard out, and they recovered the onside kick. Jacob Kainer then found Tre' from 33 yards out to make it a 5-point game. The Wildcats went to the well one more time and got another onside kick. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, as Kainer got picked off by Chance Steverson, sealing the Wildcats' fate.

Final: Creek 40, Woods 35

Ground

Again, Bryson Powers had most of the carries. I imagine that teams are gearing towards stopping R.J. and C.J. They're due to bust out any time.

Bryson Powers: 19 carries, 154 yards, TD
R.J. Harmon: 7 carries, 34 yards
C.J. Jones: 5 carries, 46 yards

Air

Bryson Powers.... or Brett Favre? This kid slings it like Colton Huntsman used to. Jacob Kainer almost slung his way into Cy Woods lore.

Bryson Powers: 20-37, 291 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT
Jacob Kainer: 1-3, 33 yards, TD, INT

Jordan Johnson's 94-yard touchdown catch is now the longest play from scrimmage in Cy Woods history. His 157 receiving yards is the highest output since Fredrick Anderson put up 164 against Langham Creek in 2010.

Jordan Johnson: 6 catches, 157 yards, 2 TD
Jared Taylor: 5 catches, 60 yards
C.J. Jones: 4 catches, 33 yards
Tre; Hart: 3 catches, 84 yards, 2 TD
R.J. Harmon: 1 catch, 1 yard, TD

Defense

The defense had no answer for Creek QB Luke Allen, who threw for some ungodly amount of yards in the 1st half. On the bright side, they only allowed 7 points in the 2nd half and held the Cougars to 73 yards rushing in this game. That total is a bit deceiving since the Cats got sliced through the air all evening, but if that's a positive sign, I'll take it. I'm all about trying to be positive here.

Wait a minute...  Creek got 30 first downs? That's what Varsity Wires said they had. I wasn't there, but if that number's true, then sheesh.

Special Teams

Luis Reyes may have missed a 24-yard field goal, but he hit all 5 of his extra points and successfully hit 2 onside kicks. He's proving to be the best onside kick artist in the district.

Man of the Match

Tre' Hart and Jordan Johnson get the nod. Tre' caught 2 touchdowns and recovered 2 onside kicks. Gotta love Tre' Hart.

It was a historic night for Jordan. Career-high in receiving yards, longest play in school history...

Looking Ahead

It's Homecoming Week!

The 8th Annual Cypress Woods High School Homecoming Game will take place on Friday, October 9 at 7:00 at the Berry Center. The Wildcats will play host to the Cypress Lakes Spartans.