See Your Enemy: Cypress Ranch Mustangs

Week 11: Cypress Woods Wildcats vs. Cypress Ranch Mustangs

7:00 PM Friday, November 4, 2016

Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Stadium

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats suffered the ignominy of setting a a new record for losses in a season, falling to Cy Creek 24-23 after Luis Reyes' 39-yard field goal attempt went wide to the left with eight seconds remaining.

Jack Barrientez ran for 111 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries and also caught four passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. Collin Fewox had an outstanding night on defense with 15 tackles and an interception.

This year's iteration of the Battle of 290 features two squads heading in opposite directions. While Cy Ranch is preparing for the playoffs, Cy Woods will be wrapping up its season on Friday night.

Well, it is still a rivalry game, even though the fortunes of these two teams are in different strata. On a rivalry pitting two Division II schools in South Dakota, Ryan Nanni of SB Nation wrote: "Rivalry history only matters for 364 days a year. The day of the game is different." Time to write the next chapter in the book.

The Enemy: Cy Ranch Mustangs

2015 record: 10-2, 9-0 (1st) in District 17-6A

Lost 59-20 to Katy in 6A Division II, Region III Area round

Cy Ranch season-to-date: 9-0, 8-0 (1st) in District 17-6A

W 42-35 @ Cinco Ranch

W 26-7 vs. Cy Falls

W 35-7 @ Jersey Village

W 24-17 vs. Cy-Fair

W 58-20 @ Cy Creek

W 73-45 vs. Cy Springs

W 49-31 vs. Langham Creek

W 56-7 @ Cy Lakes

W 27-24 vs. Cy Ridge

All-Time Series

Series tied 3-3.

A Few Players to Watch

QB Blake Nevins, RB E.J. Thompson, RB Holden Gourley, WR R.J. Sneed, WR Keric Wheatfall, OL Cole Blanton, OL Samir Martula, DL Harrison Loveless, LB Amaud Willis-Dalton, LB Daniel Whitmire, LB Lawson Pyles, DB Rance McInnis, DB Shemar Bartholomew, DB Alex O'Connor

2¢ on Ranch

Since their run to state in 2014, the Cypress Ranch Mustangs have firmly established themselves as the kings of the mountain known as Cy-Fair ISD football. No doubt, this is a team with serious title aspirations.

To go undefeated in this district is not an easy task. To go undefeated in this district two years in a row is completely unheard of.... until possibly now. In District 17-6A's current configuration, no team has finished with an undefeated record in district play in two consecutive seasons. Cy Ranch has a chance to do exactly that on Friday night. The fact that they are in this position is a testament to that program, and the willingness that they have shown to become better in all aspects of the program.

The one thing that has impressed me most about Ranch this year is how mentally tough they are. On the rare occasions in which they are tied or trailing in games, they just keep grinding away. They just play their game, regardless of what the scoreboard says. They make few mistakes, and they punish their opponents for their miscues.

Blake Nevins is at the controls of the Mustang offense, and he is also their starting point guard in basketball. If I am not mistaken, he has not committed a single turnover this year. No interceptions, no fumbles lost... he has done his job.

E.J. Thompson, once again, is their workhorse back. He's a tank who will consistently chew up five, six, seven yards a play. Holden Gourley is the home-run threat. The two of them will be running behind an imposing offensive line led by Cole Blanton and Samir Martula. Blanton is one of the top offensive linemen in the country in the class of 2018. The Mustangs have literally run over their opponents this year; as a team, they have rushed for over 200 yards in all but two games this season.

R.J. Sneed and Keric Wheatfall haven't put up eye-popping numbers this season, but they are still integral players in that offense, and they have burned the Cats quite a bit in the last two years.

The secondary was thought to be a question mark for Cy Ranch entering the season, but most of those concerns seem to be quelled. Rance McInnis is just a sophomore, but he has been one of the breakout stars of the district as a shutdown safety. His partner in the defensive backfield, Alex O'Connor, is a sure tackler who has really built on a promising sophomore season. Shemar Bartholomew and Ryan Fields have really come into their own as the season has progressed at the cornerback spots.

The Mustangs' front seven is one of the best in the city and arguably the state. Harrison Loveless is the anchor of their defensive line, while Amaud Willis-Dalton does it all; he leads the Mustangs in sacks and has also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. Lawson Pyles, Daniel Whitmire, and Deondrick Montgomery round out an outstanding quartet of linebackers.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

The Mustangs got the jump on the Wildcats, storming out to a 27-6 halftime lead. Woods managed to mount up a response in the second half, but that deficit was simply too much to overcome, and the Mustangs came out on top 44-25, giving them a winning streak for the first time in the Battle of 290.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

The JV will play their final games at Cy Ranch. Game times are at 5:00 and 7:00.

Location of Cypress Ranch High School

Haha, that's funny.

Cy Ranch 52, Cy Woods 13: The End

Final 2016 record: 2-8, 2-7 in District 17-6A

Photo credit: Matt Ramos, The Crimson Connection

A tumultuous and torturous season is finally over. Two years removed from a playoff run, the Cy Woods Wildcats have fallen to the bottom of the table. This fall from grace was capped off with a crash landing in the form of a 52-13 dissection at the hands of the Cy Ranch Mustangs in the 2016 season finale.

Too long, didn't read version: The 2016 iteration of the Battle of 290 was no contest.

Changes are coming.....

So, What Happened Was....

The Mustangs scored on all six of their possessions in the first half to cruise to a 38-0 lead on a hapless Cy Woods squad in the first half before Jacob Kainer finally put the Cats on the board with a six-yard touchdown run with no time left.

Halftime: Ranch 38, Woods 6

Ranch scored two more times for good measure in the third quarter and were on the verge of handing Woods its worst-ever defeat before C.J. Jones caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Brighton Gullickson with under two minutes remaining in the game.

Final: Ranch 52, Woods 13

Ground

Yes, injuries happen, but it really is a shame that we didn't get to see a fully healthy C.J. Jones get a chance to shine on the football field this season. As he has done so many times in the past, he led the Cats in rushing in his final game, and he broke off a couple of nice runs.

C.J. Jones: 13 carries, 57 yards

Brighton Gullickson: 6 carries, 30 yards

Jacob Kainer: 7 carries, 25 yards, TD

Matt Ficalora: 2 carries, 16 yards

Angel Laca: 1 carry, 14 yards

Bobby Dodson: 3 carries, 14 yards

Semaj Trahan: 2 carries, 3 yards

Air

C.J.'s touchdown reception in the fourth quarter was the 14th of his Cy Woods career, moving him into a tie at the top of the all-time leaderboard with Gary Tesch and Jordan Johnson.

Jacob Kainer: 1-14, 17 yards

Brighton Gullickson: 4-12, 31 yards, TD, 2 INT

C.J. Jones: 1-1, 46 yards

Semaj Trahan: 0-1

Brennan Niles: 2 catches, 31 yards

Tanner Sherrill: 1 catch, 46 yards

Matt Ficalora: 1 catch, 14 yards

C.J. Jones: 1 catch, 3 yards, TD

Bobby Dodson: 1 catch, 0 yards

Defense

Um... I will plead the fifth. This is the third straight year in which the Wildcat defense has allowed over 400 points in a season. The problem here is that two of these seasons are non-playoff seasons.

Tackles

Micheal Young - 10

Elijah Strang - 7

Neil Chambers, Tre Minix - 5

Cody Eggleston and Tory Spears - 4

Kason Franklin, Collin Joyce, Evan Alexander, Ryan Kenny - 3

Matt Roberts, Myles Wilson - 2

Blake Brown, Trent Bird, Joaquin Garza, Matt Ficalora, Yussef Nuñez, Christian Jones, Hayden Chalmers, Hunter Magallan - 1

Sacks: Neil Chambers 1 (7 yards lost), Cody Eggleston 1 (2 yards lost)

Fumbles forced: Tre Minix

Fumbles recovered: Jake Tesch

Special Teams

Luis Reyes converted on the final extra point attempt of his career. He will finish his Cy Woods career with 187 points, an all-time record for a Wildcat kicker.

C.J. Jones: 2 kicks returned, 64 yards

Tre Minix: 2 kicks returned, 39 yards

Micheal Young: 1 kick returned, 16 yards

Other Happenings

The student section took part in the Mannequin Challenge, and Cami Beardmore recorded it all. Pretty cool stuff. They also threw powder in the air, apparently.

CYPRESS WOODS #MannequinChallenge #212 pic.twitter.com/MINOTiTncG

— Cameron Beardmore (@BeardmoreCami) November 5, 2016

The Wildcats' Mannequin Challenge attempt made it to the Chronicle, too!

Wow our #Mannequinchallenge made it in the Houston Chronicles! Check out the story here:https://t.co/PC0Ointf6h

— Cameron Beardmore (@BeardmoreCami) November 7, 2016

Looking Ahead

It's the offseason.

Cy Creek 24, Cy Woods 23: Heart. Break. City.

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.

Know Your Enemy: Cypress Creek Cougars

Week 10: Cy Woods Wildcats @ Cy Creek Cougars
7:00 PM, Thursday, October 27, 2016
Pridgeon Stadium

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

On Homecoming, the Wildcats fell to Cy-Fair by a final of 35-17. This loss ensured that Cy Woods will finish with a losing season for just the second time in school history and also eliminated the Wildcats from playoff contention. Jack Barrientez ran for 96 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, but he failed to record a catch for the first time this season.

Now, all the Wildcats have left to play for is pride.

The Enemy: Cy Creek Cougars

2015 record: 7-5, 6-3 (4th) in District 17-6A
Lost to Strake Jesuit 44-28 in 6A Division II, Region III Area round

Cy Creek season-to-date: 3-5, 3-4 (5th) in District 17-6A

L 53-42 vs. Klein Oak
L 54-20 @ Langham Creek
W 53-49 vs. Cy Lakes
W 46-26 @ Cy Springs
L 58-20 vs. Cy Ranch
W 44-31 @ Jersey Village
L 27-20 vs. Cy-Fair
L 32-20 @ Cy Ridge

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-3.

Previous Meetings

October 3, 2015: Creek 40, Woods 35
October 3, 2014: Woods 35, Creek 21
November 1, 2013: Woods 21, Creek 14
November 2, 2012: Creek 39, Woods 14
October 21, 2011: Woods 49, Creek 31 (Homecoming IV)
October 22, 2010: Woods 61, Creek 35
October 9, 2009: Woods 21, Creek 20
October 10, 2008: Creek 54, Woods 25

Players to Watch

QB Mateo Renteria, RB/WR Jack Hook, WR Miles Battle, WR/RB Mason Biggers, WR/RB Kaleb O'Bryant, WR Geonardo Sutton, WR/RB Caleb Horn, DL Jacari Tatum, DL Jowell Aponte, LB Derek Craft, LB Dakwa Davis, DB Ladarius Anthony, DB Eric Harris

2¢ on Creek

The Cougars are loaded with skill players, but a suspect defense has befallen them in 2016.

Mateo Renteria has put up outstanding numbers, but his abysmal yards per carry figure comes from having to play the role that guys like Luke Allen and Chuckie Keeton played before him. Renteria is a great pocket passer, and that's where his talents are best utilized. Miles Battle is one of the top receivers in the state and is flirting with a 1,000-yard season. When his career at Creek is done, he may very well be the best skill player that the school has ever produced.

Kaleb O'Bryant, Mason Biggers, Jack Hook, and Caleb Horn are all players cut from the same mold, as they can all hurt opposing defenses with their versatility. Hook and Horn lead the Cougars in rushing, while Biggers and O'Bryant are threats in the return game. Hook is also second on the team in receiving yards and touchdowns, and Horn is second in receptions. Geonardo Sutton has become a key cog of this potent offense as a sophomore, and he'll be another youngster to watch in the coming years.

Jacari Tatum and Jowell Aponte are three-year starters on the line. Derek Craft leads the linebackers; he had a strong sophomore campaign in 2015 and currently leads the Cougars in tackles. He and Dakwa Davis are disruptive forces on the outside.

Ladarius Anthony is a part of a deep secondary, leading Creek with three interceptions. Eric Harris is a hard hitter. Alberto Walford has had a fine first season as one of the Cougars' key reserves. He's just a sophomore, while Harris and Anthony are juniors, so Creek's secondary has some legit talent. This is a physical group with some really solid tacklers; Harris ranks third on the team in tackles, while Trevis Earls, Nick Burns, and Anthony are all right behind him.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

The Cougars got the jump on the Wildcats with a 24-7 lead after the first quarter. However, Woods mounted a valiant and furious fourht-quarter rally that fell just short when a last-gasp heave from Jacob Kainer was picked off by Chance Steverson, preserving a 40-35 Creek victory. Jordan Johnson had 157 yards on six receptions and two touchdowns, one of which went for 94 yards, the longest play from scrimmage in Cy Woods history.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

Freshmen at Creek, JV at Woods. Game times are 5:00 and 7:00 on Wednesday.

Note: This will be the last game of the year for the freshmen.

Location of Cypress Creek High School

Cy-Fair 35, Cy Woods 17: Homecoming Crashed

2016 Record: 2-6, 2-5 in District 17-6A

Photo credit: Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

It's been a rough year for Cy Woods, and this 35-17 loss to Cy-Fair on Homecoming has condemned them to a losing season for the second time in school history. In addition, the Wildcats have been eliminated from playoff contention for a second consecutive year.

Well.... Cy Woods should probably consider looking ahead to 2017. A season like this has basically guaranteed that changes are coming to this program, right?

Also, football's dumb now. On a serious note, all programs go through down periods, and it looks like it is Cy Woods' turn to suffer this fate. All you can really do is hope that this downturn doesn't last long.

So, What Happened Was...

Trent Kennedy opened up the scoring with a 45-yard run with just over four minutes to go in the opening period. Less than 30 seconds later, Cy Woods responded with a three-yard run from Jack Barrientez.

End 1st: Woods 7, Fair 7

A 45-yard field goal from Luis Reyes gave the Wildcats their only lead of the game. Kennedy scored again from five yards out, and Cam Arnold threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brock Wright.

Halftime: Fair 21, Woods 10

Jacob Kainer's 11-yard touchdown run was the only scoring play of the third quarter.

End 3rd: Fair 21, Woods 17

The Bobcats put this game away thanks to a six-yard touchdown pass from Arnold to B.J. Chambers and a one-yard run by Kennedy.

Final: Fair 35, Woods 17

Ground

Cy Woods' longest run in this game? 74 yards. Their next-longest? 18. Jack made both of these runs. That 74-yard run is now the longest offensive play of the season for the Wildcats. Outside of those two plays, however, the Wildcats gained just 86 yards on 35 carries.

Jacob Kainer: 15 carries, 28 yards, TD
Nijah Surtain: 11 carries, 62 yards
Jack Barrientez: 9 carries, 96 yards, TD
Brighton Gullickson: 2 carries, -8 yards

Air

I've never seen a Cy Woods team have so much difficulty passing the ball. Jack failed to record a catch for the first time this season.

Jacob Kainer: 5-12, 68 yards, INT
Brighton Gullickson: 0-2

Jake Tesch: 1 catch: 20 yards
Cullen Sherrill: 1 catch, 14 yards
Nijah Suratin: 1 catch, 13 yards
Matt Ficalora: 1 catch, 11 yards
Brennan Niles: 1 catch, 10 yards

Defense

Myles Wilson has been the Wildcats' best defensive player by far. These kids are continuing to fight, but once again... they can only hold out for so long.

Tackles

Myles Wilson - 13
Neil Chambers - 11
Tre Minix, Evan Alexander, Hunter Husbands, and Cody Eggleston - 6
Collin Joyce - 4
Elijah Strang and Micheal Young - 3
Johnathan Hunter - 2
Matt Ficalora, Tanner Sherrill, and Trent Bird - 1

Sacks: Elijah Strang 1 (3 yards lost)

Special Teams

Luis Reyes scored five points with a 45-yard field goal and two extra points. The field goal is his longest since hitting a 48-yarder against Cy Lakes in 2014. Luis also successfully executed an onside kick and punted the ball four times; his longest boot of the night went for 61 yards.

Luis Reyes: 1-1 FG (made 45), 2-2 XP = 5 points; 4 punts, 205 yards (51.25 yards per punt), long of 61

Jake Tesch: 3 kicks returned, 64 yards; 1 punt returned, -2 yards
Nijah Surtain: 2 kicks returned, 33 yards

Key Stat

Third down has haunted the Wildcats all season, and in this game, it was no different.

Cy-Fair went 6-11 when facing third down. By contrast, Cy Woods was just 1-9.

Man of the Match

Give Jack Barrientez the ball.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will take on Cy Creek at Pridgeon Stadium on Thursday at 7:00. Cy Woods will be the visiting team in this game.

Know Your Enemy: Cy-Fair Bobcats

Week 9: Cy Woods Wildcats vs. Cy-Fair Bobcats
7:00 PM, Friday, October, 21, 2016
Homecoming IX at Pridgeon Stadium

Photo credit: Don Carson

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats got themselves off the mat, topping Cy Lakes 36-33 to snap a four-game losing streak. Jack Barrientez accounted for 165 yards of offense and scored three touchdowns, and Jacob Kainer threw for 241 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Myles Wilson had 13 tackles, and Collin Fewox had 11; Collin also secured the win with an interception. 

It's Homecoming at the Woods! It's also the first game in a rather tough stretch to end the year; the Cats will take on the other three playoff teams from 2015 to close out this campaign, and in order for them to make the playoffs, they'll need to win all three of these games and have a bunch of results from around the district to go their way. So far, I'm not seeing any scenarios that will result in Cy Woods making the playoffs. Isn't it fun when you don't control your destiny?

The Enemy: Cy-Fair Bobcats

2015 record: 6-5, 6-3 (4th) in District 17-6A

Lost to Eisenhower 36-28 in 6A Region III, Division I Bi-district round

Cy-Fair season-to-date

L 23-20 vs. The Woodlands

W 44-13 @ Cy Lakes

W 57-21 vs. Cy Springs

L 24-17 @ Cy Ranch

W 45-3 vs. Jersey Village

W 35-16 vs. Cy Ridge

W 27-20 @ Cy Creek

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-3.

Previous Meetings

October 22, 2015: Woods 44, Fair 7

October 25, 2014: Woods 38, Fair 31 (OT)
October 12, 2013: Fair 30, Woods 23
October 13, 2012: Fair 49, Woods 20
September 17, 2011: Fair 14, Woods 0
September 18, 2010: Woods 28, Fair 14
October 23, 2009: Woods 21, Fair 7
October 24, 2008: Woods 42, Fair 20

Players to Watch

QB Cam Arnold, RB Trent Kennedy, WR B.J. Chambers, TE Brock Wright, OL Austin Deculus, DL Hunter Adams, LB Jace Bobo, LB Dylan Higgins, LB/DB Zach Nelson, DB Kyle Cervenka, DB Erick Hallett, DB Taylor Gray

2¢ on Fair

Ah... Cy Woods' original rivals. Although Cy-Fair disdain has taken a backseat to Cy Ranch disdain, this game has always had an emotionally charged atmosphere, because, in case you have forgotten, Cy Woods originally consisted of kids who would have gone to Cy-Fair (I was in that group) and sophomores who attended Cy-Fair, but lived in the new Cy Woods attendance zone. 

It's been a while, but I haven't forgotten the fact that Cy-Fair accused Cy Woods of being copycats and stealing their tradition when they first met on the football field.

With the Bobcats, you pretty much know what they will do on offense. On the other hand, trying to stop them is an entirely different story since they are so effective at what they do. Cam Arnold has been an effective signal-caller and has provided some balance to the Bobcats' offensive attack, and he has two legit weapons in B.J. Chambers and Brock Wright. Chambers really caught my eye during 7-on-7 season as he hauled in literally everything that was thrown his way. Brock Wright is headed to Notre Dame and is essentially Rob Gronkowski 2.0. Christian Richmond hasn't featured much in the offense yet, but this sophomore has shined in the return game and, well... you've probably already seen this punt return, but here it is again. He'll be one to watch in the coming years.

Let's be real though... Cy-Fair has always prided itself on its run game, and they have yet another fine running back in Trent Kennedy, who seized the starting job as a sophomore, and now as a junior, he's become one of the top offensive players in the district. Blake Faecher, who is also known for his baseball prowess, will also feature in the running game, and Jaelon Woods is another sophomore who's also waiting in the wings. Paving the way for the Bobcat running backs is an imposing offensive line led by the LSU-bound Austin Deculus, who has started every game since he was a sophomore. 

Cy-Fair still had the best defense in District 17-6A last season despite having to replace some marquee names. These kids definitely made a name for themselves last season. Now, they're all one year older, and once again, they are the district's best defense in terms of both yardage allowed and points allowed. The Bobcats have solid players at every level of their defense. Hunter Adams, Derrick Jackson, and Arnold Crayton man the trenches. Dylan Higgins and Kyle Allison lead the linebackers. Jace Bobo shared the district's Defensive Newcomer of the Year award with Cy Ridge lineman D'Juan Matthews last year. Patrick Atkinson has also emerged as a playmaker, and Allison is a super-utility player of sorts; he can line up anywhere in the Bobcat defense.

Erick Hallett is a hawk in the secondary and has also returned a punt for a touchdown this year. While Hallett is the hawk, Kyle Cervenka is the headhunter. He and Higgins both lead the Bobcats in tackles this season. Taylor Gray, who was last year's starting quarterback, has made a seamless transition to the secondary and leads them with three interceptions. Zach Nelson is also another utility-type player who can play any of the secondary spots. 

Last Time These Two Teams Met

In one of the more shocking results in 17-6A last season, the Wildcats totally dominated the Bobcats in all facets of the game and cruised to a 44-7 victory. Cy Woods winning may not have been a massive surprise, but the manner in which they won was definitely the story. Jack Barrientez caught six passes, including his first touchdown at the varsity level, for 95 yards, and C.J. Jones ran for 180 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

The JV teams will play at Cy-Fair and the freshmen are at Woods. Game times, as always, are 5:00 and 7:00.

Location of Cy-Fair High School

Haha, that's funny.

Cy Woods 36, Cy Lakes 33: Off the Canvas

Record: 2-5, 2-4 in District 17-6A

Photo credit: Billy Schuerman, The Crimson Connection

The Cypress Woods Wildcats snapped a school-record-tying four-game losing streak by snatching a 36-33 victory over Cy Lakes from the jaws of defeat onThursday at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium.

No doubt, the Cats needed this win to at least bring back some positive feelings. It's definitely a relieving feeling when a long losing streak is stopped, and to their credit, they've continued to fight, even through the countless lapses. 

Yes, I think this team is better than their 2-4 record in district play, but I'll save that rant for another day.

So, What Happened Was...

Tyrese Miller connected with Reginald Breggs on a 16-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring. However, the Cats swiftly responded as Jacob Kainer found Jake Fennis for a 66-yard score. Just before the end of the opening quarter, Jack Barrientez caught a five-yard touchdown. 

End 1st: Woods 14, Lakes 6

Ansar Richardson scored on a 13-yard run to cut the Wildcats' lead to two points, and then Jack caught a six-yard touchdown pass, his second of the evening. The Spartans got on the board right before halftime thanks to a two-yard touchdown pass from Miller to Colin King.

Halftime: Woods 21, Lakes 19

Jack was intercepted by Julian Hall, who returned it for a pick-six to put Lakes in the lead. He atoned for that miscue with a 68-yard touchdown, and on the ensuing PAT, Matt Ficalora scored two points. The Spartans regained the lead thanks to a three-yard scoring run by King.

End 3rd: Lakes 33, Woods 29

The Spartans downed a punt at Cy Woods' one-yard line with three minutes remaining in the game. On the first play of the drive, Jack busted loose for a 42-yard run. With the Cats facing a 4th & 13, Jacob managed to gain 14 yards. Four plays later, Nijah Surtain caught a screen pass from Jacob and scampered 32 yards for the game-winner with 23 seconds left. 

Collin Fewox sealed the deal by picking off a desperation heave from King.

Final: Woods 36, Lakes 33

Ground

Running backs running the ball. Hmm... hope this concept catches on. Jack's 68-yard touchdown run is the Wildcats' longest running play of the season. Only one of his carries in this game resulted in a loss of yards. In fact, the Wildcats only had four running plays in which they lost yards. I think that's ideal.

Jacob Kainer: 10 carries, 34 yards

Jack Barrientez: 7 carries, 123 yards, TD

Nijah Surtain: 6 carries, 56 yards

Air

This was the second game in which Jacob threw four touchdowns. Julian Hall picked off both Jacob and Jack, and he returned Jack's interception for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Jacob Kainer: 16-28, 264 yards, 4 TD, INT

Jack Barrientez: 0-1, INT

This game was also the first time that someone other than Jack led the team in receptions. Well... he and Nijah tied for the lead in this one. 

Brennan Niles became the second player to reach double figures in receptions and the second player to surpass 200 receiving yards this season. His 46-yard catch in the 3rd is now his longest grab of the year.

Nijah Surtain: 6 catches, 71 yards, TD

Jack Barrientez: 6 catches, 42 yards, 2 TD

Brennan Niles: 2 catches, 70 yards

Jake Fennis: 1 catch, 66 yards, TD

Cullen Sherrill: 1 catch, 15 yards

Defense

Myles Wilson continues to make his presence felt on defense. I've watched him for almost four years, and he has the ability to play at the next level. Collin Fewox finished with 11 tackles and the decisive interception. 

Tackles

Myles Wilson - 13

Collin Fewox - 11

Collin Joyce and Elijah Strang - 10

Neil Chambers - 9

Cody Eggleston - 8

Evan Alexander - 7

Micheal Young and Christian Jones - 4

Tyler Redgrave and Trent Bird - 3

Chris Statom - 2

Tre Minix, Jack Barrientez, and Blake Brown - 1

Fumbles forced: Collin Fewox and Neil Chambers - 1 apiece

Interceptions 

Collin Fewox - 1, returned 18 yards

Micheal Young - 1, returned 21 yards

Special Teams

Luis Reyes went 4-4 on his extra point attempts, and his only punt of the night traveled 41 yards. When he isn't called on to punt often, that's usually a good sign. All but one of his kickoffs went for touchbacks.

Jake Fennis: 3 kicks returned, 31 yards

Nijah Surtain: 1 kick returned, 17 yards

Tre Minix: 1 kick returned, 14 yards

Micheal Young: 1 kick returned, 11 yards

Jack Barrientez: 1 punt returned, 0 yards

Man of the Match

Without a doubt, Jack Barrientez has been the Wildcats' best offensive player this season. With 165 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, he gets the nod here.

Jacob showed tremendous poise in directing the offense on the game-winning drive. He's a good player; that's why he's the starting quarterback. Once he reins in the turnovers, that is when he can be considered great.

Looking Ahead

It's Homecoming at the Woods. In the ninth Homecoming football game, the Wildcats will take on the Cy-Fair Bobcats at Pridgeon Stadium on Friday, October 21 at 7:00. Naturally, they will be the home team.