Klein Oak Panthers vs Cy Woods Wildcats
September 10, 2009

Wildcats Claw the Panthers, Oak 20 to Cy Woods 28

The Klein Oak JV Black squad played under ominous skies in a valiant but losing effort, 20 – 28, to the Cy-Woods Wildcats.  The Black squad had a rocky first quarter but showed steady improvement with each play to make the game an exciting battle.  Football played well often pivots on a single play and this game furthered that truth.

The Klein Oak scoreboard was broken and as black as the rainy sky lending an air of an Edgar Allen Poe reading assignment in Junior English class.   The early goings were rough for the Black JV squad, rusty from two weeks of cancelled games, trips to Dallas and little practice time.  The offense went three and out on the first series but immediately got the ball back when Jay Andrews recovered the Wildcat fumble.  The Panther offense was determined to make the short passing game work but still no rhythm in the step so another three and out.  Nicholas Bradley boomed the nice kick on the snap from Dillon May.  Oak enjoyed several more assists from the Cy Woods Wildcats with some dropped passes and holding calls that kept the ball in the middle of the field.  Darius Butler put the hurt on a nice hit and Brandon Vongsengdeuane had the tackle for loss (TFL) to force yet another punt exchange and the third three and out for Oak.  Cy Woods found their passing game and hit the first of many slant patterns that caught Oak in the wrong defense to get the first score but missed the PAT, Oak down 0 – 6.

The players changed sides of the field so the fans guessed that the second quarter had started.  Oak made its first first down of the night on a few runs up the middle but the return to the passing game was incomplete for another punt.  The Panther gunner pulled the trigger too fast and hit the Wildcat punt returner several minutes before the ball landed causing a rain of yellow hankies.  No matter, Jonathan Mair and Dwayne Paul combined for the TFL followed by Sam Porter and Brycen Turner earning the same merit badge.  Cy-Woods punted and Oak returned the favor by punting back.  After some stout defense from William Hoffmans, Daniel Shaul and Drew Latham,  Cy-Woods punted and Oak found the key to the dance with a nice series of pass plays to Tuff McClain, Khaleeq Little and James Dorris.  Oak moved the ball down the field when Khaleeq broke the 22 yard run for the score, no PAT, Oak 6 to Cy Woods 6.  After the tackle on the kick-off by Melvin Rodriquez and Cody Steele, the refs took a water break which was apparently the half-time signal.

Xavier Doyle opened the third quarter with the stuff of the Wildcat runner.  Brycen Turner and Javaughn Baltrip defended the first pass but the Cy-Woods coaches next called the dreaded slant pass and Oak found itself down, 6 – 14.  The Oak offense benefited from the half time discussion with the coaches and a beautiful drive ensued.  The O-line became a picture of choreography starring the dance steps of left tackle James Fuentez, left guard Dwayne Paul, center Dakota Thompson, right guard Aaron Mitchell and right tackle Daniel Shaul.   The Panthers ran the ball up the gut and began to accumulate first downs.  Backs Jason Williams and Khaleeq Little ran strong behind the O-line for four straight first downs.  The confidence was nice but the fourth down play went awry and Cy Woods got the ball on downs.  The defense was inspired by the effort and Drew Latham played hot potatoe with the screen pass before Palmer Currie put the hit to force the punt.   The Panthers went to the power running formation with direct snaps to the backs for some awesome ground gains.  O-line mowed and Khaleeq romped on a 54 yard run to make the score, Oak 12 – 14. 
The fourth quarter started sometime during the next Cy Woods series when the players changed sides of the field without much fanfare.  The defense led by Ryan Emerson and Peter Crews got the ball back for the recharged Offense.   Oak played power football for a few plays before running into another fourth down.  Switching formations, QB Connor McQueen fired a pass of beauty to James Dorris for the 34 yard touchdown and Oak took the lead, 20 – 14.  Cy Woods showed some intestinal fortitude with its own running game breaking a long run, Alfred Baratti showing his Panther speed with the TD saving tackle.   The Oak defense seemed a little stunned and the Wildcats promptly scored to tie the score, 20 – 20.  Oak offense lost some sizzle and gave the ball up on downs, likewise for Cy Woods.  The Wildcats figured out how to stuff the Panther running game and Nicholas Bradley boomed a 55 yard punt to stick the Wildcats on their own 15 yard line.  Through a series of indecipherable hand signals, the refs informed the anxious crowd that only a few minutes or maybe several seconds remained in the game.  Cy Woods went to their playbook and called the slant pass once again and it worked yet again for the 85 yard touchdown, 20 – 28.  The kick-off team couldn’t break loose, the offense ran a few plays and the ref picked up the ball and left.  The game was over and the air was heavy with disappointment.  One play had made the game.

The JV Black showed incredible improvement play by play during the game.  The defense got the turnovers that always help, the offense learned how to move the chains to chew up yards and give the defense a rest and the Oak kick teams always prevail in the battle of field position.  The JV Black got better this game and better results can be expected.