Wilson’s ‘fourth years’ put their stamp on program
After setting school mark for wins, Spartans on the ascendancy
The fourth is always a favorite.
It’s the first class a coach spends every year with after arriving at a new school, and coach Lydell Wilson is looking for something special from his seniors after setting a school record for wins last year.
“We’re heading in the right direction,” Wilson said.
“It’s just time for us to take that big step and win one of those games that we haven’t been winning in the past.”
He’s talking about two teams in particular – Katy and Cinco Ranch.
The Spartans have beaten a lot of good teams in Wilson’s three years, but the two Katy ISD elite.
“We’ve got to get a signature win somewhere, whether it’s regular sea-
for every game. No team is going to lie down and give it to you. You have to fight for it, and sometimes their mentality is ‘We’ve already won the first two so this next one’s going to be easy,’ but that’s never the case. You have to fight for every match.” Wildcats seek balance
Cypress Woods knows offense.
With three 1,000 yard rushers a year ago, and two of those players returning, it’s plenty productive on that side.
Now it’s time for the Wildcats to get defensive.
Coach Trent Faith, who’s going into his fourth season leading the program, says that’s the only way they’re going to improve on last year’s 8-5 record and trip to the Class 6A regional semifinals.
“When you end the season with a loss you’re never totally satisfied, (and) unless you win the state championship you’re going to end the season with a loss,” Faith said. “So we feel like we’ve got to play better defense if we’re going to make a real run, and that’s been a focus in our offseason and spring practice and this fall camp.”
The personnel numbers don’t seem to suggest that deep postseason run is imminent. Cy Woods graduated 14 starters and 63 lettermen, which is the most among the 10 District 17-6A teams by far. But Faith isn’t afraid. “We lost quite a few, but we feel like we’ve got some good quality young men coming up, so we’re real excited,” he said.
The up-and-comers include quarterback candidates Bryson Powers and Austin Goffney. Powers, a move-in, was on varsity last season. He started as a wide receiver but moved to safety and made all-district. Goffney was the starting QB on the JV team.
The Wildcats scrimmage The Woodlands at 7 p.m. Friday at Cy Woods.
“We’ll evaluate our quarterbacks, and defensively we want to be real sound, and try to create some turnovers and not give up big plays,” Faith said. “And then offensively we’ve always been slowstarting, so I’d like to see us get things moving a little earlier this year.”