Cy-Fair Wins A Shocker 51-35

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: December 23, 2017

Bobcats Prove to be a Team of Destiny

AT&T Stadium - The 2017 Class 6A DII State Championship was the final game of the 2017 Texas high school football season. The last two teams playing were the Waco Hewitt-Midway Panthers (15-0) and the Cypress Fairbanks Bobcats (14-0.) In a showdown that many thought would be one-sided in favor of Midway, the Cy-Fair Bobcats had something to say.

Midway went three and out on their first possession and were forced to punt. Cy-Fair started with great field position at the Midway 46. They used a strong running game as running back Trenton Kennedy (1,766 yards 10 touchdowns during the season) punched it in from 2 yards out. That put the Bobcats up 7-0. Midway was forced to punt again on their next possession and only got an 18 yarder and Cy-Fair took over at the Midway 36. The Bobcats had to settle for a 21 yard field goal to up the score to 10-0. The quarter came to an end with Midway driving the ball.

The teams traded punts to start the 2nd quarter. When Midway was forced to punt again, Bobcat returner Christian Richmond returned the punt 31 yards to the Midway 11 yard line. Three plays later quarterback Cameron Arnold ran a quarterback sneak to score and put the Bobcats up 17-0 with 5:49 remaining until half. The Panthers got things rolling as their star quarterback Tanner Mordecai (Oklahoma commit, 3,989 yards 48 touchdowns passing (1,131 yards 23 touchdowns rushing) hit Dart Smith with a 48 yard scoring strike. The extra point made the score 17-7 with 5:01 remaining. Cypress ran the ball well on their next possession but had to punt and Midway took over at their own 9 with 59 seconds left. After a 1st down, the snap went over Mordecai's head and into the end zone where there was a big pileup. Cy-Fair defensive back Kyle Bell was at the bottom of the pile and the Bobcats took a 24-7 lead with 35 seconds remaining. It was the first of four key Midway turnovers. Midway next fumbled the kickoff that was caused and recovered by Bobcat defensive back Cody Cunningham. That set the Bobcats up at the Midway 24 with 27 seconds left. They kicked a field goal to take a 27-7 lead at halftime.

Cy-Fair got the ball to start the 2nd half. The running game was moving the ball but Midway defensive back Trevious Hodges caused a fumble. That gave the ball to the Panthers at their own 46. The Panthers were not able to get anything going and went for it on a 4th and 11 at their own 45. The pass was broken up by Bell and Cy-Fair took over the ball. The Bobcats punted pinning the Panthers down at their own 4 yard line. An 17 yard Midway punt gave Cy-Fair the ball at the Midway 29. They were able to get a 42 yard field goal to make the score 30-7. Bell forced another fumble that Cunningham recovered at the Midway 3 on the kickoff. One play later Kennedy scored from 3 yards out to up the score to 37-7. Midway fumbled the next kickoff also but they recovered at their own 5. A few plays later, a Midway receiver was stripped of the ball by Bell and recovered again by Cunningham. Kennedy scored from 17 yards out to up the score to 44-7.

Midway got back on the board in the 4th quarter to make the score 44-14. An onside kick was recovered by Cy Fair. The Bobcats punted to the Midway 15. The Panthers drove the length of the field and scored with 7:11 left on a Mordecai pass to CJ Williams. The score made it 44-21. An onside kick was recovered by Midway's Smith. Another touchdown pass to Williams made it 44-28 with 4:24 left. As if to remind the Panthers that this was the Bobcats' night, on the next onside kick attempt, Bobcat receiver Justin Uriarte took the kick 48 yards for a touchdown to make the score 51-28. Midway scored again to make it 51-35 with 2 minutes left. The Bobcats recovered the next onside kick and ran the clock out.

by Michael Wright

Offensive MVP: Trenton Kennedy (110 yards rushing 3 touchdowns)

Defensive MVP: Cody Cunningham (3 tackles 3 fumble recovery's)

Attendance: 23,712