The Cooldown: Week Seven
Cover Photo via @FwoodFootball on Twitter.
We’re now four or five games into district depending on bye weeks and other things and playoff pictures are starting to take shape. Some districts are in pandemonium while others seem to be much more clear cut. Take a look at how Friendswood shook up 10-5A, Cy Creek’s standing in 17-6A and more.
1. Friendswood Stuns Foster
There may not be a district as top heavy as 10-5A in the state, and Friendswood shook up the power structure of this league with a big 34-32 win against Foster. The loss was the first of the year for Foster while Friendswood remains undefeated.
Unfortunately for the Mustangs, the road ahead doesn’t get any easier. They’ll face Shadow Creek on the road on Friday, which could be a good litmus test for how far they can go in the post-season. Shadow Creek is currently the presumptive favorite in the Houston area to make it to Arlington the weekend before Christmas.
Foster will take on Angleton next week in a game that the Wildcats might have to win in order to make the playoffs. With losses to Shadow Creek and Hightower, Angleton will need some serious help if they can’t beat Foster or Friendswood. They may need some help even if they do win one of those.
One thing is for sure: The last three weeks of football in this district we be must see TV as they fight to determine playoff spots and seeding.
2. Shadrach Banks is BACK
Shadrach Banks is back on the field for the first time since North Shore won the 6A Division I state championship. That sentence should scare every 6A program in the area.
Banks is one of the most dynamic receivers in the stat and for that matter, the entire nation and is a key piece that could help carry North Shore to another state championship. The one blemish currently on North Shore’s record is a 24-21 loss to Katy back in week one. Banks easily could’ve made up for three points in that game. Katy is currently ranked No. 7 in the nation and No. 2 in Texas. Banks is here to shake that up.
North Shore took down a decent Deer Park squad 49-7 last week. That’s about par for the course and Banks five-catch 132-yard performance is impressive, but fairly normal for him. The point is, every 6A power should be on alert. The combination of Banks, Zach Evans and Dematrius Davis is one of the most talented the best QB/RB/WR trio the state has ever seen.
3. Cy Creek Impresses
Cypress Creek has rattled off four straight victories after an 0-3 start. Those four victories have given the Cougars a 4-1 district record, good for second in 17-6A. With a likely win against Northbrook still left on the schedule, that would put Cy Creek at five wins which should be enough to put the Cougars into the playoffs.
The catalyst of this four game win streak has been quarterback Julian Uwadia. The senior finished last week's win over Cy-Ridge with 346 yards and five touchdowns. The win was big as Cy-Ridge is another team in the 17-6A playoff hunt.
If the Cougars can beat Memorial on November 11, they should be in good shape for playoff seeding. Cy Fair is expected to run the table which will give the Cougars another loss. This means a win against Memorial would give them a 6-2 finish in district.
Depending on how Cy Falls finishes out its schedule, that would place Cy Creek at second or third in the district. Cy Falls beat the Cougars 28-17 earlier in the season and holds the tiebreaker between the two.
Bonus: Houston in the Red River Rivalry
Former Alabama and Channelview High School quarterback Jalen Hurts had himself a game in his first and only RRR. He threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns while adding another 131 and a score on the ground.
That’s not to mention that 171 of those yards and all three of Hurts’ touchdown passes went to Foster product CeeDee Lamb. Unfortunately for the state of Texas, both of those great former #txhsfb players put up those performances for Oklahoma.
I’m not here to suggest where guys should go or advocate against OU, but it’s always nice to see Texas players stay in Texas to represent our great state. That said, there are so many talented players in this state that a good amount are going to leave. The point is, it’s great to see Houston area products show out on the biggest stages!