The Cy-Fair Bobcats lost just three games in 2016, all by the skin of their teeth. The three losses came to teams with a combined record of 37-4, including one state finalist.
The Bobcats lost to 6A Division I state runner-up The Woodlands, 23-20, on the first game of the season. Their only district loss was by a touchdown to 17-6A champion Cy Ranch, and they lost a one-point nail biter to Houston Lamar in the bi-district round in the waning seconds.
Needless to say, the Bobcats resume from last year was impressive. So was their defense. Cy-Fair allowed just under 17 points a game, and only Langham Creek (28), Cy Ranch (24) and The Woodlands (23) scored more than 21 points against the tough Bobcats defense.
A first-round exit from the playoffs for the second-straight year is out of the norm for coach Ed Pustejovsky’s program. From 2010-14, the Bobcats only had one first-round loss (vs. Alief Taylor, 2012) and went to the state quarterfinals in 2013 and three rounds deep two other times.
Cy Fair has its main skill players returning in 2017, and expect the defense to be just as salty.
Key Losses
WR B.J. Chambers, FS Kyle Cervenka, DE Derrick Jackson
One of the district’s top receivers, Chambers led the Bobcats in receptions (47), receiving yards (549) and touchdown receptions (9).
The defense was led by a group of seniors, and Cervenka led the way with 62 total tackles, 44 of them solo. Cervenka also caused three fumbles. Jackson had a team-high six sacks in 2016
Key Returners
CB Erick Hallett, MLB Patrick Atkinson, RB Trenton Kennedy, QB Cam Arnold
Arnold passed for 1,537 yards and 15 touchdowns, and he has a year under his belt of running the offense. Kennedy rushed for 1,322 yards with a 5.6 yards-per-carry average and a team-high 20 touchdowns.
Hallet leads a talented secondary, and he led the team last year with four interceptions. He deflected six passes and caused one fumble. Atkinson led the team with 72 tackles — 51 of them solo — and had two sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Verdict
The Bobcats will once again use its old-school style of smash mouth football to win games with a bruising defense and a pound-and-ground running game with Kennedy leading the charge behind a fairly stout offensive line.
Atkinson and Hallett lead a defense that can take the Bobcats three rounds deep or farther if they can stay healthy.
One more thing: look out for the group of juniors who got significant playing time last year as sophomores.
