6A Team of the Week: Cypress Ranch Mustangs
It was a heavyweight fight in Houston on Friday night. No. 18 Cypress Ranch hosting No. 3 C.E. King, the defending 6A Division II state runner-up.
The Mustangs advanced to the regional semifinals last season, but an overtime loss to Waxahachie sent them into the offseason with plenty of motivation.
Throughout the spring and summer, Cypress Ranch head coach William Blaylock and his staff preached the importance of family and finishing.
On Friday, that emphasis paid off.
Trailing by seven with three minutes to go, Mustang quarterback Braden Baker found Joshua Richard Jr. for the game-tying nine-yard touchdown.
Cypress Ranch’s defense followed that up with a stop, and special teams sealed the deal as Nate Carrier booted through the game-winning 40-yard field goal as time expired.
Final
Cy Ranch 31
CE King 28@CyRanchFB walks it off on a 39 yard field goal by Nate Carrier. What an incredible game. An enormous win for Coach Blaylock and the Mustangs who announce their presence in the state tonight. pic.twitter.com/3vP8shYgNV— Ryan Brauninger (@R_Brauninger) September 5, 2026
“We knew CE King would be a heavyweight fight, and we came in ready to play 48 minutes,” Cypress Ranch head coach William Blaylock said. “The grit and determination showed in the fourth quarter was a testament to these kids’ hard work and belief in each other and their coaches. The win was a statement that Cypress Ranch can play with anyone, anywhere.”
Baker, a Houston commit, is a big reason why that last sentence is true. He led the Mustangs offense with 253 passing yards and four touchdowns. Manny Leyja was the biggest beneficiary with six catches for 94 yards, while Derrick McCullar II had two catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
The Mustangs will now turn their attention to their final non-district game, a home contest against Aldine Nimitz on Thursday.
Previous 6A Teams of the Week
Week One: Southlake Carroll
