Cypress Bay stunned by Texas team

By Sam Khan Jr. | Special Correspondent

October 5, 2008

KATY, Texas - Cypress Bay rolled into Katy looking to continue its early-season success with a fourth straight win. Instead, the Lightning ran into a brick wall.

The Lightning offense, which was dominant in a win over Western last week, could only manage 134 yards of offense on Saturday as it fell to the Katy (Texas) Tigers 31-6 at Rhodes Stadium.

"We didn't come to play today," Lightning coach Mark Guandolo said. "We don't have any excuses. We got outplayed, outcoached, the whole deal."

The only touchdown the Lightning (3-1) managed came on a 10-yard run by senior running back Craig Dee, after a blocked punt by C.J. Ullysse set the Lightning up with great field position at the Katy 19-yard line.

Luke Bray's extra-point attempt, however, was blocked, and with 9:40 left in the second quarter, Cypress Bay trailed 7-6, as close as it would be for the remainder of the game.

Katy fullback Chris Roberson rolled for a 48-yard touchdown run later in the quarter to give the Tigers a 14-6 lead with 1:49 left in the first half.

The game remained that way until the fourth quarter, when Katy (3-2) blew it open with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Parker Ray to Taylor Brandt, a 21-yard field goal by Raul Balbuena and a 1-yard run by Jonathan Barnette that was set up by a 24-yard interception return by defensive back Sam Holl.

The Lightning only converted 20 percent of its third-down conversion attempts (3 for 15) and averaged just 2.2 yards per run.

It only picked up one first down in the second and third quarters and had only seven for the game.

"In our offense you have to get some first downs and you have to set things up," Guandolo said.

"We just couldn't get it going. When you go three-and-out, you can't set anything up. [Katy] was defeating their blocks — we weren't staying on our blocks enough."