By LONNIE KING | © 2025, Big Daddy’s Texas Sports

When I learned that I’d have the opportunity to see and call Friday’s non-district faceoff between Dickinson and Cy-Fair, I immediately got excited about the assignment. After all, seeing the Bobcats in Week 1 against Klein Cain (I wrote about that one here: Cy-Fair survives Klein Cain in 49-48 thriller), I knew they were a team to take seriously this year.

And looking at Dickinson’s first two results—as well as knowing their reputation as a regional powerhouse under head coach John Snelson—I knew they were a team to watch in Region 3.

Then I learned from Pridgeon Stadium personnel that they were expecting a near sellout. Good teams, great bands and drill teams, enthusiastic fans filling up the stands. All of it told me the game had the makings of an early-season playoff preview.

And, it probably wound up being exactly that.

The Cy-Fair Bobcats came into Friday night looking like the machine we had seen in Weeks 1 and 2. Quarterback Sean Riegler opened the game with crisp execution—spreading the ball around, mixing in the run, and jumping out to a 14–0 lead.

Riegler first found Henry Brooks on an eight-yard touchdown strike to cap an efficient opening drive, then later hit a wide-open Noah Williams in stride for a 45-yard scoring pass, giving Cy-Fair quick command of the scoreboard.

Just seven minutes into the game, it felt like another night where the Bobcats’ offense might simply overwhelm an opponent.

But Dickinson didn’t fold.

On their next possession, quarterback Lorenzo Aguirre connected with senior receiver Kaileb Peterson on a 41-yard touchdown to slice the lead in half and, early in the second quarter, led another scoring drive that he capped off with a one-yard TD run, evening things at 14–14.

That drive was set up by an interception of a Riegler pass by Ricky Casimere, and may have been an omen of things to come.

The Gators actually had two more golden chances before halftime, but a fumble deep in Cy-Fair territory by Malachi Gamble, and then an interception in the end zone, let the Bobcats off the hook both times.

Cy-Fair capitalized with an 80-yard drive in the final minutes to take a 21–14 halftime lead—culminated by a 30-yard scoring toss from Riegler to Kevin Ferrygood, who made an acrobatic play to keep his balance after contact and get into the end zone.

It was a lead that wouldn’t have been possible without Dickinson’s mistakes.

At the break, it felt like Dickinson might look back at those missed chances with regret. Instead, the opposite proved true.

First-Half Tale of Two Defenses

For Cy-Fair, Riegler had a fairly solid first half, although he faced more defensive pressure up front than he had seen in either of the first two games.

While he threw three touchdown passes and piled up 169 passing yards, the Gators’ defensive front forced him into his lowest completion percentage of the season through two quarters (11-for-21, 52.4%) and two interceptions—one more than he had thrown in the first eight quarters combined.

But, even as Dickinson’s defense kept the Bobcats from running away with things, the Gators’ offense looked like it might sabotage its own chances.

They racked up four turnovers (two fumbles and two interceptions), at least three of which scuttled drives that seemed destined for points. On top of that, by halftime, the Gators had been whistled for 12 penalties.

So, as much as Dickinson’s defense was trying to disrupt Riegler and the Bobcats, the game had the feel of a disappointment in the making for Gator fans. They had held their ground but looked in danger of letting too many opportunities slip away.

The Turning Point

On the opening drive of the second half, Cy-Fair looked poised to extend its lead. Riegler had the offense moving methodically down the field. Then came the play that may have flipped the night: Dickinson’s Marzellus Hunter jumped a wide receiver screen, picked it off, and sprinted 58 yards the other way for a pick-six.

Instead of Cy-Fair going up two scores, the game was suddenly tied 21–21.

The Bobcats never looked the same after that. Three offensive drives followed in the third quarter.  All ended unceremoniously:   fumble, fourth-down sack, interception.

Their offense sputtered, penalties piled up, and the Gators’ defense seemed to smell the blood in the water.

Gators Take Control

From there, Dickinson’s defense took over the game. They pressured Riegler into hurried throws, bottled up the Bobcats’ run game, and forced four second-half turnovers.

Meanwhile, the Gators’ offense wasn’t perfect, but it was opportunistic. For the most part, they abandoned their ineffective aerial attack and went to the ‘ground-and-pound’ approach.

Running back Gamble, who finished with 133 rushing yards, powered in a short touchdown out of the wildcat. Tavin Gomez was an effective complement, adding 104 yards of his own on the ground.  Aguirre wrapped the scoring with a two-yard TD run.

By the time the fourth quarter wound own, Dickinson had turned what looked like a looming deficit into a 35–21 victory.

What It Means

For Cy-Fair, this was likely a reminder that execution matters as much as talent. The Bobcats had the upper hand early, but turnovers, penalties, and missed opportunities crushed their momentum.

Riegler, who had been nearly flawless through two weeks, threw multiple interceptions and never looked comfortable once the Gators adjusted defensively.

For Dickinson, the win speaks volumes about resiliency. After their Week 2 come-from-behind win over C.E. King, Coach Snelson had spoken of his team’s resolve and never-say-die mentality.  And that quality was displayed again against Cy-Fair.

They weathered early mistakes, capitalized on a defensive touchdown to swing momentum, and then leaned on their defense to close the door.

It wasn’t their cleanest performance, but it was the kind of gritty win that can define a season—and lead to a long playoff run too.

Final Score: Dickinson 35, Cy-Fair 21

A game that started as a showcase for Cy-Fair’s offense ended as a statement for Dickinson’s defense.

And if these two teams meet again down the line—in the playoffs—both will remember how quickly this one turned.  And even if they don’t, the lessons learned in Week 3 may go a long way toward shaping the rest of their seasons.