By Camila Araujo and Iris Nava, Cypress Park High School (A High School Journalism Network Collaboration)

At long last, Cypress Park High School’s varsity football team is back in the win column.

The Tigers rallied to beat Cypress Creek 18-12 in overtime on Saturday night, marking second-year head coach Donald Lawrence’s first win in the district and the program’s first victory since a 63-21 win over Langham Creek all the way back on Nov. 6, 2021.

The pivotal moment arrived in overtime. After a Cypress Park stop on defense, the Tigers were facing a fourth down at the Cypress Creek 20-yard line. Lawrence initially trotted out his kicker, but after a Cypress Creek timeout, he changed his mind and sent the offense back onto the field.

The rest is history.

Junior quarterback Triston Whipple threw the game-winning touchdown pass to senior receiver Chris Owoeye. The stands erupted in cheers, the coaches embraced, and the players poured a jug of Gatorade over Lawrence’s head.

“We don’t believe in curses; we believe in competing,” Lawrence said. “What I love about this group is that they always believed they could win. They kept showing up, competing and getting better. We’ve had some difficult moments and some incredibly close games, but their competitive spirit has been outstanding.”

Offensively, running back William Warren had 17 carries for 143 yards and a touchdown, while Whipplethrew for 99 yards and a touchdown and added another 80 yards on the ground. Owoeye finished with two receptions for 27 yards and that all-important touchdown.

“Even though we were having troubles in the first half, I knew we were going to win,” Owoeye said. “Our team doesn’t care about the scoreboard; we strive for success, stay positive and never give up.”

The defense deserves credit, too. Linebacker Kaden Watkins had 15 total tackles and three tackles for loss, defensive back Lovell Iverson had 10 total tackles and linebacker Christian Ivey had 10 total tackles and two tackles for loss.

From the moment he took over last spring, Lawrence’s philosophy has revolved around people. He believes you have to get people who care about kids, who believe in the mission and who are willing to hold themselves and one another accountable.

“We’re not trying to build something that depends on one game or season,” Lawrence said. “Winning a football game is part of that process, but the bigger question we continually ask our players is, who are you becoming as a result of this chase?”

That chase will now continue into district play, which the Tigers will open up on September 24 against Cypress Springs at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium.

Editor's Note: This article was written by Camila Araujo and Iris Nava, students at Cypress Park High School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, through a partnership between My Neighborhood News and the District as part of an established high school journalism network collaboration. My Neighborhood News is a proud supporter of local youth and warmly welcomes the opportunity to provide a platform for students to share their work.

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