Cypress Holds On for 7-6 Victory

Cypress High School stopped Kennedy on a fourth-and-goal situation in the third quarter and again on a two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter to take a 7-6 victory Friday in the season opener for both teams at Western High School in front of about 1,000.

Kennedy cut the Cypress lead to 7-6 with 43 seconds left in the game on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Russ Clark to Todd Murakami. Kennedy then elected to go for the two-point conversion try, but on an option play, quarterback Clark was sacked by several Cypress defenders.

Brian Dawson scored on a one-yard run to cap a 70-yard drive with 9:21 left in the first half to give Cypress a 6-0 lead. Richard Parsons then kicked the extra point that turned out to be the game-winner.

Dawson led all rushers with 88 yards in 28 carries. Youssef Semaan, Sean Gibson, Abbey Gomez and Ryan Kakalia all had interceptions for Cypress.