Team Effort Gets Esperanza Past Cypress, 28-3

His team doesn’t roll up flashy statistics, but Esperanza High School Coach Gary Meek knows the most important numbers are the ones on the scoreboard after the game.

Esperanza rolled up the right numbers Thursday night, defeating Cypress, 28-3, in an Empire League game at Bradford Stadium.

“We’re a very unselfish team,” Meek said. “We have 48 football players on this team who don’t care who gets the credit.”

Chipping in for Esperanza (5-3 overall, 2-1 in league) Thursday night were tailback Lance Brown, who gained 118 yards in 20 carries and scored a touchdown; tight end Reid Pullen (four receptions for 62 yards); receiver Jarod Smith, who had two scoring passes of 16 and 15 yards, and fullbacks Mark Parlin and Garrett Emry, who gained 78 and 74 yards, respectively, against Cypress (3-5, 1-2).

Esperanza inside linebacker Keith Navidi, the team’s defensive leader, dislocated and possibly fractured his right elbow in the first quarter and was sent to Placentia Linda Hospital. Later, Cypress nose guard Jason Bern suffered a neck injury and was admitted to Placentia Linda. His condition was unknown late Thursday night.