Kang’s Score Clinches Loara Playoff Berth

David Kang ran 27 yards for a touchdown with 6 minutes 28 seconds left to give Loara High School a 28-21 victory over Cypress in an Empire League football game Thursday at Western High School.

Loara (6-4, 4-1 in league) clinched second place and a playoff berth. Cypress (3-7, 1-4) finished fourth in league.

Loara preserved the victory with a defensive stand, stopping Cypress on fourth and six at the Loara seven with less than a minute to play.

Loara quarterback Charles Gipson led the Saxons with a 13-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and a touchdown pass to Steve Knight in the second that tied the score, 14-14, at halftime.

The loss overshadowed Bryan Dawson’s performance: He scored all three Cypress touchdowns, rushing for 93 yards on 24 carries.

Dawson’s one-yard touchdown run opened the scoring with 24 seconds left in the first quarter. Gipson’s touchdown run tied the score, but Dawson returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards to give Cypress its second lead with 7:45 left in the half. Dawson added a 16-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.