Anaheim Capitalizes on Turnovers to Beat Cypress, 10-9

Anaheim capitalized on four Cypress turnovers to preserve a 10-9 nonleague victory over the Centurions in front of a homecoming crowd Friday night at Glover Stadium.

The Colonists (2-2), who were able to generate only 134 yards total offense, needed all the help they could get to subdue Cypress (1-3), which was able to accumulate only 150 yards total offense.

Anaheim cashed in on a fumbled Cypress punt return on the Centurion 12 for its only touchdown, a six-inch plunge by quarterback Phillip Covarrubias with 9 minutes 39 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Alex Perez kicked the conversion.

After Joey Meza’s 26-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the half cut the Colonist lead to 7-3, Anaheim executed its best drive of the night. The Colonists took the second-half kickoff and drove 59 yards to the Centurion three-yard line before the drive stalled. Perez then kicked a 28-yard field goal.

Cypress drove 45 yards for its only touchdown, a six-yard run by Mike Brito, but the two-point conversion attempt was thwarted, first by a delay of game penalty on the Centurions and then on a low pass from quarterback Gabe Garcia to David Spegon that was incomplete.

A time-consuming, six-minute Anaheim drive that stalled on the Cypress 29 and pass interceptions by Allen Akau with 1:42 left in the game and Che Garcia on the last play of the game stymied Cypress’ comeback attempts.