Esperanza’s Big Fourth Tops Cypress

Esperanza’s offense got on track in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 points, and the Aztecs went on to a 24-6 victory over Cypress in an Empire League game Friday at Valencia High School.

Esperanza (5-2, 2-0 in league) led, 7-0, at the half but Cypress came back in the third quarter. Dan Cleave went around left end and broke free for an 85-yard touchdown run to make the score 7-6. Cypress (0-7, 0-2) then attempted a two-point conversion, but Colby Waltenberg was stopped short of the goal line after catching a pass from quarterback David Wheeler.

Esperanza took a 10-6 lead on a 41-yard field goal by Jason Florence with 10 minutes 50 seconds left to play. The Aztecs then went up, 17-6, on a three-yard run by Tom Tape with 8:03 left.

Esperanza capped scoring with a three-yard touchdown run by Justin Fewell with 3:54 left to play. Fewell had scored Esperanza’s first touchdown with a one-yard run in the first quarter.

Esperanza dominated the game on the ground with 342 yards rushing, 247 in the second half.

Tape led with 152 yards in 21 carries and Nolan Boggs had 107 in nine carries.

In the second half, Esperanza held the ball for nearly 18 of 24 minutes and ran 39 plays to Cypress’ 15.