PREP EXTRA / SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Cypress Finds Orange League’s Magnolia More to Its Liking

ANAHEIM — Maybe John Selbe, Cypress coach, could petition the Southern Section to change leagues.

If anyone knows about the Orange League, it’s Selbe and his players.

For the fourth consecutive week, Cypress (2-3) played a team from that league, but this time the result was more to the Centurions’ liking.

Behind a strong defensive performance that limited Magnolia to nine yards on nine plays in the first half, the Centurions won, 16-8, Friday night at Western High.

Magnolia didn’t get its initial first down until 6:19 remained in the third quarter.

The Sentinels (1-4) were trailing, 16-8, and had a fourth and two at the Cypress 16 with 6:41 left to play. Magnolia’s Sean Roy was stopped a yard short of the first down by Bruce Swinford and Jeff Steenbergen.

Magnolia’s other problem was trying to stop Cypress’ Greg Cleave, who rushed for 165 yards in 33 carries. He scored on a 21-yard run in the third quarter to give the Centurions a 16-0 lead.

Bryce Brunsting gave Cypress a 7-0 lead when he caught a 10-yard scoring pass from David Wheeler in the first quarter.

Magnolia’s only score came on a four-yard run by Jesse Elizalde in the third quarter. He set up the score with a 50-yard kickoff return.