PREP EXTRA: ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Garcia, Western Have Big Second Half, Beat Cypress

Sergio Garcia rushed for 128 yards, 119 in the second half, and scored twice as Western (2-0) rolled to a 27-6 victory over Cypress on Friday night at Western High.

Garcia carried the ball only twice in the first half as the Pioneers held a tenuous 7-6 lead at the break. But Garcia, a 5-foot-7, 185-pound junior, sparked the Pioneers as they scored on three consecutive second-half possessions to break the game open.

Cypress (0-2) took a 6-0 lead three plays into the game, as senior Bobby Brito turned a busted play into a 73-yard touchdown run. Brito finished the night with 87 yards in 13 carries.

Meanwhile, penalties kept the Pioneers from mounting a drive in the early going. Two first-quarter possessions were hampered by penalties and ended in missed field-goal attempts. Western took the lead early in the second quarter after an interception by Peter Mendia gave the Pioneers the ball at the Cypress 49. Dean Chambers connected with Kevin Hatton on a 49-yard scoring pass two plays later for a 7-6 Western lead.

Garcia got started midway through the third quarter as Western drove from its 20 to the Cypress 37. He rushed for 13 and 14 yards to pick up two consecutive first downs, then went in from the 10 for a touchdown and a 13-6 Western lead.

Cypress went three-and-out on its ensuing possession, with a bad snap on a punt attempt handing Western the ball at the Cypress 5. Kirk Martinez scored two plays later on a two-yard run. Garcia capped the scoring on a 29-yard run with 5:54 left.

Other than Brito’s early heroics, Cypress had little luck moving the ball. Western outgained the Centurions, 338 yards to 177.