EMPIRE LEAGUE : Long Return Sparks El Dorado’s Rout

David Myers’ 99-yard interception return was not just an early setback for Cypress Thursday night. It was the beginning of a complete letdown.

The second-quarter defensive steal got El Dorado even with Cypress, and when Myers scored again five minutes later, the Golden Hawks never looked back, rolling to a 42-7 Empire League victory at Western High.

The Centurions (2-6, 2-1 in league) were on the verge of taking a two-touchdown lead, but Myers read Cypress quarterback Nick Vanderwal’s eyes and stepped in front of Rasham Lawrence on an out pattern with 8:40 left in the first half.

Once Lawrence was blocked at the 10, Myers had only one tackle to break on his return.

Cypress did not get a first down on its next two possessions and each time the Golden Hawks (5-3, 2-1) capitalized.

DeLonne Kelly’s 63-yard reception set up Myers’ second score on an eight-yard run.

After Bobby Brito’s 19-yard punt gave El Dorado the ball at the Cypress 33, Jake Ehlen caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Mike Marzicola with 16 seconds remaining in the half.

Brito, the Centurions’ leading rusher, was sidelined the entire second half with a leg injury and without him, Cypress could manage only two first downs in the second half.

“This is the first time this year we’ve won back-to-back games,” El Dorado Coach Rick Jones said. “We’ve had a kind of see-saw situation, and I think for the first time this season we have built on something from one week to the next.”