Cicero Sparks Victory at Home

The last time Greg Cicero was on the Cal State Fullerton football field, his team, Servite, was beaten by Newport Harbor in the Southern Section Division V semifinals.

Cicero got another chance to show his talent here Saturday night in front of an estimated crowd of 7,000 and a regional television audience. Given another, final opportunity on his home field, he directed California to a 31-6 victory over Texas in the third California-Texas Shrine football game.

“You always dream of playing with a bunch of great athletes, and here you are,” Cicero said. “It was just great. There were so many good players to throw to and hand off to.”

Texas, it turned out, was beaten by one of its soon-to-be own. Cicero will play next fall at Texas, and if Saturday was any indication, he should be a hit.

He completed eight consecutive passes in the first half as California took a 21-0 lead. Cicero was six-for-six passing for 62 yards during the game’s most impressive scoring drive. It ended with his 35-yard completion to La Puente Bishop Amat receiver Joey Getherall (Notre Dame) on a post pattern.

Getherall, with three catches for 68 yards and four returns for 98 yards, was named the California Most Valuable Player.

Arizona State-bound Davaren Hightower of Dallas Lake Highlands, with five carries for minus-seven yards and one reception for one yard, was Texas’ MVP. That may be all you need to know about Texas’ night.

Hightower scored Texas’ first offensive touchdown in the three games between the states with a one-yard run with 7 minutes 16 seconds left to play. He was taken to St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton after the play with an apparent ankle injury.

That cut the lead to 24-6, but California answered with an eight-yard scoring run by Santa Margarita’s Billy Newman (Washington State) with 27 seconds left. Newman carried four times for 23 yards.

In the second quarter, Cicero pitched to Corona Centennial’s Damion Barton for a four-yard score. The one-play drive was set up when Long Beach Poly’s Marques Anderson (UCLA) blocked Kyle Staudt’s punt.

California made it 21-0 with 3:17 left in the first half. Moreno Valley Valley View’s Santi Hall (UCLA) recovered one of five first-half fumbles by Texas at its 24. After Cicero completed a 13-yard pass to Long Beach Poly’s Ken-Yon Rambo (Ohio State), Rancho Cucamonga’s Deonce Whitaker (San Jose State) scored on a 12-yard draw play.

Cicero had 82 yards passing at halftime. he finished 10 of 14 for 114 yards and no interceptions.

At halftime, Texas had minus-10 yards; California had 108. For the game, California outgained Texas, 206-114. Texas finished with minus-two yards rushing.

Los Alamitos safety Ife Ohalete (USC) was among the leading defensive players; he had five solo tackles and an assist.