Cypress’ Patterson Too Much for Santa Ana

Cypress’ running back Kelly Patterson rushed for 172 yards and scored four touchdowns, leading the Centurions past Santa Ana, 38-12, Thursday night in a nonleague game at Santa Ana Stadium.

The Centurions (2-3) led, 3-0, going into the second quarter, then put the game away.

Early in the quarter, the Centurions drove 58 yards on seven plays. Quarterback Jeff Crooks capped the drive with a 19-yard pass to Eric Vanlandingham.

Patterson caught a 29-yard pass from Crooks to extend Cypress’ lead to 17-0. He scored his second touchdown late in the quarter on a seven-yard run. Cypress led, 24-0, at the half.

Santa Ana tried an onside kick, but failed to recover. On Cypress’ first play from scrimmage, Patterson burst up the middle 44 yards untouched for the touchdown. That put the Centurions up 31-0.

Cypress held Santa Ana (0-5) to minus-13 yards total offense in the first half. It was a combination of good defense by the Centurians and bad offense by the Saints. Santa Ana’s only first down came on a penalty.

On Santa Ana’s first possession of the half, third-string quarterback Rigo Oropeza drove the Saints 88 yards on nine plays in just under four minutes. Robert Ramirez scored from 12 yards to cut the Centurions lead to 38-6.