Furious Finish Carries Paraclete to Title Game

Tommy Breech gained 231 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns to help Paraclete High defeat Cathedral, 62-33, in a Southern Section Division XII semifinal Saturday night at Antelope Valley College.

By extending their winning streak to nine games, the Spirits (12-1) reached a division final for the second year in a row. They will play Kilpatrick on Saturday.

Breech, who set up Paraclete’s first two touchdowns with a 70-yard return of the opening kickoff and a 53-yard run on a reverse, caught two touchdown passes and returned an interception 47 yards for another score.

Trailing, 21-0, at the half, Cathedral abandoned its passing game in favor of a double-wing attack. Jose Jimenez pulled the Phantoms to within 35-27 with a 22-yard touchdown run with 9:45 to play.

Paraclete answered by scoring 27 consecutive points in the next three minutes. Michael Washington scored two of his three touchdowns during the stretch on a 63-yard kickoff return and a 60-yard run. The sophomore led the Spirits with 114 yards rushing in six carries.

Cathedral quarterback Rudy De La Cruz, who entered the game with a national-record 60 touchdown passes this season, had five passes intercepted. He completed only seven of 22 passes, including one touchdown pass--a concession with three seconds to play.

Paraclete’s Rob Fockaert completed five of 13 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Curtis Brown rushed for 104 yards in 13 carries.

Cathedral’s Stephon Cannon rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns.