Cypress Wins Tight Battle With Katella

Cypress traded slim leads with Katella and hung on at the end to defeat the Knights, 26-23, in an Empire League football game Friday night at Glover Stadium.

Katella scored first with 1 minute 52 seconds remaining in the opening quarter when Chris Haller hit Phil Tyson for a 22-yard touchdown pass.

Cypress’ Thadius Lewis ran the kickoff back 88 yards for a touchdown. Chris Adornetto’s extra-point attempt was blocked.

The Centurions (4-4, 2-1) scored again when Justin Rice hit Lewis for a 73-yard touchdown pass.

Katella (3-5, 2-1) got the ball back with 2:00 remaining in the half and Chris Haller hit Jesse Cardona with a 62-yard pass to put the ball on the Cypress three-yard line. Two plays later Haller scored on a quarterback sneak. He then hit Marlon Roman for the two-point conversion to stretch the lead to 15-12.

Katella’s Victor Espinoza blocked a punt and the Knights recovered the ball at their 44 late in the half.

On the next play, Katella’s Rich Mango fumbled and Cypress’ Robert Clark recovered and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown and a 19-15 lead at the half.

Cypress took a 26-15 lead with 9:15 remaining in the fourth quarter when Rice connected with Darren Shorter from seven yards.

Katella closed to within 26-23 on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Haller to Al Williams and a two-point conversion.