Saddleback (5-5) vs. Cypress (9-1)

By BEN BOLCH

Nov. 18, 2000 12 AM PT

7:30 TONIGHT WESTERN HIGH

Both teams feature strong passing games supplemented by solid rushing attacks. Saddleback quarterback Ramon Saavedra has had a slightly better year statistically than his counterpart, Justin Rice, but the Centurions have strung together more victories. If the results against their common opponent, Corona del Mar, are any indication, then Cypress should be a strong favorite. The Centurions hammered the Sea Kings, 35-10; the Roadrunners lost to Corona del Mar, 38-35. The winner of tonight’s game will likely meet top-seeded La Mirada in the next round.

KEY PLAYERS

Saddleback

QB Ramon Saavedra

55%, 1,837 yds., 22 TDs

WR Ismael Isais

65 rec., 835 yds., 9 TDs

RB Joel Gonzalez

5.9 yds. per carry, 14 TDs

Cypress

QB Justin Rice

53%, 1,565 yds., 15 TDs

RB Darren Shorter

7.8 yds. per carry, 15 TDs

WR Kerry Lathon

38 rec., 576 yds., 5 TDs

High School Sports

Ben Bolch

Ben Bolch has been a Los Angeles Times staff writer since 1999. He is serving his second stint as the UCLA beat writer, which seems fitting since he has covered almost every sports beat except hockey and horse racing. Bolch is also the author of the recently released book “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.” He previously covered UCLA basketball from 2010-11 before going on to cover the NBA and the Clippers for five years. He happily traded in gobs of hotel points and airline miles to return to cover UCLA basketball and football in the summer of 2016. Bolch was once selected by NBA TV’s “The Starters” as the “Worst of the Week” after questioning their celebrity journalism-style questions at an NBA All-Star game and considers it one of his finer moments.

Saddleback (5-5) vs. Cypress (9-1)

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