Cypress Mistakes Help Loara Win

Cypress went into its game Friday at Glover Stadium carrying the momentum of a 5-0 start. Loara’s ground attack, along with Cypress errors, overcame that, however, and the Saxons took a 42-12 victory in the teams’ Empire League opener.

Cypress (5-1, 0-1) looked impressive on the game’s opening drive, marching to the Loara 26-yard line before quarterback Justin Rice had a pass intercepted at the one-yard line by Rudy Acosta.

Loara (2-4, 1-0) capitalized quickly on the mistake as Acosta raced 80 yards for a score, capping a five-play, 99-yard drive.

Midway through the second quarter, another mistake--a clipping penalty against Cypress during a Loara punt--gave the ball back to the Saxons deep in Cypress territory.

Two plays later, Ryan Gusman burst through the pile on a quarterback sneak for a 13-yard touchdown run to increase the lead to 14-0.

On the ensuing kickoff, Cypress handed Loara yet another gift when it fumbled at its 33. Gusman did it all himself, carrying the ball 32 yards to the one, then scoring on a sneak for a commanding 21-0 lead.

The Centurions made it 21-6 on Kerry Lathon’s 36-yard touchdown reception from Rice, but it was as close as they got.

Loara racked up 282 yards rushing to Loara’s two in the first half. Billy Chavez finished with 138 yards and one touchdown in 23 carries. Acosta ran for 99 yards in only four carries, intercepted two passes and hauled in a 39-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.

Rice completed 17 of 31 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns for Cypress.

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EMPIRE

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League Overall School W L T W L T Kennedy 1 0 0 5 1 0 Katella 1 0 0 2 4 0 Loara 1 0 0 2 4 0 Cypress 0 1 0 5 1 0 Century 0 1 0 1 5 0 El Dorado 0 1 0 1 5 0

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WEEK 6

Thursday’s result

* Kennedy 33, El Dorado 14

Friday’s results

* Loara 42, Cypress 12

* Katella 42, Century 34

WEEK 7

Thursday, Oct. 19

Kennedy vs. Century at Santa Ana Stadium.

Friday, Oct. 20

Katella vs. Cypress at Western HS

Loara vs. El Dorado at Valencia HS