Cypress shows it’s more than Pounds

Cypress' Quinten Pound hauls in a touchdown pass in the first half of Thursday night's game against Dana Hills.
Cypress quarterback Nick Buras looks for running room in Thursday night's game against Dana Hills.
Cypress' Nick Buras loses the handle on the ball. The fumble was recovered by Dana Hills in Thursday night's game.
Cypress' Taylor Williams, who had 177 yards and three touchdowns rushing, cuts upfield against Dana Hills in Thursday night's game at Dana Hills.
Dana Hills' Ray Mosiehi watches the ball into his hands in Thursday night's game against Cypress.
Cypress' Nick Buras slings a pass for a first down in Thursday night's game against Dana Hills.
Cypress' Quinten Pounds dives for a first down against Dana hills in Thursday night's game.
Cypress' Taylor Williams breaks a tackle for a touchdown against Dana Hills Thursday night.
Dana Hills quarterback Cole Wilber throws on the run against Cypress in Thursday night's game.
Dana Hills quarterback Cole Wilber scrambles for a first down in Thursday night's game against Cypress.

By Dan Albano | dalbano@scng.com | Orange County Register

October 2, 2014 at 10:55 p.m.

DANA POINT – Quinten Pounds generates plenty of praise for Cypress, and deservedly so. But the Centurions showed Thursday that they’re not just a one-player operation.

Running back Taylor Williams pounded out 177 yards and three touchdowns on the ground to support Pounds and the defense in leading Cypress to a 34-16 win at Dana Hills.

Pounds scored twice and played strong at cornerback as Cypress (4-1) shut out the Dolphins (1-5) in the second half and rebounded from a 38-27 loss against Diamond Bar.

“Quinten is so special that all eyes go to him … (but) it’s a team effort,” Cypress coach Rick Feldman said. “(QB) Nick Buras does a great job. He makes plays out of nothing. Taylor Williams runs like a bull. He runs guys over. And our offensive line gets stronger as the game goes on.”

So did Cypress’ defense. Dana Hills’ trio of Brian Scott, Corey Selenski and Connor McCloud had 113 yards rushing at halftime but finished with 125. The Centurions defense also forced three turnovers, leading to 20 points.

Cypress led, 20-16, going into the fourth quarter but Williams scored on TD runs of 1 and 8 yards to seal the victory. His 1-yard run, featuring a spin off a tackler in the backfield, was set up by a leaping 41-yard reception at the 6 by Kevin Edwards on the final play of the third.

Feldman praised offensive linemen Trevor Bodholdt, Efrain Valdez, Jacob Bakuwel, Adam Ashcraft and Eric Smith.

Cypress led, 20-16, at halftime but the momentum belonged to the Dolphins.

Dana Hills scored nine points in the final 1:06 of the second to cut into a 13-point deficit. Selenski scored on a 9-yard TD run with 1:06 left and Dana Hills added a safety on the final play of the half. Pounds picked up a punt near his 10 and as he tried to avoid a defender, fumbled into the end zone.

But Pounds did plenty of damage earlier. He returned a fumble 51 yards for a score early in the second. He also caught a 33-yard TD catch from Buras and set up a 30-yard TD run by Williams by intercepting a deflected pass in the end zone and returning the ball to his 41.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com