ANAHEIM – Cars lined every street near Western High. Parking within a two-mile radius was at a premium.
“The School Down The Street vs. The Fighting Irish,” Kennedy’s senior night program read. “Stomp Out Cypress” demanded a shredded banner taped to a stadium ramp.
The Irish hosted their rival on Friday, but it was Cypress doing the stomping.
Behind quarterback Alex Ashcraft, the Centurions avenged last season’s loss, defeating Kennedy, 30-6.
Cypress’ win creates a logjam in the Empire League, which offers three automatic playoff berths. Three 2-2 teams – Cypress, Kennedy and Pacifica – share third place.
Next week, Cypress plays Valencia and Kennedy plays Pacifica.
The Centurions (6-3, 2-2) kept the ball in the hands of Ashcraft, the slithery quarterback who’s a tough tackle in the open field and an accurate passer from the pocket.
He and Jeremiah Thompson rushed for 137 yards between them. Cameron Covington scored on catches of 9 and 14 yards.
Kennedy (5-4, 2-2) ran the ball well.
Alonzo Pineda finished with 70 rushing yards, but too often Irish drives stalled on third-and-long. The hosts missed a field goal in the second quarter, and Thompson capped Cypress’ ensuing possession with a short TD run.
Kennedy quarterback Christian Rodriguez scored on a 20-yard run in the third quarter.
Cypress later added a safety.
Contact the writer: bwhitehead@scng.com
