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  • Cypress wide receiver Dominique Thompson, right, can't quite reach a...

    Cypress wide receiver Dominique Thompson, right, can't quite reach a pass as Capistrano Valley's Justin Hagman arrives to defend late in the Cougars' 30-7 nonleague triumph Friday.

  • Capistrano Valley's Kian Assarpour crosses the goal line in the...

    Capistrano Valley's Kian Assarpour crosses the goal line in the second quarter for one of his two touchdowns in a 30-7 victory over Cypress.

  • Capistrano Valley players make their entrance before the start of...

    Capistrano Valley players make their entrance before the start of their game against Cypress in Mission Viejo on Thursday, October 1, 2015. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Wide receiver Cameron Covington of Cypress tries to make the...

    Wide receiver Cameron Covington of Cypress tries to make the fingertip catch but can't haul it in during the first quarter against Capistrano Valley in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Capistrano Valley's Jake Werner, right, is ablel to break free...

    Capistrano Valley's Jake Werner, right, is ablel to break free from Cypress safety Dominique Thompson to gain big yardage in the fourth quarter in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • After breaking a tackle, Capistrano Valley's Jake Werner, center, breaks...

    After breaking a tackle, Capistrano Valley's Jake Werner, center, breaks into the open with Cypress defenders giving chase during the fourth quarter in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Cypress wide receiver Cameron Covington reaches out to make a...

    Cypress wide receiver Cameron Covington reaches out to make a catch late in the fourth quarter against Capistrano Valley in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Capistrano Valley quarterback Kevin Brown evades a Cypress tackle to...

    Capistrano Valley quarterback Kevin Brown evades a Cypress tackle to gain yardage on a keeper in the first quarter in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Capistrano Valley defenders Ryan Schurmer, right, and Justin Burk bring...

    Capistrano Valley defenders Ryan Schurmer, right, and Justin Burk bring down Cypress' Noah Zuzuarregui on Friday night. The Cougars defense forced four turnovers.

  • Cypress quarterback Alex Ashcraft, center, scrambles to get rid of...

    Cypress quarterback Alex Ashcraft, center, scrambles to get rid of the ball as Capistrano Valley defenders close in during the first quarter in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Associate mug of Kenny Connolly, Anaheim reporter.

Date shot: 12/31/2012 . Photo by KATE LUCAS /  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

MISSION VIEJO – Rafael Ramos had seen the play before, just days ago in film study: trips left, with his receiver running a quick out route toward the sideline.

With Cypress driving deep into Capistrano Valley territory early in the third quarter, the Cougars defensive back sniffed out the play and the route pre-snap, and used his instinct to cash in.

On the Centurions’ opening series of the second half, Ramos intercepted Cypress quarterback Alex Ashcraft at the Cougars’ 20-yard line, and darted 80 yards in the opposite direction for the back-breaking pick-six that Capistrano Valley used get past the Centurions, 30-7, Friday night in a nonleague game at Capistrano Valley High.

Capo Valley (5-1) forced four Cypress turnovers and turned those miscues into 21 points. Ramos’ interception came at the 7:11 mark in the third quarter when the Centurions (4-1) were looking to turn a 10-point deficit into a one-possession game.

Instead, Ramos put the Cougars up, 17-0.

“The defense has shown up all year,” Capo Valley coach Ernie Bucher said. “We’re averaging giving up eight points a game – that’s going to go down a little bit tonight – and that’s against a talented offensive group. Those guys had a lot of speed at pretty much every spot with a talented, shifty quarterback.

“But the defense has played like it has for six straight games. They’ve truly dominated and it’s fun to watch.”

Capo has held four of its six opponents to a touchdown or less this season, and did so on Friday with a tremendous push from its defensive line.

Junior defensive end Nolan Reeve had his hand in three sacks. Senior Juan Manzo set up the Cougars’ first score of the game with a forced fumble deep in Cypress territory. And Juan Carlos Saldivar and Zach Ritner applied constant pressure on Ashcraft.

Despite outgaining Capo in the first half, 165-128, the Centurions trailed 10-0 at halftime and had just 5 yards rushing on 15 attempts. Cypress failed to score on a first-and-goal from the 3, and missed two field-goal attempts in the opening half.

The Centurions were in the midst of a six-play, 45-yard drive in the third quarter when Ramos made the game-changing interception.

“I don’t think that score’s indicative of the game at all,” Centurions coach Rick Feldman said. “I felt like we played like a top-25 team tonight. It’s funny because I feel better about us after a loss getting ready for league than I do after any of the four wins.”

Aschraft was solid minus the interception, throwing for 244 yards and a touchdown to Dominique Thompson late in the third quarter.

Kian Assarpour rushed for two touchdowns, and Kevin Brown completed 24 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown.

Contact the writer: kconnolly@scng.com