ANAHEIM – The only thing that could slow down Cypress on Friday night was low-flying aircraft. The game was delayed a few moments while a drone flew over the field.
Following the break in action, the Centurions continued their domination of Empire League foe Western, posting a 38-7 victory at Western High and ending a two-game losing streak.
The Centurions (5-2, 1-1) compiled 372 yards on offense and saw three players complete touchdown passes. The defense also rose to the test, holding Western to 123 yards on offense, including a minus-17 on the ground, and recording two sacks.
Gino Santo scored two touchdowns for Cypress, including a 62-yard punt return for the first score of the game midway through the opening quarter. Less than three minutes later, Tim Nguyen tossed a 76 yards option pass to Elias Rios to make it 14-0.
Cypress added a field goal late in the first quarter and held a 17-0 advantage when it stopped Western (2-4-1, 0-2) on a fourth down at the Centurion 18-yard line. The change on downs was followed by an 82-yard, 10-play drive that ended on a 22-yard scoring pass from Alex Ashcraft to Santo with just over five minutes left in the first half.
The Pioneers made another trip deep in Centurion territory, but Sano bailed out Cypress with an interception that would have counted for 93 yards and a touchdown if it had not been for a penalty on the return.
Ashcraft found Rios open for a 15-yard touchdown pass four minutes in the second half, Rios’ second of the game. Later in the period, Walley Patterson threw out of punt formation, had the pass deflect off a Western defender and into the hands of Cameron Repetti, who eluded two more defenders and scored from 48 yards out.
Anthony Munoz, who threw for 140 yards for the Pioneers, gave the homecoming crowd something to cheer when he hit Aaron Bojorquez for a 4-yard scoring strike with 1:39 to play.
Ashcraft was 11 od 23 for 125 yards and also led the Centurions in rushing with 54 yards on six carries.
