Cypress takes the easy way against Loara

ANAHEIM - After narrow fourth-quarter escapes the past two weeks, Cypress seemed due for a game that wasn't decided in the closing moments.

The Centurions capitalized on two special team errors early and the defending CIF champions cruised to a 35-7 victory over Loara at Glover Stadium on Friday. (Full game stats.)

Senior Archie Bernard set up Cypress' first scoring drive with two key plays — blocking a punt to start the drive and then making a one-handed catch on fourth down to extend it.

Saxons defensive back Landen Finlen was positioned to intercept quarterback Max Reza's pass, but Finlen accidentally tipped the ball, which allowed Bernard to make the catch.

"We got some breaks tonight and that was certainly one of them. It was great concentration on his end," Cypress coach Ray Fenton said.

Akeeli Muhammad ran into the end zone from 11 yards out on the next play, and the Centurions (5-3, 3-0 Empire League) never looked back.

After Jared Cohen caught a touchdown pass from Reza for a 14-0 lead, Cypress cornerback Jeremy Davidson put the game away when he scooped up a fumbled punt return and took it 24 yards for the score.

Muhammad added a short touchdown run in the third quarter, finishing with 68 yards on 11 carries.

Esteban De La Cruz spared the Saxons (5-3, 1-2) the shutout when he scored on a 1-yard run following Isaac Falealili's block of a Cypress punt.

• Click here for full game stats and links to season totals and team rosters. 

Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com