ANAHEIM – Cypress quarterback Aidan Houston threw a touchdown pass and ran for a TD, and the Centurions special teams scored a touchdown in a 31-14 win over El Modena in a nonleague football game Thursday at Western High.
Houston rushed for 82 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown run, and threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Michael Hubbard.
Cypress, No. 11 in the Orange County Top 25, is 2-1. No. 24 El Modena dropped to 0-2.
Thirty-eight of the game’s 45 points were scored in the second quarter.
Centurions coach Rick Feldman said it was a typical game for Houston, a senior who was an Empire League most valuable player last season. He lamented the number of injuries incurred during the hard-hitting game.
“Aidan was outstanding as usual,” Feldman said. “Lost a starting tackle during the game. Shoot, we lost three or four guys during the game.”
Cypress QB Aidan Houston talks about the Centurions’ 31-14 win over El Modena … pic.twitter.com/2dzSuSpTcS
— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) September 1, 2023
It was 24-14 at halftime. All 38 first-half points were scored in the final 8:40 of the second quarter.
Houston floated a pass perfectly to Hubbard in stride to get Cypress the game’s first points.
El Modena’s Greg Koutures returned the following kickoff 92 yards to the Cypress 7-yard line and two plays later quarterback Xzavior Guess connected with Trent Vallejos for a 1-yard touchdown pass to tie it.
Cypress regained the lead on a 47-yard touchdown run by Houston, who showed his breakaway speed and change-of-direction skills on the play.
Guess did his thing, too, flying for a 72-yard touchdown sprint to make it 14-14.
A Cypress punt was fumbled by El Modena on the return attempt, with Matthew Baldonado grabbing the bouncing football at the El Modena 10 and carrying it in for a touchdown and a 21-14 Cypress lead.
“Tyler White made the big hit,” Feldman said of the collision that forced the fumble. “And he’s a little kid.”
White is listed as 5-8, 175.
The Centurions’ Logan Kennedy kicked a 28-yard field goal with 13 seconds left in the half for a 24-14 halftime lead.
The third quarter was scoreless. With the win secured, the Centurions handed off to Rocco Burdett, who mostly plays linebacker where he was outstanding on Thursday, but plays fullback in short-yardage situations. Burdett ran 37 yards for a touchdown in the final minute.
Guess finished with 172 yards passing and 120 yards rushing.
The Centurions play a home game Friday, Sept. 8, against Lawndale. El Modena plays at Segerstrom on Friday, Sept. 8.
Related Articles
Corona del Mar football battles to the end, but loses to Palos Verdes
Stellar defense lifts Sunny Hills football to victory over Woodbridge
Villa Park football makes statement by running past Upland
High school football live updates: Thursday’s games for Week 2 in Southern California
Fryer on Football: Previews and predictions for Week 2’s top games