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ANAHEIM — Cypress football players Matthew Morrell and Trevor Monteleone earn plenty of attention, but there is another emerging player worthy of recognition.
Dual-threat quarterback Aidan Houston made his case Thursday in his first varsity start.
The junior threw three touchdowns and ran for scores of 15 and 64 yards to help lead the No. 11-ranked Centurions past No. 25 Western 44-20 in a nonleague game at Western High.
Houston passed for 225 yards and rushed for 113 yards to power Cypress (3-0), which led 38-0 early in the third quarter before Western (2-1) came alive.
“He adds another dimension,” Cypress coach Rick Feldman said of Houston. “You have to account for him both in the run and the pass games, which makes us tougher to defend.”
Houston, a transfer from Los Alamitos, has overcome two ACL injuries to his right knee to show blazing speed. He raced up the middle for a 15-yard TD run to give the Centurions a 38-0 lead and broke a 64-yard touchdown run in the final minute of third quarter to push the Cypress advantage to 44-13.
“I feel back,” Houston said. “It’s been an emotional journey but I’m glad to be back.”
Cypress defeated its third opponent ranked in the Orange County top 25 but was slowed in the second half by four turnovers forced by the Pioneers.
“We looked great in the first half,” Feldman said. “At least we were able to respond to having a poor quarter.”
Cypress’ defense finished with three interceptions, including two by sophomore Matthew Baldonado. Junior Bruno Calderella added another interception along with a sack and tackle for loss.
Western senior Drew Faulkner recovered a fumble at the Cypress 34-yard line in the third quarter to set up his touchdown on the next play with a pass from Anthony Luna. The strike put Western on the scoreboard with 8:27 left in the period.
His brother Josh Faulkner then forced a fumble that Desmin Joshway-Fairley recovered near midfield. Josh Faulkner, a junior, capped the ensuing drive with 1-yard TD run to trim Cypress’ lead to 44-13 with 6:25 left in the third.
Josh Faulkner also added a sack and interception.
“I like how we didn’t give up. We kept fighting,” Western coach Dan Davidson said. “We showed a lot of character.”
Cypress took an early 7-0 lead on a 35-yard TD strike from Houston to Morrell on fourth-and-10. The pass capped the Centurions’ opening seven-play, 68-yard drive.
Houston found his stride in the second quarter, tossing two touchdowns and leading a drive for a field goal.
He punctuated an 87-yard march by tossing a 9-yard touchdown pass to Blake Cousimano with 8:39 left in the half.
After Cypress sophomore Logan Kennedy kicked a 25-yard field goal, Houston threw a 52-yard touchdown to running back Jesse Maudlin on a reverse flea flicker. Houston tossed a short pass to Maudin on a wheel route and the junior broke tackles to extend Cypress’ lead to 24-0 lead with 3:01 left in the half.
Moments later, Baldonado made it to 31-0 by returning an interception 36 yards for a touchdown.
Next week, Cypress takes its bye while Western plays Esperanza at Yorba Linda High School.