The Western High football team, with no shot at the postseason, played spoiler on Thursday, Nov. 7. It ran over Cypress High, posting a 30-19 victory at home to avoid the cellar of the Empire League standings. It also prevented Cypress from clinching an automatic playoff spot on the field. Cypress did get the third place spot thanks to a loss by Kennedy against Valencia on Friday.
The Pioneers (4-6, 2-4) finished the season in fifth place. They took a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and 20-7 advantage at the halftime break, never trailing the Centurions (6-4, 3-3), who needed Valencia to top Kennedy to make the postseason.
The Centurions actually drew first blood. Quarterback Nick Buras connected with Quinten Pounds for a 6-yard scoring pass to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. However, Western’s quarterback Cody Rutlege, who threw for just 16 yards, scored a 4-yard touchdown to go in front 10-7. Pioneers kicker Brooke Warken booted a 25-yard field goal earlier in the quarter.
Warken would kick two more field goals from 22 and 26 yards.
Pioneers rushers Freddie Jorquez and Alex Ojelabi also impressed. Jorquez used 18 carries to tally 136 yards. He also caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cody Rutledge to push the score to 20-7 at the half.
Warken’s final field goal made the score 23-7 in the third, but the Centurions cut the deficit when Buras threw a strike to Joe Chavez for a 15-yard score. Chavez then added another touchdown, this time using his legs. He ran a 4-yard dash into the end zone, which inched the Centurions closer at 23-19.
However, the Pioneers quickly put the game out of reach. Rutledge did the deed, pounding in a 1-yard keeper during the fourth. Cypress will open the playoffs on the road against defending CIF champion Edison on Friday at 7 p.m.
