The Cypress High took a few lumps last year, but with seven returning starters on offense and five on defense, the Centurions certainly have a chance to learn from last season.
Cypress is bringing back several key players at the skill positions, including junior quarterback Alex Ashcraft, who threw for more than 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in part-time play as a sophomore. Ashcraft is the top candidate to take the primary starting job this season.
The Cypress High took a few lumps last year, but with seven returning starters on offense and five on defense, the Centurions certainly have a chance to learn from last season.
Cypress is bringing back several key players at the skill positions, including junior quarterback Alex Ashcraft, who threw for more than 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in part-time play as a sophomore. Ashcraft is the top candidate to take the primary starting job this season.
Ashcraft should have plenty of options on the attack. Senior Jacob Mercado ran for nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns as part of the running back platoon. This year, Mercado could emerge as the primary back.
When the Centurions go to the air, first-team, all-league wide receiver Dominique Thompson will be a key target. Thompson, a junior, had 45 receptions and six touchdowns last year. The Centurions will have plenty of depth with senior Jeremiah Thompson and sophomore Elias Rios also potential targets. Senior tight end Noah Zuzuarregui also provides a big target. The Centurions don’t have a lot of depth on the offensive line, so the leadership of seniors such as Jeremiah Skipps and Anthony Allen will be key in getting the line to gel. Sophomore Miles Mendez will start at center, with juniors Frankie Cardenas and Trevor Pulcifer likely anchoring the other two starting jobs.
On defense, the Centurions will have senior leadership at the key linebacker spot. Jeremiah Thompson, Darian Patton and Simon Khiev will shore up the middle of the defense and Dominique Thompson and senior Tim Nguyen patrolling the corners. Junior Kaleb Craig and sophomore Elias Rios are the top candidates to move into the starting safety spots.
The CIF-SS re-aligned football playoff divisions in the offseason, and Cypress was placed in Division 9, a field of 29 schools. Other Orange County schools in the division include Esperanza, Woodbridge, Aliso Niguel and Kennedy.
