Cypress Shows Century Shorter Way to Loss

Cypress and Century were two teams going in opposite directions in an Empire League finale Friday at Western High.

The result was predictable: Cypress, heading into the playoffs as the league’s second-place team, downed last-place Century, 49-13.

Cypress (9-1, 4-1) used only 22 offensive plays and scored on five of its first six possessions. Darren Shorter rushed for 233 yards and five touchdowns in only 13 carries.

All but 15 of Shorter’s yards came in the first half as Cypress built a 42-7 lead. The Centurions needed only 49 seconds and three plays to score their first touchdown, which came on a 38-yard run by Shorter. The senior then capped a seven-play drive on Cypress’ next possession with a 16-yard rushing touchdown around right end.

Robert Clark’s touchdown on an interception return gave Cypress a 21-0 lead.

Century (1-9, 0-5) scored midway through the first quarter when Celestino Johnson caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from Nick Rodriguez. Johnson finished with five receptions for 115 yards.

Shorter responded with his third touchdown of the first half, a one-yard run. That was followed by Cypress quarterback Justin Rice’s 57-yard scoring run. Shorter later ran 90 yards for another score.

Century’s first three drives of the second half resulted in two interceptions and a lost fumble.

Senior fullback Will Lockington scored Century’s last touchdown on a one-yard run late in the fourth quarter.