ANAHEIM – Pacifica’s youngest players performed like senior veterans.
Sophomore Jeremiah Ingram scored the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter and later made an interception, sophomore quarterback Darius Cowens threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns and freshman Jordan Ross returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and added a touchdown catch as the Mariners defeated Cypress 26-21 on Thursday in an Empire League game at Western High.
Pacifica’s win was one of two Thursday results that created a three-way tie for first place in the league. Cypress, Pacifica and Tustin, which defeated Kennedy 33-14 on Thursday, are all 3-1 in the six-team league. Each has one game league remaining next week, the final week of the 2021 spring football season.
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Pacifica’s Jeremiah Ingram, left, intercepts a pass intended to Cypress’ Corey Anesi during an Empire League game at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Pacifica’s Diego Serrano, right, sacks Cypress’ Dylan Eldridge during an Empire League game at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Pacifica’s Diego Serrano, left, blocks a pass intended to Cypress’ Corey Anesi during an Empire League game at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Cypress’ Trevor Monteleone, right, sprints past Pacifica’s Jeremiah Ingram for a touchdown during an Empire League game at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Pacifica’s Jun Ramos, left, sprints past Cypress’ Devin Cobb during an Empire League game at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Pacifica’s Jordan Ross, bottom, tackles Cypress’ Muhammad Hassoneh during an Empire League game at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Pacifica’s Evarardo Barrios, right, sacks Cypress’ Dylan Eldridge during an Empire League game at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Pacifica’s Jeremiah Ingram, center, celebrate the team’s win over Cypress with Darius Cowens at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Cypress’ Corey Anesi, left, tries to escape a grab by Pacifica’s Diego Serrano during an Empire League game at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Cypress defenders tackle Pacifica’s Darius Cowens during an Empire League game at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Pacifica’s Jeremiah Ingram sprints for a touchdown during an Empire League game against Cypress at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Pacifica’s Jeremiah Ingram, right, celebrates his touchdown with Jamaal Fisher during an Empire League game against Cypress at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Pacifica’s Jamaal Fisher, left, stiff arms Cypress’ JD Haas during an Empire League game at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Pacifica’s Jordan Ross, right, blocks a pass intended to Cypress’ Matthew Morrell during an Empire League game at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Pacifica’s Darius Cowens throws a pass during an Empire League game against Cypress at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Cypress cheerleaders cheer for the team during an Empire League game against Pacifica at Western High School in Anaheim on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
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Cypress’ Corey Anesi and his parents are recognized for senior night before an Empire League game against Pacifica at Western High School in Anaheim on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Cypress plays Kennedy (1-3 in league) at Western High on Thursday, April 15, the same day Pacifica plays Crean Lutheran at Bolsa Grande High. Tustin is at Valencia on Friday, April 16.
Close finishes are nothing new in the Empire League.
Last season, Cypress went 5-0 to win the league championship and three teams – Pacifica, Tustin and Valencia – tied for second at 3-2 each. In 2018 Valencia went 5-0 and Cypress, Pacifica and Tustin tied for second at 3-2 each. In 2017 Valencia and Pacifica tied for the league championship and in 2016 it was Tustin and Valencia that tied for the league title.
Ingram on his fourth-quarter touchdown went up for Cowens’ pass with two Cypress defenders, came down with the ball and turned and dashed for the end zone. A pass for two points was incomplete, leaving the Mariners with a 26-21 lead with 5:06 remaining.
Cypress began its ensuing possession at midfield. Two plays into that possession Ingram cut in front of Cypress receiver Geordan Maliwat for an interception, giving the Mariners the ball at their 29-yard line.
Pacifica then drove to the Cypress 4-yard line. The Mariners fumbled there, with Cypress’ Ryan Alamo making the recovery. Cypress threw three incompletions and the Mariners sealed the win on defensive end Michael King’s sack with 24 seconds remaining.
“Jeremiah Ingram was fantastic tonight and Jordan Ross was fantastic tonight,” said Pacifica coach Vinnie Lopez. “I thought Darius played really well. I’m very happy for these guys tonight.”
Pacifica sophomore QB Darius Cowens talks about the 26-21 win over Cypress and teammates Jeremiah Ingram and Jordan Ross … pic.twitter.com/etF5mqax6d
— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) April 9, 2021
Cypress took a 7-0 lead on a 54-yard touchdown pass. After getting sacked on first down, Cypress quarterback Dylan Eldredge faked a handoff to his right, spun left and passed to Trevor Monteleone who sprinted down the left sideline for the touchdown.
Ross showed off his speed on the ensuing kickoff, returning it 90 yards for a touchdown. Mariners running back CJ Washington and quarterback Cowens switched rolls for the two-point conversion, with Washington taking the snap and tossing the ball to Owens in the end zone to put Pacifica on top 8-7.
Pacifica later drive to the Cypress 1-yard line where, on the first play of the second quarter, a reverse lost 7 yards and a Pacifica holding penalty on the play pushed the Mariners back to the Cypress 18-yard line. Their possession ended with a fourth-down sack by Cypress’ Muhammad Hassoneh.
Cypress followed with a 10-play scoring drive. Corey Anesi scored on an 11-yard reverse to give the Centurions a 14-8 lead.
Pacifica scored on a short pass from Cowens to Ross on which Ross again outran everyone on the 63-yard scoring play. This time the two-point effort failed as a the Mariners were stopped short of the goal line on a running play, leaving the score 14-14.
A 58-yard completion from Eldredge to Matthew Morrell set up a Cypress 11-yard touchdown run by Devin Cobb. That gave the Centurions a 21-14 lead they carried into the third quarter.
Pacifica senior receiver Jamaal Fisher scored on a 41-yard pass from Cowens early in the third quarter but again the Mariners could not convert the two-point attempt and Cypress clung to a 21-20 lead that would stand until Ingram’s 41-yard touchdown on catch-and-run with 5:06 to go in the fourth quarter.
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