PHOTOS: Late field goal lifts Cypress past Newport Harbor and into CIF finals

Cypress quarterback Aidan Houston scrambles for a long gain during the third quarter of the CIF Division 4 semifinal against Newport Harbor. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

For Cypress High School’s placekicker Logan Kennedy, the third-time was a charm.

After having two earlier field goals attempts blocked, the sophomore kicker booted a 36-yard field goal in the mud with nine seconds remaining in the game to lift the Centurions to a 17-14 victory over Newport Harbor Friday night in the CIF Division 4 semifinal playoff game Friday night at Western High.

“I was nervous when I ran out onto the field for the final kick, but I took deep breaths and relaxed and stayed focused,” said Kennedy, who had field goal attempts from 31 and 32 yards blocked in the first and third quarters. “I knew I hit it perfect, but I slipped as I was kicking and then I wasn’t so sure, but then it made it. This is my first year on varsity and it feels so good to contribute like this.”

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The Centurions (13-0) advance to next week’s championship game and will face Downey either Friday or Saturday at Western.

Cypress, which captured the Empire League title this season, last advanced to the finals in 2019. The Centurions have won 20 of their last 21 games and 40 of their last 45 games. The Sailors, who won the CIF Division 6 championship last season and earned an at-large playoff bid from the Sunset League this season, finished the season at 8-5.

With the game tied at 14-14, Cypress took possession of the ball with under three minutes to play at their 18-yard line following a Newport Harbor punt. Cypress quarterback Aidan Houston guided the Centurions 11-plays down to the Sailors 19-yard line.

Houston and Matthew Morrell each had critical runs for first-downs that kept the drive alive. Houston also completed a crucial 34-yard pass play to Trevor Monteleone that gave Cypress a first-down at the Newport Harbor 25-yard line with just over a minute to play. Four plays later, Kennedy’s field goal barely cleared the crossbar for the game-winner.

“That shows the character of our team; we overcame adversity,” said Cypress Coach Rick Feldman. “Our offense came to life in the second-half. Both of these teams are so similar. If we played 10 times, we would win five and they would win five”.

Trailing 6-0 at halftime, the Centurions marched 65-yards in four-plays on their first possession of the second-half to take the lead. Houston completed a 7-yard TD pass to Morrell to give Cypress a 7-6 lead. Newport Harbor bounced back early in the fourth-quarter when quarterback Colton Joseph scored on a 9-yard TD run. The Sailors converted a 2-point conversion and led 14-7.

On the Centurions ensuing possession, and less than a minute later, Houston tossed a short pass to Morrell who outran the defenders enroute to a 41-yard touchdown tying the score at 14-14 with 9:59 to play and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

“I told the guys on the last drive that we’ve been here before and this is our game to win,” said Houston, who completed 11 passes for 201 yards and rushed for 100 yards, 75 of them in the second half.

Following the game, Newport Harbor Coach Peter Lofthouse said his team made some mistakes that cost them.

“Our offense struggled and we couldn’t get going and we had a few miscues and we lost (running back) Kashton Henjum to an injury,” said Lofthouse. “We can’t let them control the ball like they did on the final drive and get that field goal.”

Newport Harbor defeated Valencia and Newberry Park in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Cypress, which rolled through the regular season, scoring over 35 points nine times, defeated Highland and Millikan in close games in the first two rounds, winning both games by a total of three points, was held to its lowest output of the season.

“We fought hard to the end; it’s unbelievable, we’re going to the finals,” said Morrell, who had six catches for 130 yards and 2 TDs.

Newport Harbor took the opening kickoff and marched 65-yards in nine-plays to take an early lead. Joseph completed a 4-yard TD pass to Josiah Lamarque, however the Sailors PAT and led 6-0.

Joseph led the Sailors with 17 completions for 271 yards and a TD pass.

—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone