Cypress is led by (from left) Isaac Hurtado, Luke Porteneuve, Coach Rick Feldman and Tyler Jones. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)
Three members of Cypress High’s football team are looking forward to the biggest games of their careers.
Isaac Hurtado, Luke Porteneuve and Tyler Jones will take the field with their teammates at Western High Friday night at 7 against Temecula Valley in the CIF Division 7 championship game.
Cypress, coached by Rick Feldman, is 13-0 while Temecua Valley is 11-2. Cypress is trying to bring home its first CIF title since 2007.
“It still hasn’t hit me yet,” said Hurtado, the standout running back. “It’s super exciting though and I know we have a chance to win it all and it hasn’t been done in a while at our school. So, I’m super excited that I’m part of the team that is able to do that.”
Hurtado aggravated his ankle in the fourth quarter of Friday’s semifinal against Serrano although he was able to return and score the winning touchdown in a 26-21 victory.
Hurtado said he’s fine now and will be ready to go.
“It’s a lot better, it just needed rest over the weekend and I’m glad I was able to, I got it worked on and iced all weekend, it’s feeling a lot better,” he said.
Defensive end/tight end Luke Porteneuve is also looking forward to the big game. He was thrilled to be a part of the semifinal victory.
“It was a real close game, Serrano really brought it and we feel lucky to be able to come through,” said Porteneuve, a senior. “We played hard, I’m really proud of all my teammates who stuck it through until the end through injuries and all of that. It was just a really good experience.
“Our defense stood out all year, holding teams to like an average of 14 points a game. It’s a really great unit that we have and we rally to the ball and I’m really proud of them.”
Tight end defensive end Tyler Jones looks forward to Friday’s game as well.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Jones said. “It’s something I’ve been wanting since I first got in high school. I’ve watched many CIF games and I’m just glad to be here.”
Jones, a senior, attributed the excellent leadership for the team’s success.
“I feel like our leadership is amazing,” he said. “Everybody is working hard. And we’re really showing that we want it.”
Coach Feldman said he’s hoping for another outstanding effort from his team.
“I think after 13 weeks, I know were banged up, I assume they’re a little banged up,” Feldman said. “But I think we’re close enough that the team that makes the mistakes is going to end up paying for it. So if we can play mistake free, not turn the ball over and play solid defense we have a chance.”
Feldman is leading Cypress into the finals for the first time.
“I’m still kind of coming down from the exciting one on Friday night,” he said. “It’s great to be in it, I had to enjoy it for about 12 hours, then I had to re-focus and concentrate on Temecula Valley. They have some great players on that team.”
-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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