PHOTOS: Cypress football team gave fans plenty to cheer about during 13-win season

Coach Rick Feldman and quarterback Aidan Houston were masterminds of a 13-1 season for Cypress football. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).

Centurions lost to Downey in CIF Division 4 championship game.

Moments after a disappointing 40-7 loss to Downey in the CIF Division 4 championship game Friday night Cypress Coach Rick Feldman was given the opportunity to look at the bright side of a remarkable 13 win, one loss season.

And, he gave it a try.

“This (the title game loss) will sting for a while,” he began before rethinking the process. “No,” he said, stating the obvious, “this is going to sting for a long time.”

Like forever, but, as time goes by, the other 13 weeks of an absolutely remarkable season will also get their due attention.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Junior quarterback Aidan Houston amassed more than 4,200 yards total offense for the season.

Cypress wide receiver Matthew Morrell spent most of the evening in jump ball situations with the Downey defense.

Junior defensive back Bruno Calarella recorded 34 tackles in eight games for the Centurions.

Junior defensive back Brayden Sjostrom (12) was credited with 50 tackles in seven games.

Cypress wide receiver Matthew Morrell is congratulated after catching his 15th TD pass of the season.

Senior Nathan Schnelder (32), following blockers Rocco Burdett (42) and Michael Hubbard (80) was the Centurions' second-leading rusher.

Matthew Baldonado, a sophomore, was one of the Centurions top kick returners.

Junior Jake Porteneuve (25) gained significant yardage on this play against Downey.

Quarterback Aidan Houston takes a moment to gather himself while recovering from a late hit.

Defensive back Bobby Castillo (14) is one of 28 underclassmen who will return next year.

Cypress fans packed Western High for the CIF final.

Cypress players thank the fans after Friday's CIF final.

The Centurions blew through their regular season, outscoring 10 opponents 420-121 and being challenged only once in a 41-38 victory over Capistrano Valley.

Once the playoffs began, though, the circus was in town. The Centurions edged Highland of Palmdale 28-26 in the first round.

Then things really got wild when the Centurions defeated Millikan literally after the game ended, Blake Cousimano catching a 15-yard TD pass from Aidan Houston as time expired, then also catching the 2-point conversion pass to give Cypress a beyond improbable 29-28 victory.

Next up was Newport Harbor and again the Centurions waited until the final seconds before Logan Kennedy’s 36-yard field goal, which barely cleared the crossbar gave them a 17-14 win.

“I’ve never won a game on a field goal,” Feldman recalled.

The season also produced two spectacular individual efforts with junior quarterback Aidan Houston accounting for 4,238 yards in total offense and was responsible for 48 touchdowns.

As a passer, Houston completed 170 of 263 passes for 3,069 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing, carrying a team-high 139 times for 1,145 yards and 19 scores.

A big part of Houston’s success can be credited to senior wide receiver Matthew Morrell, who caught 80 passes for an astounding 1,627 yards. Morrell was responsible for 17 touchdowns, 15 receiving and two rushing. Morrell gained 226 yards on 25 carries on the ground.

—Courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone