POST-GAME: Cypress High players coping with devastating CIF playoff defeat

Cypress players line up to meet with their coaches after Friday’s 28-21 loss to Temecula Valley in the CIF Division 7 final. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

The scene is repeated, it seems after every CIF playoff game.

One team is celebrating, another is trying to cope with a stinging defeat.

And as the playoffs continue and go all the way to the finals, the scene seems magnified.

On Friday, the Cypress Centurions were the ones trying to deal with a devastating loss. They had won 13 games in a row to get to the finals, represented their community well and had played outstanding football.

The Centurions battled to the end Friday to get the second CIF football title for the school and the first since 2007. But four turnovers led to their demise and it was a talented Temecula Valley team that came away with a 28-21 victory.

Cypress Coach Rick Feldman had predicted that turnovers would play a big role in the outcome of the game. Turned out, he was right.

A solemn Feldman graciously took time to meet with OC Sports Zone as he was lining up with the rest of his assistant coaches who were ready to console his dejected players as light rain fell at Western High. That was clearly his first priority. Some appeared to be crying, some had their heads down.

They were all in need of a big hug from the head coach.

But Feldman said he remained proud of his team for the way it battled to the end against a talented Temecula Valley team. He and Cypress assistant coaches claim that some Temecula Valley players pounced on the Cypress logo at the middle of the field after the game as a sign of disrespect.

Amid the chaos of the celebration, it wasn’t clear what happened. But the game was televised by a regional network and perhaps a replay will show what happened.

In the end, the Temecula Valley players were celebrating with their fans on the field, posing for pictures. The Cypress players, surrounded by a large contingent of Centurion fans offering their support, were trying to deal with a very tough loss.

The finals continue tonight and more players will be celebrating, and more will be commiserating.

“We lost tonight and I hate that, but the result doesn’t matter in the way I feel about these guys. I love them all,” Feldman said.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com