Noah Cerda
Varsity Running back Jaiden Anthony soars for the ball after a perfect pass from his teammate.
The Cypress High School Varsity Football team made history, securing a win on their home campus football field against Brea Olinda High School for the first time on Friday, August 29th. Junior Peter Batsaras, Varsity Kicker and Punter, kicked the game-winning field goal, leaving fans on the edge of their seats with a scoreboard reading 21-20 with only 32 seconds left. “We were in a dark condition, that fourth quarter.” Senior Tynoa Allen, Varsity Tight End and Defensive End reported, “we were in the dark for a little bit, but then after we got that ball back, we started not only giving 100%, but 150. We gave our all for that last play.”
It wasn’t only the first home game of the season, but the first home game on the field that the Centurions can finally call their own. Rather than traveling to their usual home stadium, Western High School’s Handel Stadium, the team played on the fresh new turf that was installed only a year prior to the game. The whole surrounding community came out to support. Amber Houston, Principal of Oxford Academy and self-proclaimed “Cypress’s Number One Fan,” takes pride in her city and surrounding schools. “There’s something truly magical about being able to play on your home field. It gives you that small home-town feel — the whole neighborhood is out here tonight,” Houston explained. “It’s not just Cypress students. We have people in their houses looking, we have people from our community, we have pride in our kids and our city and that’s what local public school is all about.”
Over 1780 tickets were reserved on GoFan, and over 600 Cypress students attended this event. Mr. Ron Hoshi, Member of the Board of Trustees representing Cypress High School stated, “I’m looking around here tonight, and seeing all of the people in the stands, and noticed the student section created additional rows. There are so many people here tonight, and I think it’s so exciting that we are making history.”
In high pressure moments, the team finds ways to overcome the stress of the moment. “I try not to focus on the pressure,” Senior Bryson Busbee, Varsity Running Back, said. “I make sure to keep my head up, and stay locked in, focused, and continue boosting my team.” It was a hard fight between the two teams, but Junior Jaiden Anthony, Varsity Running Back, finds that in situations such as those, “pressure makes diamonds.”
This game set the energy for the school year, leaving a mark on the school’s history forever.