By LOU PONSI
OCVarsity staff

ANAHEIM -- Cypress clinched a playoff berth and at least a share of the Empire League football title with a 40-0 victory over Katella on Thursday at Western High. (Full game stats.)

Cypress (6-3, 4-0) can capture the title outright with a victory over Pacifica next week.

Centurions coach Ray Fenton said the title is the first for Cypress since 1998 and the third in school history.

If Pacifica defeats Cypress and Valencia defeats Loara next week, the Centurions, Tigers and Mariners could finish in a three-way tie, forcing a coin flip to determine playoff seeds.

“We could go in as a No. 3 seed,” Fenton said. “And we don’t want to leave it to luck.”

Cypress and Pacifica met for 2007 Southern Division Championship, won by the Centurions, 36-30.

Katella is 1-8, 0-4.

Fueled by the running of Akeeli Muhammad and the passing of Max Reza, the Centurions scored touchdowns on their first four offensive possessions.

Reza completed 5 of 5 passes for 117 yards.

Muhammad carried nine times for 96 yards and scored on runs of 28 and 5 yards. |

Fenton confirmed that the 6-foot-1, 190-pound back is being recruited by UCLA.

The Centurions’ defense also accounted for two touchdowns.

Shawn Hansen scored on a 38-yard interception return and Eric Obezo recovered a fumble in the end zone.

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