Calhoun’s Games to Watch: La Habra vs. Cypress
December 1st, 2009, 7:33 pm · · posted by Damian Calhoun
This week’s top football matchups:
La Habra (11-1) vs. Cypress (11-1)
Saturday, 7 p.m. at La Habra High
Outlook: The top-seeded Highlanders are back in the semifinals, with their eyes focused on a third consecutive CIF title.
La Habra defeated Kennedy, 56-10 in the first round and El Dorado (27-7) last week.
Cypress, the fourth seed, enters the semifinals riding a 10-game winning streak. The Centurions defeated Troy (44-14) and El Toro (38-9) to advance.
A lot of the attention will be focused on each other’s lead running back. Josh Quezada (La Habra) is averaging 210 yards in his past three games.
Cypress’ Akeelie Muhammad, the second leading rushing in the county, was “limited” to 158 yards last week against El Toro. Muhammad has topped 200 yards six times this season.
Can either defense stop Quezada or Muhammad?
With all of the touchdowns and yards posted by Quezada and Muhammad, it is easy to overlook the quarterbacks. However, I hope neither defense does.
Zack Ortiz of Cypress has completed 71 of 110 passes (64.5 percent) for 1,412 yards with 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
Cody Clements of La Habra has been spectacular, completing 109 of 172 (63.4 percent) for 1,933 yards with 27 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Which quarterback will have the final say Saturday night?
Click on the links below to check out the rest of The Calhoun Six:
Calhoun’s Players to Watch: Semifinals
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Final score 38-28 La Habra. Go Highlanders!!
Predicting La Habra wins it by atleast 2 touchdowns or so…
Well here it comes a match-up that all Cypress fans have yearned for…a semi-final showdown with the defending Champions, a huge measuring stick for where this Cypress program has worked its way too….great running back in Muhammad and a decent QB, but it wont be enough to get by the Highlanders, especially at the pit…have a feeling the game will start a bit slow and pick-up quickly once all settle in with the La Habra offense getting in gear with Q runnin the ball to set up the pass and sooner than later will break open the passing game and La Habra will win this one 35-21….ending a great year for Cypress and all its fans……
Who will control the line of scrimmage? I know that
LH cannot start out slow in this one, no fumbles, etc..
If LH can play the way they have in years past in big
games they will be good. We need to see the type of Defense that slowed Wilkerson of Tustin, and swarmed Western back inthe day. I agree LH WINS,a nailbiter….28-21.
i think you guys are being to genorous with the score. the offense is in high gear[dont read to much in fumbles, part of the game and hasnt happened that much ,so dont base it on 1 game] and will control the game. plus when you have akicker like shawn well the other team will be starting on their own 20 majority of game. yeah play action ability of cypress qb was great last week but again could that have been a 1 game thing like clan fumbles last week. final score lhhs 34 cypress 18.
Cypress’s D kept Mater Dei in check until a 50 yard scramble with a minute left in the game. Cypress has good speed on that defense. Cody Clements will be the key with his accuracy. score 24-21 LH
if lh plays like last week real sloppy and similar to last year ag ed it will be close but hopfuly its out of system lh 34 cy21 to many wepons watch for 7 and 80 to have big games while they key the juice
LH offense is a tight unit..they are working together- I know I am always giving the guards a hard time, but I just see their potential, especially when they have size- they need to use their bodies effectively. With Clements and Elk they will play with determination, they work well together and Juice, Bartolone, Avery, McBride they will run it in all the way and lets not forget the relaible ones: Gonzo and Ghandour. Cypress dose not have all these weapons.
My only concern is defensive backs..the line is awesome, but Baca and Peppard need to step it up and learn how to read opponents offensive..lets recruit some smart backs with high GPA”S hahaha.
Play Hard, Play Smart,Have Fun
Let’s go Cypress!! Saturday night will be a great night, in a big-time atmosphere. You have a whole city of people behind you; now go out and make us proud!!
I’ll be there!! ~LINE SIX
This is a great match-up, I’ve seen Cypress play a couple of times and they are good. I don’t think they played anyone this year at the calibur of La Habra. Mater Dei maybe, but they had an off year. I honestly think Cypress is a BETTER NOW than when they played MD. But, so is LH.
Since both teams have fantastic offenses, it will be the defenses that will determine the outcome. Based on what I’ve seen of both teams, the big hitters and speed on defense, goes to the Highlanders.
Defense wins championships, but this will be a barn burner- LH 35- Cypress 28
ive wanted to see this game all season, it should be fun to watch good luck to both teams.. my prediction cyp 28 lh 21
La Habra always gets up for the big games. The home fans will make sure of it as they will be rockin the house. They will not take Cypress lightly and will come with full force and big hits and a winning attitude.
La Habra 38 Cypress 10
La Habra is too good. They belong in the Pac-5. Final score La Habra 38-17
roll call…!!!i’ll be there…first game of the season for the stud, work has kept me busy, but since the game is played on saturday i shall be there…fortunately the game is probably one of the biggest ever played at the lahabra stadium… hope its one for the ages, good luck both teams, and CLAN PRIDE!!!
Ok kinda kept my shut on this game although i did pick La Habra…..Cypress has a a great season alot of growth to a good program and things hopefully will continue with its sights set on becoming a great program….BUT… not this year La Habra is a 1st class top notch program with i think the best fans in the county….one of the best youth programs and great coaching ggreat community support and it has payed off in becoming one of the most respected programs in the County…..Cypress wont beat this club…La Habra has gotten better each and every week…..and will dominate this game played at the PIT……from offense to defense they have made big strides in becoming another team that will go down in the booksfor the Clan Pride…….cmon Clan!!!
Looking forward to the Pit and the rest of the atmosphere in LH. Lots of props to LH as they are best and the champs.
But I’m going with my Cents…28-24.
This game reminds me of the most recent Manny Pacquiao fight.
Miguel Cotto had a great resume and had won some big fights, but in the end Cotto was facing one of the great Champions of our time.
LH 35 Cypress 16
Slightly off on the score but a pretty fair assessment if I do say so myself.
3 in a row would be impressive. Its only been done a few times in the past, good luck HighLanders. Some one please video the opening when the CO2 is relesed and the HighLander stick’s his Sword in the Turf and the Bagpipes bring out the Team PLEASE. Coach Fenton your the man for bringing Cypress to the place they are today. You did a great job here in Henderson, Nevada with Foothill High. They are not the same without you. Basic is on top in Henderson now. Bishop Gorman(Mater Dei of Las Vegas) is the best team in Nevada. Good Luck to all the Great Teams playing for a Title. My pick’s are……………Pac-5 Edison …………….Southern………………LagunaHills………………..L.A.City…………….Crenshaw…………….St. Margaret’s………………SouthWest……………LaHabra……………….. and Nevada…………………..Bishop Gorman …………….I Love This Game of Football in High Scool don’t you guys?
l.H homers let the game be played on the field the best team will win.
cypress by 40
la habra will be crushed cypress 47 highlanders 7
2007 I SAID IT WOULD BE CYPRESS TAKING IT ALL……AND MY FEELINGS ARE CYPRESS WILL WIN OVER FULLERTON….GO CYPRESS!!!!
2007 I SAID IT WOULD BE CYPRESS TAKING IT ALL……AND MY FEELINGS ARE CYPRESS WILL WIN OVER L.H….GO CYPRESS!!!!
dork good name for you fella. even if and thats a big if cypress pulls an upset I cant remember when anybody put a 40 pt spread on the clan,God bless you dork .
seen both teams and I think cyp takes it by 2 touchdowns
I pick LH by a touch down, but would not be shocked if they win by more than two touch downs if both “D” and “O” come out on fire.
Yeap it will be a close one………But I would say Cypress takes it. Fenton knows what to do to stop L.H and will get it done.