THE BIG GAME : Kearny Topples UC High : High school football: Centurions’ dream of perfect season shattered in 21-12 loss.

Before Friday, University City High’s football season sparkled like a cabinet full of crystal. Each victory through UC’s 9-0 start was a precious addition to a perfect collection.

The Centurions, who led the county in points scored (307) and fewest points allowed (25), were one victory from a perfect regular season and their first City Western League championship since 1988.

Against Kearny, the Centurions’ hopes were shattered.

Kearny 21, University City 12.

Game, league title and a higher seeding in next week’s section playoffs for the Komets.

The No. 7 Centurions (9-1, 3-1) dominated the game, with a 376-202 edge in total offense. Ed Miller grabbed the spotlight from county rushing leader James Curtis. Miller, a 6-foot, 190-pound senior not always featured in UC’s offense, rushed for 187 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries--an average of 8.1 per carry. Curtis, with more than 4,700 yards in three years, carried 25 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns.

UC contributed four turnovers and seven costly penalties.

“We self-destructed, offensively,” UC Coach Steve Vukojevich said. “That’s just football.”

UC’s first drive produced a holding penalty (on a play that netted a first down) and an interception that gave No. 8 Kearny (9-1, 4-0) the ball at the Centurion 41-yard line. Seven plays later, Curtis scored on an eight-yard run.

UC never led. But with 3:54 left, fourth down and the Centurions trailing, 14-12, Miller scored an apparent go-ahead touchdown on a five-yard run.

Flag. Five-yard penalty. Miller went into motion before the ball was snapped. In came David Randolph to attempt a 27-yard chip-shot field goal. Wide right.

The only thing that could stop Miller--who carried the load after running back Paul Turner sprained his right ankle in the first quarter--was Miller.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, a UC drive ended at the Kearny 31 when Miller couldn’t get a grip on a pitch behind him and Scott Anderson (who also had the first-quarter interception) punched the ball out of his hands and recovered.

Fast-forward to the final 47 seconds.

UC, again on the march, had first down on the Kearny 26 when linebacker Kenny Junious (6-5, 200) entered the backfield and stepped on quarterback Daranzol Sheppard (5-6, 140). A stunned UC crowd watched as Junious took the ball out of Sheppard’s hands and ran it in from 72 yards.

“Anytime you run option football, God says, ‘Yeah, I’ll give you a long run, but you’ll also put it on the ground,’ ” Vukojevich said. “We had about 20 chances to get down. We kept coming back.”

Long runs? Miller went 12 yards over left tackle for a touchdown and 34 yards up the middle for another. He also had runs of 12, 18 and 13, and broke for five yards or better 16 times. Coaches from San Diego State were on hand to see Curtis and Turner. What they discovered was an emerging Division I talent. And Miller had no trouble shaking off the loss that cost UC the title.

“I’m kinda shocked, cause we had that game,” Miller said. “This is going to make us tougher for the playoffs. It doesn’t matter who we play next week.”

As long as it’s not Kearny. Not yet, anyway. Curtis rocked the Centurions’ with his fluid, deceptive running. After Miller’s first touchdown made it 7-6, Curtis came right back. He ran 10 yards on first down and drew a late hit out of bounds for another 15 yards. UC later aided the Komets by jumping off sides between nine- and seven-yard bursts by Curtis. Then came his 11-yard run on the final play of the second quarter.

“This is the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Curtis. “This was a great game. We proved that we can play with anybody. We proved that we’re a team.”