Rancho Alamitos Rolls, Byrd Stars

Rancho Alamitos is back knocking at the Southern Section football championship door.

Rancho Alamitos overcame six Culver City sacks Friday night to roll to a 20-6 quarterfinal victory over the host Centaurs.

Coach Mark Miller’s Vaqueros will be making their second appearance in three years in the semifinals after a quarterfinal loss slowed them a year ago.

Jeff Byrd paced Rancho Alamitos, scoring three touchdowns by rushing for 214 yards in 24 carries.

Culver City opened the scoring on the first play of the second quarter as Jona Sami ran 25 yards around the right side for a touchdown, but the host team’s conversion try failed.

Rancho Alamitos (10-2) answered back quickly as Byrd scored the first of his touchdowns with a 21-yard run around left end.

The Rancho Alamitos defense held Culver City to three plays and a punt, setting up an eight-play 57-yard scoring drive. Byrd capped the march by going in from nine yards out.

After trading punts to open the second half, Randy Maldonado intercepted a Richard Perez pass at the Culver City 43 to give the visitors their best field position of the night. Two plays later, Byrd ran 20 yards up the middle then cut to the left into the end zone for the final score.

CC--Sami 25 run (kick failed)

RA--Byrd 21 run (Luce kick)

RA--Byrd 9 run (Luce kick)

RA--Byrd 20 run (kick failed)

LEADING RUSHERS--RA: Byrd 24-214; CC: Sami 9-56. LEADING PASSERS--RA: Byrd 1-1-0, 26; CC: Williams 4-11-0, 48. LEADING RECEIVERS--RA: Metcalf 1-26; CC: Rodell 2-38.

Attendance--1,200