PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS / THE SEMIFINALS : DIVISION VII : Byrd Sets Mark in Helping Rancho Alamitos to Finals

Of the two milestones reached by Jeff Byrd and the Rancho Alamitos football team Saturday night, only one mattered.

Byrd broke the Orange County single-season rushing record with a 328-yard, three-touchdown performance. But more important, the senior led the Vaqueros to their first Southern Section final with a 21-7 victory over Lompoc in the Division VII semifinals at Huyck Stadium.

“It feels great,” said Byrd of reaching the finals. “I’ll think about the record after the season if it helps us win the first CIF title in school history.”

With his performance Saturday, Byrd now has 2,406 yards as he passed three players to take over No. 1 on the single-season list: Derek Brown (2,301 for Servite in 1988), Kerwin Bell (2,226 for Edison in 1979) and Ray Pallares (2,085 for Valencia in 1985).

Byrd scored on runs of 97, 75 and 28 yards on a sweep play Rancho Alamitos Coach Mark Miller learned as an assistant to Lompoc Coach Robin Luken while both were at Colton High.

“If I would have never known him, I would have never known the play,” said Miller. “Jeff Byrd has great vision. That’s what makes him a great running back. He’s a very intelligent young man.”

Byrd scored the first touchdown after an interception by Rich Allen at Rancho Alamitos’ three-yard line. Byrd took the first play from scrimmage around left end, cut back at the 10 and ran for open field.

Lompoc was unable to sustain any drive in the first half because of the Vaqueros’ stifling defense. Lompoc rushed for only 45 yards in the first half.

“They played great defense and super offense,” said Luken. “It was the first time we’ve taken a licking on defense. He (Miller) schooled them well. They came out and did what they had to do. When they had to do something, that’s what they did.”

Lompoc’s only score came in the third quarter after a fumbled interception by Leon Vickers deep in Vaquero territory. Braves’ quarterback Jarrod DeGeorgia hit Monty Montgomery with an 11-yard pass.

RA--Byrd 97 run (Luce kick)

L--Montgomery 11 pass from DeGeorgia (Terrones kick)

RA--Byrd 75 run (Luce kick)

RA--Byrd 28 run (Luce kick)

LEADING RUSHERS--RA: Byrd 23-328; L: Hnut 19-66. LEADING PASSERS--RA: Vickers 0-1-0, 0; L: DeGeorgia 10-20-2, 99. LEADING RECEIVERS--RA: None; L: Winn 3-37.

Attendance--3,500.