Reserve Power Gets La Mirada Past Century

When La Mirada running back Ryan Hura, who was the team’s leading rusher with 340 yards in two games, was sidelined early in the game, Coach John Mele didn’t worry.

He just gave the ball to Albert Smith, Hura’s partner in the backfield.

Smith scored four touchdowns and rushed for 95 yards in 18 carries as La Mirada defeated Century, 28-9, Friday night at La Mirada High.

Smith’s first touchdown came on an 18-yard run with 1 minute 19 seconds left in the first quarter. Smith scored again on a two-yard touchdown run with 9:00 left in the second quarter, giving the Matadors (3-0) a 14-0 lead.

The Centurions (0-3) scored with 25 seconds left in the first half on Art Tapia’s 25-yard field goal.

Smith scored again from a yard out to make it 21-3.

After a 60-yard touchdown pass from Century quarterback Stanley Villanueva to Julio Garcia, the Centurions’ fourth-quarter drive was halted when Smith intercepted a pass and returned it 46 yards for his fourth touchdown.

Villanueva led the Centurion offense with 160 yards passing, but only completed eight of 28 passes and was intercepted five times.