Williams Leads Mayfair Over La Mirada, 35-14

Michael Williams of Lakewood Mayfair High is regarded as one of the best all-around players in the state.

Thursday night against La Mirada, he showed why.

Williams, a senior, rushed for 202 yards and three touchdowns in 30 carries and also scored on a 61-yard interception return as Mayfair won its first Suburban League championship since 1980 with a 35-14 victory before 7,000 at Bellflower High.

Mayfair, which defeated La Mirada for the first time since 1980 in last year’s Southern Section Division VI final, ended La Mirada’s 37-game league winning streak and the Matadores’ eight-year reign as league champion.

“La Mirada played hard for 48 minutes--we may see them again,” Mayfair Coach Mike Fitch said. “We waited a long time for this one.”

Terrence Young scored on a 34-yard run with 9:18 left in the first quarter to give Mayfair a lead it would never surrender.

“We wanted to beat La Mirada to get some respect,” said Williams, who scored on runs of 84, 14 and four yards.

Mayfair finished the regular season 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the Suburban League. The Monsoons, ranked No. 1 in the division poll, will open the playoffs next week as the top-seeded team in Division VI.

Mayfair led, 14-7, at halftime behind Williams, who gained 137 yards in 18 first-half carries.

La Mirada (8-2, 6-1) trailed, 14-0, before the Matadores scored on a 77-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Cox to Robert Price with 1:35 left in the second quarter.

La Mirada scored its final touchdown on a 19-yard pass from Cox to Anthony Ortega with 10:48 left in the game to make the score 21-14.

But Williams increased Mayfair’s lead with his four-yard scoring run with 3:27 left, then sealed the victory when he picked off a pass by Cox and returned it for a touchdown with 1:25 left.