Chavez Sets School Rushing Record, Leads Loara to Victory Over Century

Billy Chavez shattered Loara’s single-game rushing record Thursday, gaining 321 yards and scoring four touchdowns against Century in his team’s 41-14 Empire League victory at Glover Stadium.

Ten of Loara’s first 11 plays were runs by Chavez, a senior running back who had 184 yards and two touchdowns on those 10 carries.

“We really wanted to establish our running game and Billy is obviously a big part of that,” Loara Coach John deFries said. “He needed a game like this.”

Loara improved to 4-4, 3-0. Century is 1-7, 0-3.

Chavez broke Coy Collins’ school record of 273 yards early in the third quarter. Collins set his mark in 1989 against Esperanza.

“Most of the runs I had big holes and it was easy,” Chavez said. “But they’ve got some quick defensive backs so the longer runs were kind of tough.”

Loara’s defense also contributed, intercepting three passes.

Chavez capped Loara’s first two drives with scoring runs of 23 and 84 yards. In the second quarter, he scored a 46-yard touchdown to give Loara a 21-0 lead. He also scored on Loara’s first possession of the second half, gaining all 55 yards on the drive, which ended with his one-yard score.

Steven Douglas’ 10-yard touchdown run in the third quarter put the Saxons up 34-0. Sam Weick’s one-yard run finished Loara’s scoring.

Century scored in the third quarter on quarterback Joseph Rivera’s 13-yard run. In the fourth quarter, Victor Leite completed a 45-yard pass to Luis Vasquez to make the score 41-12.