MidValleySports.Com

Johnny Hills wore down the Apaches.

(Arcadia) – With 9:39 remaining in the third quarter, La Mirada could’ve dropped its head and finished out the season after getting down by 18 points. Instead, the Matadores rallied from that deficit to shock Arcadia 31-28 to move on to the Southeast Division Semi-finals next Friday night.

Gerry Myres completed the comeback with a 1-yard sneak with 2:54 remaining to silence the Apache crowd at Salter Stadium.

Myres went 20 of 26 for 165 yards and no touchdowns.

Arcadia then answered by furiously driving to the La Mirada 27-yard line. On the next play the Matadores were flagged for pass interference setting the stage for a dramatic three plays.

On two consecutive plays, Myles Carr threw fade passes to Taylor Legace and Alex McElwee. On Legace’s pass the La Mirada defense forced Legace out, but the referee called it incomplete. McElwee’s attempt on the second and ten pass was bobbled and bounced off the carpet setting up a third and ten. Carr rolled out to his left on the third down play, threw over the middle and was intercepted by Andy Gramajo at the Matadores 5-yard line to end any hopes of an Apache comeback.

Prior to the nightmarish fourth quarter, Arcadia looked unbeatable in the second and beginning of the third quarter as Carr found McElwee on two long touchdown passes.

The first of two from McElwee came when the Apaches were down 10-0 and had just recovered a fumble at its own 35-yard line. Carr found McElwee wide open after a blown coverage by La Mirada for a 65-yard score.

The second score came in the opening minutes of the second half that looked like the back breaker for the Matadores. McElwee was covered and still made the grab for a 75-yard score.

Even down by 18 points La Mirada stuck to its game plan of wearing down the defensive line of Arcadia. Johnny Hills did all the heavy pounding with 25-second half carries. Sixteen of those carries were for less than five yards. Hills closed out the night with 34 carries for 214 yards and two touchdowns. He accounted for 183 yards in the second half.

Hills also scored both of his touchdowns in the half. The first touchdown began the comeback for the Matadores as he scored from four-yards out. Hills second touchdown came from 23-yards out with 10:18 remaining in the game to cut the Apace lead to five.

Carr finished his final high school game going 22 for 36 on 367 yards and 3 touchdowns with 3 interceptions.

Taylor Legace closed his incredible career at Arcadia with 10 catches and 125 yards.

Taylor Lagace after a pass.