Century football tops Loara with a big effort from Jesus Arellano

ANAHEIM — While Century running back Jesus Arellano didn’t score a touchdown in his team’s nonleague game against Loara on Thursday night, the senior certainly made it possible for his teammates to cross the goal line and the Centurions came away with a 26-21 victory.

Arellano carried 29 times for 193 yards and had three receptions for 71 yards, helping the Centurions (3-2-1) get close to the goal line on three drives at Glover Stadium. Quarterback Ramon Toribio capped those drives with a 3-yard run for a touchdown and two 1-yard scoring runs.

“He practices hard all the time,” Century coach Lance Neal said of Arellano. “And he deserves to have a great night because he practices hard all the time.”

Arellano is normally the team’s No. 3 running back, Neal said. But going into the game with one back sidelined by an injury and then a second back injured early in the game, Arellano had to step into the role of the No.1 back.

The Saxons (1-4) received the opening kickoff and drove 76 yards for a touchdown with Santiago Caudillo running it in from 6 yards out.

Century came right back with a 73-yard drive in which Arellano had a 34-yard reception and two runs for 16 yards, setting up a Toribio touchdown run to tie the score.

Loara took the lead right back on Ariel Olvera’s 41-yard touchdown run.

The Centurions started the ensuing drive on the Century 37. Arellano had runs on the drive totaling 62 yards, setting up Toribio’s 1-yard quarterback sneak for a score.

The score was 14-14 heading into the second quarter when the Centurions took their first lead on an 87-yard touchdown drive.

On the drive, Arellano rushed five times for 54 yards and had a 16-yard reception, enabling Toribio to score his third touchdown, giving the Centurions a 20-14 lead at halftime.

“Honestly, I didn’t think that our starter would get hurt early in the game,” Arellano said.” I just thought I was going to be playing defense the whole game. I went in and I just had to do what was left for the team for us to win.”

After Century took a six-point lead late in the third quarter on Toribio’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Derek Carrillo, the Centurions stopped the Saxons on their next two drives.

After forcing the Saxons to punt, the Centurions took over on the Century 40 with four minutes, 33 seconds remaining in the game.

Century picked up two first downs, keeping possession long enough to run out the clock.