Centennial beats national power Bishop Gorman

Feeling underrated and under-appreciated, Peoria Centennial on Friday night did what it does best when much of the country is watching – take down a powerhouse.

Las Vegas Bishop Gorman may not be the same team that won the past nine Nevada football championships, having to find games across the nation to stay sharp without in-state peers.

But it’s still Bishop Gorman, and Centennial was ready.

Over and over, whenever the Gaels threatened to score, Centennial made big plays and used two touchdown runs from its Vegas kid, Tawee Walker, to win 13-7 before a large home crowd that showed up early.

This is the first time since 2005 that Gorman has begun the season 0-2. It was shocking last week when Gorman lost at home to No. 3 nationally ranked Santa Ana Mater Dei 42-0 with a running clock being used in the second half.

Centennial’s defense frustrated Gorman quarterback Micah Bowens just as much as Mater Dei did.

“Gorman started out I think in the top 10 (in the nation),” coach Richard Taylor said. “We started out in the 300s. Maybe we might move up to 200.”

That was a dig against a national publication that, relying on algorithms, didn’t have Centennial in the top seven in Arizona two weeks ago.

Much like last year, Centennial (2-0), ranked No. 1 in the Super 10 by azcentral sports, was ready for the national spotlight.

Last year, it shut out St. Thomas Aquinas 12-0, getting a late score from Zidane Thomas to put it away. It looked like Centennial would follow that script Friday, after Walker’s second touchdown, a 9-yard bolt with 1:36 left, gave the Coyotes a 13-0 lead.

But after completing just 3 of 10 passes for 56 yards in the second half, Bowens, finding the Coyotes on their heels, completed all six of his passes in the last 1:30, finishing the drive with an 8-yard scoring pass to Rome Odunze with nine seconds left to keep Gorman from being shut out a second time to open the season.

“I was sad they gave up that late touchdown, but it was still a great effort by offense and defense and special teams,” Taylor said.

Centennial had four takeaways, including recovering an onside kick after Walker’s first touchdown – a 24-yard run after spinning away from a tackler – gave the Coyotes a 6-0 lead with 6:30 left in the third quarter.

It was just two years ago that Bishop Gorman finished the season as the No. 1 team in the nation by USA TODAY, winning the Nevada title over Henderson Liberty 80-8.

This was special for Walker, who was a standout last year in North Las Vegas for Mojave. He never played Gorman in his varsity career but he knew most of the players.

“It feels great to play against a bunch of my friends,” said Walker, who starts at safety on defense and tailback on offense.