Centennial improved since blowout loss to Hamilton
Peoria Centennial’s pride got dinged in their season-opening 42-0 loss at Chandler Hamilton.
Will that experience, one in which a running clock was used in the second half, benefit the Coyotes for Friday’s home game against No. 1 Chandler?
“On paper, it does not look good for us,” coach Richard Taylor said about facing Chandler, ranked No. 4 in the nation by MaxPreps and No.1in the Arizona Republic’s Super 10 rankings. “But on paper, it did not look good for us with (Las Vegas) Bishop Gorman, (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas.”
Centennial pulled huge upsets over those national powerhouse programs in 2018 and 2017.
“The problem is we have not had the time,” Taylor said, citing the pandemic shutting down football-related activities in the spring and much of the summer. “We didn’t have spring. We didn’t have summer. So what it comes down to is basic talent, and whether your school district allowed you to go or not.
“But I still believe that our kids got heart. Our kids are going to come out and play as hard as they can. And that to me is a victory.”
Centennial (3-1), which hasn’t lost since the Hamilton game, now will have to find a way to deliver what would be the shock of the year if it were to pull off an upset with a sophomore quarterback making his first start.
Austin Glimpse, 6-foot-4,195 pounds, sparked last week’s 31-21 comeback win over Phoenix Pinnacle, replacing injured starter Joshua Gasca.
Glimpse, making his first varsity appearance, completed 4 of 5 passes for 79 yards and two TDs.
Now, he’ll be facing 4-0 Chandler, a fast and physical team that will bring the game speed to another level.
“I think he’s so young, he doesn’t
know enough to be afraid,” Taylor said. “Last week, we were down 21-10, and he comes in the second half and throws touchdown pass, touchdown pass, and everything is good. It was like, ‘ OK, this is what I’m supposed to do.’ ”
Centennial is a proud program and doesn’t want to go through another humbling experience like it did to open the season.
Senior wide receiver/safety Rashon Adams, coming off his best game with three TD catches and an interception, believes the team will be better prepared.
“You can see improvement from the defense and offense, both sides,” Adams said. “We just have to go out and play perfect that game.”
Centennial last year suffered one of its worst losses in school history, falling to Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei 71-21.
Mater Dei was ranked No. 1 in the nation.
This year, Chandler is among teams with a shot at ending up No. 1 in the nation.
“We play big teams every year,” Adams said. “Mater Dei, Bishop Gorman, St. Thomas. It’s just another one of those. I know all those guys over there. It’s just going to be a ball game.”
Sophomore defensive tackle Dylan Roberts, perhaps Centennial’s strongest player, said the key is coming out fast and hard.