Coyotes returning to Tempe to defend 6A title
For a school that had made 13 state championship games (winning eight of them), it’s rare to find something that the Centennial Coyotes haven’t done. On Friday night, they did just that. They clinched a spot in the title game (#14) on their own grass field in Peoria.
For many years, the semifinals were played at neutral sites (and they still are in the Open Division). Last year, Centennial secured its spot in the finals a long ways from home, at Queen Creek HS. In this year’s 6A semifinal, the Coyotes kept ALA-Queen Creek at bay in the second half during a 35-23 victory.
It was a back-and-forth first half that saw three lead changes before the Coyotes took a 21-17 lead into the break. Centennial received the second-half kick and promptly added to that advantage with a touchdown.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Patriots got to within one score, but they never got to possess the ball with a chance at the lead because Centennial struck with a 65-yard scoring play on its ensuing possession.
“At halftime, we had to make a couple adjustments and felt like if we could not give up these big passes, we’ll be in great position,” Centennial head coach Andrew Taylor said. “They did score once in the second half, but overall, we defended them much better.”
Centennial will face Casteel in the 6A championship game next Saturday at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe. The Colts reached their first title game since claiming the 3A championship in 2017.
The Standouts
Centennial QB Titus Hill
The 6-2, 175-pound signal caller threw just two passes in the first quarter (both incompletions), but got into a rhythm in the second and third quarters as more pass plays were called. Hill finished 13-for-22 and had 212 yards along with three touchdown passes to three different receivers. He wasn’t expected to be the starter back in spring ball (when he was still a freshman), but the starter moved out of state over the summer and Hill took control of the offense. He is approaching 2,500 yards passing and has 24 TDs with just two interceptions. Friday night, the Coyotes were turnover free.
Centennial WR/KR Sebastian Moreno
The senior made big plays on both offense and special teams. After ALA-Queen Creek opened the scoring with a 7-0 lead, Moreno brought the kickoff back to the Patriots’ 32-yard line. With the short field, the Coyotes quickly tied it up. Later, in man coverage, he hauled in a pass on the run over the middle of the field and used his speed to score a touchdown and make it a two-score game. Moreno holds Division I offers from Kent State, Marshall, and Sacramento State.
Centennial LB Aidan Torres
The sophomore linebacker gave the Coyotes their first lead of the game early in the second quarter with a 75-yard interception return. He also had a sack in the game (his seventh of the season). Torres was called up late last year for the playoff run from the freshman team and saw some action on special teams. This year, he’s the team’s starting Will linebacker.
ALA-Queen Creek WR Khalil Bender
The 6-foot, 180-pound receiver, who is a Northern Arizona commit, made his presence known on the very first drive with catches of 28 and 32 yards, the second of which gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead. Both receptions came on third down. Bender struck again in the second quarter with another TD pass (his 10th of the season). This is even more remarkable when you consider that Bender had to sit the first five games of the season (all Patriots’ losses) after transferring from McClintock. He finished the night with seven catches for 128 yards.
ALA-Queen Creek WR/PR Nash Proctor
Proctor, a senior, set the Patriots up with a punt return to the Centennial 17-yard line, which set up a field goal. The next time the Coyotes punted it, Proctor brought it back 50 yards to Centennial territory. In the second half, he had a 20-yard reception on third-and-long to extend the drive. He later scored his ninth TD of the season as he appeared to pull the pass away from the defender. Proctor had four catches for 58 yards.
Every Play Counts
- Khalil Bender had a 28-yard catch from Cody Lalama on third down to set up a touchdown for ALA-Queen Creek.
- A big kickoff return from Sebastian Moreno set Centennial up at the ALAQC 32-yard line. The Coyotes scored a touchdown with the great field position.
- A third-down sack from Centennial Jamir Skiver forced a punt from ALA-Queen Creek in the first quarter.
- After a three-and-out stop from the ALA-Queen Creek defense, Nash Proctor brought the punt back to the Centennial 17-yard line. That set up a field goal.
- A 38-yard pass play from Lalama to Stetson Agne set up the Patriots’ second touchdown to give them a 17-14 lead midway through the second quarter.
- A throw while scrambling resulted in a 43-yard play for Centennial. Hill completed the pass to Moreno. That set up the go-ahead score for the Coyotes.
- ALA-Queen Creek missed a long (46-yard)in the closing seconds of the first half.
- Centennial went for it on fourth-and-14 from the ALAQC 35-yard line. Hill found Carter Reidy for the conversion, which led to a touchdown.
- Late in the third quarter, Lalama gained a first down for ALA-Queen Creek with a 28-yard play to Bobby Nesbit. It led to a touchdown for the Patriots.
- Josiah Carothers sacked the quarterback to end an ALA-Queen Creek drive. The Coyotes received the punt and were able to burn time off the clock in the fourth quarter.
Box Score
Coyotes 35, Patriots 23
| ALAQC | 10 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 23 |
| CENT | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
First Quarter
ALAQC – Khalil Bender 32 yard pass from Cody Lalama (Hayden Holman kick), 9:38
Cent – Owen Reynoso 14 yard run (Esteban Antonsen kick), 8:23
ALAQC – Holman 37 yard FG, 0:38
Second Quarter
Cent – Aidan Torres 75 yard interception return (Antonsen kick), 10:43
ALAQC – Bender 36 yard pass from Lalama (Holman kick), 8:11
Cent – Torrin Hill 6 yard pass from Titus Hill (Antonsen kick), 1:55
Third Quarter
Cent – Carter Reidy 14 yard pass from Titus Hill (Antonsen kick), 8:56
Fourth Quarter
ALAQC – Nash Proctor 17 yard pass form Lalama (run failed), 11:52
Cent – Sebastian Moreno 65 yard pass from Titus Hill (Antonsen kick), 10:45
Team Statistics
| ALA-Queen Creek | Centennial | |
| First Downs | 11 | 12 |
| Rushes-Yards | 32-84 | 23-84 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 17-33-1 | 13-22-0 |
| Pass Yards | 267 | 212 |
| Total Yards | 351 | 296 |
| Fumbles Lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 4-30 | 7-65 |
Individual Statistics
Rushing
ALA-Queen Creek – Nesbit 20-101, Hall 5-2, Lalama 7-(minus 19). Centennial – Reynoso 18-83, Moreno 2-7, Beltran 1-1, Titus Hill 2-(minus 7).
Passing
ALA-Queen Creek – Lalama 17-33-1, 267 yards. Centennial – Titus Hill 13-22-0, 212 yards.
Receiving
ALA-Queen Creek – Bender 7-128, Proctor 4-58, Agne 2-41, Nesbit 4-40. Centennial – Moreno 4-115, Reidy 2-30, Hadley 2-27, Torrin Hill 3-18, Reynoso 1-17, Lee 1-5.
Sound Off
Centennial QB Titus Hill on what provided the energy to the team: “We came out in the second half and scored right away. That was momentum right away. From there, we just kind of kept our foot on their throat.”
ALA-Queen Creek head coach Rich Edwards on the Patriots’ ability to come back this year: “I’m proud of our guys. You talk about why kids play football. It’s not to go to the next level, although some do, but most of them don’t. It’s to learn these lessons. It’s to learn to persevere and to learn to battle and fight through hardship. We’ve had our share this year, from 0-5 to changes we’ve made, to injuries like our quarterback going down.”
Centennial LB Aidan Torres on his pick-six: “I saw the quarterback staring it down. I was like, I gotta go get that. Got it and took off running as fast as I can.”
Centennial head coach Andrew Taylor on how his team has improved: “I think one of the things we’re able to do a lot better now is have enough ready, so when we make the adjustments, we can execute the adjustments. I’m really proud of our coaches to have some Plan B’s ready and be able to execute them.”
Next Week
ALA-Queen Creek (6-7) has completed its season. After starting the year 0-5 against four teams that would go on to play in the Open and one more that was a 6A semi finalist, the Patriots went on a late-season run to go 6-1 heading into Friday’s game. No school does more with less than ALA-Queen Creek. The school has an enrollment of 1,100, but played in the Open Division four straight times (2021-24).
Centennial (9-4) will play Casteel in the 6A championship game at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe next Saturday at noon. The Coyotes have not played Casteel (8-5) this season, but knocked them out of the quarterfinals a year ago on their way to the 6A title. This is a different group of Colts with first-year head coach Joe Bushman along with a dual-threat QB in Tee Smith. Casteel also has a powerful offense. The Colts have scored more than 35 points in all three of their playoff games, including a 37-28 decision over Salpointe.
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