Corona Centennial puts a big hurt on Crespi

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With one helmet-jarring tackle, Corona Centennial, ranked third in the Southland by The Times, took control of its game Friday night against fourth-ranked Encino Crespi, and went on to a 41-20 Southern Section nonleague victory at Pierce College.

Kenneth Anderson slammed into Crespi punt returner Austin Shanks just as he fielded the ball with about four minutes remaining, forcing a fumble that was recovered by teammate K.J. Vaifale inside the Crespi 20-yard line.

Ryan Bass of Centennial followed with his second of three touchdown runs in the final quarter, sealing the 41-20 victory for Centennial (3-0). Bass finished with 200 yards and four touchdowns in 39 carries against the Celts (2-1), who had allowed only six points in their previous two games.

‘If he would have raised his hand, I would have stopped,’ Anderson said of his hit on Shanks. ‘I’ve made a hit like that in practice, but I never thought that would happen in a game.’

- Dan Arritt