Centennial was the right choice for a lot of (TD) reasons
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Why does Corona Centennial make sense as the Southern California representative for the CIF State Division I Bowl championship game on Saturday against Concord De La Salle?
Because Centennial can score. A lot. From anywhere.
Apart from having the edge over Birmingham in the common opponent criteria, Centennial is a better choice for representing the South because the Huskies can bring it on offense.
Among the three teams considered to represent the South, Long Beach Poly has the best defense. Birmingham probably has the best balance of offense and defense. But Centennial has the best offense.
Against De La Salle, that matters. De La Salle will score no matter who it plays. Poly Coach Raul Lara admitted as much after his team’s 13-3 victory over Crespi in the Pac-5 Division championship. ‘If we do play them,’ Lara said, ‘we definitely need to score.’
Not one touchdown, not two touchdowns. That’s not what Lara was talking about, even though he didn’t explain further. But when he said, ‘Whoever plays them is going to have their hands full,’ he was talking four touchdowns. Five touchdowns. Maybe more touchdowns.
And the only team among the three that possesses that kind of firepower is Centennial. Its backfield is headed to Arizona. Quarterback Matt Scott can hurt opponents running or passing. Tailback Ryan Bass, pictured above, can pound you until he breaks the long one, which seems inevitable. The Huskies’ skill players are fast. There is a reason they averaged 47.5 points this season.
Centennial averaged 36.8 points in its games against Dominguez, Crespi, Clovis West and Mater Dei.
Birmingham averaged 23.8 against Crespi, Poly, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Carson.
Poly averaged 15 against Birmingham, Carson, Orange Lutheran and Crespi.
De La Salle was held to a season-low 35 points by Mission Viejo. I guarantee you, Centennial can score 35 on Mission Viejo.
The only way to beat De La Salle will be to outscore them. It’s going to be a horse race.
And Centennial has more horsepower than any team in the Southland. Or the South. And maybe the North.
- Martin Henderson
-- Image by Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times