For Centennial, it’s no night at the opera

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The man who masterminded last year’s 27-14 victory by Canyon Country Canyon over De La Salle in the Division I Championship Bowl, Harry Welch, is ... where?

He’s not here.

He’s with his wife and they’re watching an Andrea Bocelli concert.

‘Most high school coaches won’t be listening to opera on Saturday night,’ said Welch, who this season coached St. Margaret’s to a 14-0 record.

‘Everyone wanted to see how good are they,’ Welch said of this year’s version of the Spartans, who were ranked No. 1 in the nation heading into their game against the Cowboys last year.

‘I find it somewhat humorous that people say DLS is so much better this year. It’s comical. No one was saying they weren’t a great team last year until they lost. I would defy anyone to show me where last year people were writing the week before that Canyon is going to hammer a weak Northern California representative. They’re saying this is a far better team this year. They were a great team last year, I imagine they’re a great team this year.

‘I saw them on TV vs. Mission Viejo and they’re beautiful. It all fell into place and the football gods smiled on us that night.’

If the football gods smile on Centennial, it will have to be in the second half. In its only loss of the season, 51-37 to Mater Dei, Centennial trailed at halftime, 23-17.

-- Martin Henderson

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