PREP EXTRA / FRIDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Century Slips Then Grabs League Title

For a moment it appeared as if Century had let a share of the Empire League championship slip through its grasp, but in the end, Kennedy couldn’t hold on to it either.

The Centurions clinched a Southern Section playoff berth and a first-place tie for the league title Thursday at Santa Ana Stadium, defeating Kennedy, 13-9, despite fumbling the ball on their own 22-yard line with 3 minutes 40 seconds remaining.

Leading 13-7 late in the fourth quarter, Century’s Nick Andrade fumbled as the Centurions tried to run out the clock. Kennedy’s Randy Ellison recovered, giving the Fighting Irish (7-3 overall, 3-2 in league) a first down at the Century 22.

But five plays later, on third down and goal at the seven, Darin Martineau fumbled as he was hit by three Centurions. Century’s Sammy Purcell crawled out of the pile with the football, giving the Centurions (6-4, 4-1) the final possession and the victory.

Stanley Villanueva led the Century offense with rushing touchdowns of one and two yards in the first half, and 144 yards passing in 10 of 17 attempts for the game.

But Century’s defense held Kennedy to 80 second-half yards and stopped four consecutive plays at their own one-yard line on the Fighting Irish’s first drive of the half.

Century will have to wait until Saturday night’s Loara-El Dorado game to find out if it will have the No. 1 or No. 2 Empire League playoff berth. If El Dorado wins that game, Century gets the top spot.

Kennedy also must have an El Dorado victory to clinch the No. 3 berth.