Corona Centennial shows that it’s the team to beat in Southern California

As the clock reached midnight at Angel Stadium on Saturday and the lights were dimmed and the field was emptied, it became clear what a crowd of 13,599 had witnessed in the Pac-5 Division championship football game was validation that Corona Centennial has risen to the top in high school football in Southern California.

Its 62-52 triumph over Bellflower St. John Bosco in the highest-scoring game in Pac-5 history was the second in a row for the Huskies since being promoted last season and 10th section title in 19 years for Coach Matt Logan.

Once again, the Huskies (14-0) made it through a four-game playoff gantlet of playing private school powers and never blinked in knocking off West Hills Chaminade, Orange Lutheran, Santa Ana Mater Dei and previously unbeaten St. John Bosco. The Huskies have replaced 19-time champion Long Beach Poly as the team everyone must go through to win a championship.

For those who think that defense wins championships, Centennial and St. John Bosco proved that’s not necessarily the case. There were seven touchdown passes against two secondaries loaded with future college players. Their no-huddle spread offenses made supposed good defenses look outmanned at times.

“It shows great coaching,” Centennial quarterback Anthony Catalano said. “It shows pure execution from two talented teams and great kids who buy into their coaches’ systems. We think we have the best offense in the nation. That’s not being cocky or overconfident. Coach Logan is by far, in my opinion, the best coach in the nation with what he does with a public school.”

Running back J.J. Taylor rushed for 269 yards and scored five touchdowns. Catalano completed 11 of 18 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Javon McKinley caught seven passes for 132 yards and one touchdown and passed 65 yards for another touchdown.

For St. John Bosco, Sean McGrew ended a fabulous prep career with 196 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Backup quarterback Re-Al Mitchell, a sophomore, was forced into action because of a shoulder injury to Quentin Davis and passed for 179 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 112 yards and one touchdown.

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Huskies’ offense takes down St. John Bosco, 62-52

“I was having a lot of fun,” said the underrated Catalano, who shared quarterback duties on last season’s championship team. “I was smiling the whole game. It was just a great opportunity to play with my teammates, and I didn’t want to make it our last game.”

On Sunday, the pairings were announced for the CIF state championship bowl games, and Centennial will take its 129 players for a trip to Sacramento State on Dec. 19 to play Concord De La Salle (12-1) for the Open Division championship.

All the other section champions from around the state will begin play in an expanded regional bowl format on Friday and Saturday. The winners advance to bowl championships Dec. 18 and 19 around the state. Sacramento State will host five of the 13 finals.

Lots of teams could have trouble getting excited after winning rings. It’s week 15 of a long season. Injuries are piling up. Homework is not going away. Coaches will need to be at their best to prepare their teams for a new challenge.

Among the most appealing regional games, San Marino (14-0) will host Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (14-0) on Saturday in the Small School Open Division game. City Section Division I champion Harbor City Narbonne (12-2) will play at Bakersfield Ridgeview (13-0) in 1A. Mission Viejo (14-0) will host La Mesa Helix (13-1) on Friday night in IAA and Camarillo (14-0) will host La Habra (13-1) in II-AA on Friday.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATSondheimer