TEMECULA – In a game that underscored Centennial’s commanding presence in high school football, the Huskies overpowered Chaparral with a decisive 54-12 victory. The match, held last Friday, Nov. 1, highlighted Centennial’s unmatched prowess in league play as they clinched their third consecutive Big West-North Division title, extending their unbeaten streak to 15-0 since the conference’s inception in 2022.
From the onset, it was clear that the Centennial Huskies were playing on a different level. The game was effectively sealed in the first quarter, as Centennial’s superior speed and strength overwhelmed the Chaparral Pumas. Junior quarterback Dominick Catalano stepped in for the injured Husan Longstreet and delivered an impressive performance, completing 20 of 25 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns. Catalano’s connection with Cory Butler Jr., who caught nine passes for 177 yards, was central to their offensive success. Malachi Roby also played a pivotal role, rushing for 108 yards and scoring two touchdowns.
Defensively, the Huskies were relentless. Elijah Riley, Keawe Brown, and Jonathan McKinley II led a formidable charge that left the Chaparral offense struggling for traction, sacking the Pumas’ quarterbacks eight times and limiting them to 205 yards.
Despite the defeat, Chaparral’s sophomore quarterback Dane Weber showed promise, throwing for 233 yards and a touchdown. However, the team couldn’t replicate their previous high-scoring performances as they concluded their regular season with a 7-3 record.
With the regular season wrapped up, anticipation builds for the CIF Southern Section football playoffs. The pairings, announced on Nov. 3, set the stage for thrilling matchups across all divisions. Here are the matchups for the first round, happening on Friday, November 8:
- Division 1 has no local teams participating.
- Division 2 features Chaparral hosting Yorba Linda and Rancho Cucamonga visiting Murrieta Valley. San Jacinto will face Newbury Park.
- Division 3 sees Vista Murrieta traveling to Villa Park.
- Division 4 includes Orange Vista competing at St. Bonaventure.
- Division 5 has no local teams participating.
- Division 6 has Ontario Christian visiting Murrieta Mesa.
- Division 7 features West Valley at West Torrance.
- Division 8 includes an interesting matchup between Rancho Christian and Hemet, the latter hosting despite a recent defeat to Rancho Christian in a league showdown.
- Division 9 places Coachella Valley against Great Oak.
- Division 10 pits Linfield Christian against Silverado.
- Division 11 features Perris versus Los Amigos.
- Division 12 has no local teams participating.
- Division 13 includes Pasadena visiting Santa Rosa Academy.
- Division 14 sees Hamilton (Anza) traveling to Nordhoff, while Temecula Prep visits Costa Mesa.
In Division 2, the Murrieta Valley Nighthawks secure the No. 1 seed and host Rancho Cucamonga in a familiar clash. Meanwhile, Chaparral, seeded sixth, will welcome Yorba Linda on Nov. 8. The playoffs also feature intriguing contests like the Division 8 face-off between Sunbelt League rivals Rancho Christian and Hemet, following their recent nail-biting encounter in Week 10.
The Division 3 bracket includes Vista Murrieta traveling to face Villa Park, while Division 6 sees Ontario Christian visiting Murrieta Mesa (Big West-South Division winners). The California School for the Deaf-Riverside, boasting a remarkable 18-game winning streak, will vie for their third consecutive section championship in the 8-person, Division 1 playoff bracket.
The first round of playoffs kicks off on Friday, Nov. 8, with all games beginning at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise. The quarterfinals follow on Nov. 15, semifinals on Nov. 22, and the championship games are scheduled for Nov. 29-30. Follow all the action at www.cifss.org.
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