Centennial Goes to First-Ever Semis on Pisacane Bros’ TDs
Twins Tristan and Peyton Pisacane both start for Centennial. Tristan, the quarterback, usually gets the glory while Peyton, punter, placekicker and free safety, does the dirty work.
But in the Cougars 25-0 shutout Friday night of visiting Henry County (10-3) in the Class 5A quarterfinal round, it was Peyton who got to play the hero.
(For all scores, check out our Scoreboard)
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Co | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Centennial | 6 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 25 |
The 5-foot-9, 165-pound senior returned two interceptions for touchdowns, turning a 12-0 fourth quarter lead into a 25-0 rout for Centennial.
The Cougars defense dominated against Henry County, and they will have to keep it up if they hope to follow their first-ever state semifinal appearance- at Independence (13-0) next Friday night- with a trip to the championship game.
“The defense took over the second half and that is what we needed to win the game,” said Centennial coach Brian Rector.
But on Friday night, it was the Cougar offense getting things going in the first half.
Pisacane hit tight end Ra’Sean McLemore down the left sideline for a 65-yard touchdown early in the first quarter.
And the Cougars move on! pic.twitter.com/J3OEc8qgtG
— Eric Welch (@EricWelchWCS) November 21, 2015
Then, on a drive started on their own 3-yard line after a failed fourth-and-goal rush by the Patriots, Austin Waddell caught a Pisacane bomb for a 55-yard score. The Cougars, missing both extra point attempts, took a 12-0 lead into halftime.
In the second half Centennial locked down on defense. Linebacker and Texas A&M-commit Tyrel Dodson, who had six tackles for the game and a blocked punt in the third quarter, led the squeeze.
With a little more than 10 minutes left in the game, Henry County drove almost to the Cougars 20-yard line. Stewart threw an out toward the Patriot sideline, but P. Pisacane had other ideas, returned the pick 23-yard to give the Cougars a three-possession lead, 18-0. Momentum basically swung completely to Centennial with the pick. A few minute later, with the Patriots trying to start a last-ditch drive Pisacane, again jumping a route, intercepted the pass and returned it 76-yards for a score, while covering maybe twice as much ground in a winding runback.
After the game the Cougars waited to find out over the PA system if they would play next week as the Hillsboro-Independence game wound down. The Eagles won, and so the Cougars will head to Thompson Station next Friday night. Coach Rector was not ready yet to think about anytime other than the moment that was at hand.
“We are honored and proud to have advanced for the first time to the semis, and at this time we are just going to worry about enjoying that,” he said.
His words to his team after the handshake-line show that surely he believes this Centennial squad has the talent and determination to bring home its first-ever state championship this year:
“Make the commitment to give this your all over the next few weeks and I promise you, great things will happen,” he said with clear emotion in his voice.
Henry County, who gave Centennial a scare in a Halloween-eve 28-20 Cougars win, finishes its season as the Region 7-5A runner up and with two playoff wins.
