Special Teams Sends Centennial Home Happy

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In a battle for Class 5A Region 7 supremacy, Centennial bested Brentwood by a score of 24-10. Defense, which has been the strength of the Cougars and the Bruins, was on display as the rainy weather led to less than ideal field conditions for the game.

Strong Start Stymied After Opening Drive

After the Bruins won the toss and deferred, the Cougars took the field with one thing in mind, establishing themselves on the ground. Centennial’s opening drive featured a healthy dose of the running back duo of Mondu Sawyers and Tyrel Dodson. Sawyers would finish the drive for the Cougars from 10 yards out to give Centennial the 7-0 lead. The teams would trade punts before Centennial’s Clay Carder would intercept a Carson Croy pass in Bruin territory. Centennial would be able to turn the turnover into points, as Peyton Pisacane kicked a 37-yard field goal, giving the Cougars a 10-0 lead. Brentwood and Centennial would trade punts twice before Brentwood would us their vertical passing game to move into Cougar territory for the first time, but the Bruin field goal attempt would sail wide left. The teams would head to the showers with Centennial leading 10-0.

Cougars CoCentennial Entranceunter Brentwood’s Blows

Brentwood would open the second half by mounting their second consecutive drive into Centennial’s end of the field. This time, the Bruins would capitalize as Tucker Day hit a 49-yard field goal to close the scoring margin to 10-3. After the teams once again traded punts, Centennial drove the ball into the redzone behind a Mondu Sawyers 40-yard catch and run, but a fumble by the Cougars would give the ball back to Brentwood. The Cougars would keep the Bruins pinned in their own end and on fourth down, the Cougars would burst through and block the Tucker Day punt. Centennial’s Nick Bell would return the punt 20 yards for a Cougar score. After the touchdown, Coach Rector rolled the dice and the Cougars recovered the onside kick.

The Cougars would move quickly on the short field. On a 3rd and short, Tyrel Dodson would line up behind center and convert with a powerful run, dragging defenders 11 yards. On the next play, Dodson threw to Ra’sean McLemore in the back of the endzone from 5 yards out to give the Cougars a 24-3 lead. Brentwood would not go down without a fight, as Carson Croy marched the Bruins downfield by taking advantage of his mobility against the Cougar linebacker corps. Croy also made plays through the air to set the Bruins up at the five yard line. After penalties and negative plays on the first two downs, Croy pulled the ball down and rushed it in from 13 yards out for the Bruins first touchdown of the game. After trading the ball back and forth, Brentwood would get the ball with one last chance for a frantic rally. The Bruins would get big plays in the passing game to get in scoring range, but Centennial’s Warren Jones would intercept Croy in the endzone. One snap in the victory formation would seal the Cougars the win.

The win moves Centennial to 7-1, 5-0 in region 7. The Cougars are on their bye week next week, before traveling to Rossview in regional play the week after. All eyes for the Cougars are on the final week of the season for the matchup with fellow regional unbeaten Henry County.

 

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