By KEVIN WARNER
Centennial High school’s football started slow, but the Cougars found increased success in the past five seasons and appear poised to continue that under new leadership.
The school opened in 1996.
They reached their first postseason under head coach Greg Gregory in 2002, losing in the first round. In 2003 they reached Round 2 and it would be five years before they reached it again.
Overall Centennial boasts an 81-109 record in their previous 18 seasons of varsity football. From 2011-2015 under former state champion coach Brian Rector and the Cougars posted a 41-20 record, only missing the playoffs once in 2013. Under Rector, the school reached the third round of the 5A playoffs for the first time in 2014 and made the state semifinal for the first time last season when they fell to eventual champion Independence.
Centennial did send some athletes to the Football Bowl Subdivision and beyond. Class of 2004 Running back Curtis Steele played two years of junior college before becoming a starter at the University of Memphis, Eventually playing professionally in the Canadian Football League. He currently plays for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Former Tennessee Sportswriter Association All State athlete Chaz Scales went on to play defensive back at Arkansas State University.
Two recent grads and All-State performers receiver Emanuel Hall (2015) and linebacker Tyrel Dodson (2016) currently play at the University of Missouri and Texas A&M University respectively. Dodson earned the 5A Mr. Football Lineman of the Year award and Parade All-American honors. He had 111 tackles, eight sacks and two interceptions last year.
Former Forrest High head coach Matt Kriesky took the helm in 2016, after Rector left for Father Ryan. The Cougar team has 68 players, according to MaxPreps.com, and 23 seniors at 6-1. The Cougars also have a 4-0 road record, despite traveling 275 miles round trip to Franklin, Ravenwood, Northeast and Clarksville High Schools. They have outscored road opponents 101-48 this year.
Centennial still must travel approximately 248 miles round trip to Henry County on Oct. 28 to close out the season.
For all things Centennial, check out their Football Focus page.
