Centennial hopes to soak in the spotlight vs. Chaparral

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They put a hundred bags of clay on the field here at Corona Centennial to prepare it for tonight’s Inland Division semifinal against visiting Chaparral. The Pumas were probably hoping Centennial actually poured some quicksand because that’s the only way they will keep up with the Huskies.

If talent alone wasn’t enough to make Centennial a big favorite, the Huskies are also still smarting from last season’s quarterfinal loss to Chaparral, one in which Arizona-bound running back Ryan Bass was held to a season-low 125 yards and no touchdowns.

‘We’ll be fired up,’ Centennial Coach Matt Logan said during pregame warmups.

Not only is this the final home game for Bass, who has 2,225 yards rushing and 40 touchdowns this season, but Arizona-bound quarterback Matt Scott as well. I wonder if they care how the Wildcats are doing vs. Arizona State right now?

Logan said he didn’t scout the Inland Division semifinal last night between Corona Santiago and Redlands East Valley, but rather stayed home to watch Long Beach Poly defeat Orange Lutheran, 2-0.
Basically, Orange Lutheran and Redlands East Valley can thank Mother Nature for their losses last night.

Centennial has lucked out on its scheduling this season, having a bye the week of the wildfires in late October, and playing tonight instead of last night, when the rain created an even, and very slippery, playing field.

One statistic to keep an eye on: turnovers. I watched Rancho Verde and REV cost themselves victories in the playoffs by losing the turnover battle, badly. The Huskies had six against Chaparral last season and that was the key to the outcome of that game as well.

-- Dan Arritt