Corona Centennial Unravels Against Alta Loma

The magic carpet ride that had made up Corona Centennial High’s football team in 1996 took a wrong turn Friday night.

Centennial committed three turnovers and gave up a safety in the second quarter and Alta Loma turned those mistakes into 23 points in a 26-16 victory in the Southern Section Division IV football championship Friday night before an estimated 10,000 at the University of Redlands.

Alta Loma (13-1) won its second division championship in three years. Centennial finished at 12-2.

Alta Loma’s first touchdown--a three-yard run by Ruben Gamez that gave the Braves a 10-0 lead with 8:47 remaining in the second quarter--came two plays after Centennial running back Arani Fagaima lost a fumble at his own 16-yard line.

Centennial’s next possession resulted in a safety after the ball was snapped over the head of punter Matthew Kause and out of the end zone.

Alta Loma returned the ensuing kickoff to Centennial’s 49-yard line and scored three plays later when Ighe Evero broke free for a 34-yard touchdown run and a 19-0 advantage.

Moments later, Carlos Bocanegra intercepted a pass and returned it 66 yards to the Huskies’ four-yard line. Gamez scored four plays later from one yard, giving Alta Loma a 26-0 lead with 51 seconds remaining in the half.