Friday night’s showdown between 6A heavyweights Centennial and Chandler lived up to the hype and then some. 

It was a game that had a little bit of everything and a plenty of the unusual. 

Centennial ultimately pulled out a thrilling, 29-28 victory over the host Wolves, thus staking its claim as the state’s top team with all but a ticket punched to the Open Division playoffs.

But everyone in attendance got their money’s worth thanks to plenty of dramatic football theater with gutsy performances from both sides.

As Centennial coach Richard Taylor said afterward, “it was a tale of two halves, almost like two different ballgames. But sometimes that’s how it goes in football.”

The Unusual 

Friday’s contest included the following: 

-A safety that resulted from Centennial blocking a punt that ricocheted off the goal post. 

-A successful fake punt by Chandler on its next possession that led to a touchdown. 

-A 60 yard fumble return for a touchdown by Chandler linebacker Nate Escandon. 

-Six total offensive yards netted by Chandler in the first half. 

-A pass that was essentially caught by two Centennial players—Kenny Worthy and Noah Carter. 

-A 26-0 Centennial lead that dwindled to one point (29-28) late in the fourth quarter.

Momentum Swingers

A big defensive play by Centennial early in the game seemed to leave Chandler dazed and confused for the remainder of the first half. 

On the second offensive series for Chandler, quarterback Blake Effron rolled out right before throwing a near perfect pass to Elias Gutierrez, who reached up to secure the ball in full stride down the Chandler sideline. 

The play would’ve been good for 20-25 yards. However…Gutierrez had no idea that Centennial safety Iverson Small was bearing down on him like a missile. 

After what seemed like two steps, Small delivered a bone jarring hit before Gutierrez had fully secured the football, which popped into the air and into the arms of defensive back Marcus Logan. 

The hit left Gutierrez motionless on the ground for several minutes. On Centennial’s next offensive play, sophomore quarterback Kainan Manna hit a well covered Noah Carter in the back of the endzone to give the Coyotes a 10-0 lead. 

Chandler seemed to flatline the rest of the first half. 

But just before the break, with some fans exiting as the Wolves trailed 26-0, the Chandler defense resuscitated the offense and the game with Escandon’s fumble recovery and return for a touchdown. 

Even though it was right before halftime, that play turned the game 180 degrees in Chandler’s favor, as the Wolves put together three touchdown drives in the second half, pulling within one point of Centennial (29-28), thanks to a pair of Effron touchdown passes and some key plays with his quick feet. 

Play of the game

For a game that was a roller coaster of emotions and entertainment, it was a simple yet clutch play that finally secured the win for Centennial. 

After Heffron and the Wolves had pulled within a point late in the game, it was sophomore quarterback Kainan Manna who calmly delivered the game winning pass for the Coyotes  

With less than two minutes to play and facing a third and seven from its own 21, a poised Manna delivered a perfect pass to senior Kenny Worthy over the middle for 14 yards, a first down and the ball game. 

The Coyotes (7-0) were able to finish the game in victory formation, as time ran out for Chandler (6-1). 

“Honestly in a moment like that, I just try and relax myself, calm the nervousness down and know that I’m capable of making that play, Manna said afterward. 

Manna had shared quarterback duties in the second half with Danny Avila, including that final series, when Manna didn’t go in until that crucial third down play. 

Centennial’s only points of the second half came by way of another big Manna to Worthy completion that covered 55 yards, which set up an Aaron Alvarez field goal and a 29-14 lead. 

“We just executed when the game was on the line and that’s what it really came down to,” Worthy said afterward.