In 2015, Jacob Franklin had a choice to either stay with Liberty High School or continue his football aspirations at rival, Centennial Peoria. He chose Centennial and enrolled at the end of freshman year.

“My dad recommended that I come here because of Coach [Richard] Taylor and his great staff,” Franklin said. “I’ve had a really great experience. I have seen two sides of the high school sports with two different schools and I would have to say Centennial honestly has been such a big difference.”

Credit Centennial’s first and only head coach, Richard Taylor.

Taylor started the program in 1990 with all freshman and since has logged in 220 wins and 69 losses. In his 27 years at Centennial, the Coyotes have won five state championships in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, and 2015.

“At the time we were surrounded by Cactus, Peoria, and Ironwood; all three of them had really good football programs,” Taylor said. “It was a real struggle to compete with them.”

People around the Centennial football program know Taylor makes sure every player feels part of the “brotherhood.”

Centennial alum Shaun Rade takes pride in what Centennial football means to him.

“It’s kind of really a fraternity being a part of Centennial football,” Rade said. “I have three older brothers who all played Centennial football and I also have three nephews who have already played or are currently playing.”

Taylor’s leadership and determination stuck with Rade and he takes great pride in saying he played football for Centennial.

“Anyone who has been around Centennial football at all is familiar with it. They know that coach Taylor always talks about his players should be better people than they are football players,” Rade said.

The biggest difference between Taylor and other football coaches is his work ethic.

“The first day after the state championship game, we were running and working out on the track and getting ready for the next season,” Franklin said.

The Coyotes find themselves in a familiar big-time game as they head back to the state championship for their fourth consecutive season. Centennial has made it to the semifinals of the state tournament 13 out of the last 14 seasons. In 2013, the Coyotes were 9-1; however, that was the only year the team did not make it to the semifinals.

“I’m proud of the program,” Taylor said. “I’m proud of our coaches who work really hard. I’m really proud of our players and their dedication to the idea of team, teammates, and self. I’m proud that they recognize the process, the work that it takes, and the sacrifices that they have made to be part of the team.”

Centennial athletic director and assistant principal Brett Palmer jumped on board in July of 2014. Previously, Palmer was a teacher and coach at Hamilton in Chandler. Since Palmer’s arrival, the Centennial football program has yet to fall short of the state championship game.

“He’s truly one of the great ones here in the state,” Palmer said. “His big thing is consistency. He’s put in his roots here; he’s worked his tail off to get this program to where it is. He has taken no shortcuts.”

Taylor and his staff have a reputation of caring about the community and his players on and off the field.

“He’s just a liked guy in the community,” Palmer said. “I can’t find a bad thing to say about coach Taylor. He does such a great job not only with our football team and school, but with our community and our community members.”

Taylor has a reputation among his community and coworkers and treats everyone equally.

“He looks out for all his players and not just the big name guys,” Franklin said. “He tries to treat everybody the same and he wants everyone to feel they are equally part of the team.”

Every football player, no matter what level, is treated the same.

Senior running back Alex Escobar said, “they push us every day within the classroom, in the weight room and especially on the field. They push you in all aspects and make you grow up pretty fast.”

Andrew Taylor, defensive coordinator and Taylor’s son, has been at Centennial alongside his father since 1999. Andrew attended Glendale College and was a junior college transfer to the University of Tulsa.

 “It’s wonderful,” Andrew said of coaching beside his father for 18 year. “I think I’ve spent more time with my dad than certainly anyone my age that has their father around. It’s really cool to be able to show up every day and have someone there that you respect but that you also love as your dad and know that he loves you too. That’s kind of a neat thing to work with someone like that.”

Andrew said Centennial football is a lot like the great artist, Claude Monet’s quote:

“Color is my daylong obsession, joy, and torment.”

Andrew always had coaching in the back of his mind because of his father; however, it was not until his college days at the University of Tulsa, that he figured out that coaching was what he wanted to do.

“Around my second year of college, I was at the point where I had to make a decision on my major,” Andrew said. “Certainly by the time I was at Tulsa, I knew I wanted to be a high school teacher and coach.”

Every senior on the team will have had the opportunity to experience something, that most high school student athletes never get to do once.

That is competing in the state championship game every year.

“It’s been a dream come true” Escobar said. “The program has been really good to me.”

Escobar transferred to Centennial after his freshman year and enjoys being part of the Centennial football family.

“There is a commitment to excellence and that is expected every day,” Escobar said. “Working out there every day, being there every day and having a great time with everybody there, it's just such a big part of my life.”

Richard Taylor hammers home the importance of family, education and character to his players; this helps guides them into adulthood.

“Centennial football is an obsession,” Andrew said. “It’s a passion. It’s a great source of joy, pride and love. It can be tormenting at times because our expectations are so high.