From Underdogs to Champions: Centennial Coyotes’ Incredible 6A State Victory

TEMPE, Ariz. — In an astonishing turnaround, the Centennial Coyotes defied expectations by clinching the 6A state championship after entering the playoffs as the No. 14 seed. Following a tumultuous regular season marked by seven losses in ten games, including three defeats in their last four contests, the Coyotes showcased remarkable resilience to defeat Mountain View 31-21 in the championship game at Mountain America Stadium.

This victory marks the eighth state title for head coach Richard Taylor, who has led the Coyotes for 35 years. His team’s triumph comes just a year after falling to rival Liberty in the Open Division championship. The journey to the title was particularly challenging; Centennial began its season with four consecutive losses to formidable opponents, including Hamilton and Salpointe Catholic, before securing their first win against Boulder Creek.

Momentum shifted when they upset defending champion Saguaro, but they faced setbacks against Queen Creek and ended the regular season with defeats to Pinnacle and Liberty. Despite these challenges, the Coyotes refused to give up. Entering the playoff bracket, they faced No. 3 Red Mountain, a top contender, and pulled off a 21-7 surprise victory.

Continuing their impressive run, the Coyotes advanced to the quarterfinals with a 37-14 win over No. 11 Casteel, followed by a thrilling 37-32 semifinal victory against No. 2 Queen Creek, flipping the script from their earlier loss.

The championship game against the No. 4 Mountain View Toros began with a flurry of action. Centennial’s Kainan Manna connected with Nikko Boncore-Montoya for a 33-yard touchdown, giving the Coyotes an early 7-0 lead. Mountain View responded promptly, tying the game at 7. However, just 13 seconds later, Brayden Long sprinted 80 yards for another Centennial touchdown. By the end of the first quarter, the Coyotes led 14-7.

The second quarter saw a lull in scoring until a late touchdown from Mountain View made it 14-14 at halftime. After the break, Centennial surged ahead with a touchdown from Owen Reynoso, and their defense stifled Mountain View’s attack throughout the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, a 47-yard field goal extended the Coyotes’ lead to 24-14. Despite Mountain View narrowing the gap to 24-21 with a touchdown pass, Centennial sealed their championship with a final one-yard run, concluding the game at 31-21.

This remarkable victory establishes Centennial as the first team to win a state championship after suffering seven losses in the regular season, ending their journey with a record of 7-7. The Coyotes’ story is one of tenacity, illustrating the unpredictable nature of high school football.