2012 Centennial Football Capsule
CENTENNIAL
Coach: Leon Evans, third season (15-8)
2011 record: 7-4 (6-2 Northwest League)
Returning letterwinners: 20
Returning starters: Seven offense, five defense
Base offensive set: Multiple
Base defensive set: 4-4
Top offensive players: QB Austin Turley (Sr.); RB Coby Newton (Sr.); TE Trajan Pili (Sr.); WR Deontae Gilkey (Sr.); WR Chris Rodriguez (Sr.); OL Jordan Karst (Sr.); OL Bobby Ruelas (Jr.); OL Skylar Jacobs (Sr.); OL Jon Tanner (Sr.)
Top defensive players: DE Trajan Pili (Sr.); DL Jordan Karst (Sr.); LB Chris Johnson (Sr.); DB Deontae Gilkey (Sr.); LB Chase McCutcheon (Sr.); LB Andrew Romoff (Sr.)
Top newcomers: WR/DB Brandt Hondo (Sr.); K Blake Frischknecht (Sr.); RB/DB Lantz Worthington (Jr.); FB/DE Hunter Aionna (Sr.); OL/DL Andrew Miller (So.); WR/DB Chris Belt (Sr.); TE/LB Austin Horton (Sr.)
Key losses: RB Jacobi Owels; DE Jared Cody; LB Alex Mack; DB Isiac Catmull
Outlook: The Bulldogs are motivated by the way their 2011 season ended. Centennial allowed a late Palo Verde scoring drive, and the Panthers beat the Bulldogs 23-20 in the Sunset Region semifinals.
Centennial returns an experienced quarterback in Turley, who passed for 1,290 yards and 12 TDs while throwing just two interceptions last season.
He was a first team All-Northwest League pick, as was fullback Newton (456 yards, 8 TDs) and tight end Pili.
But the offense must find a way to replace second team all-state running back Owens (1,498 yards, 14 TDs).
Pili, who has committed to Brigham Young, will help anchor the defense along with returning second team all-league picks Karst and Johnson.
