2017 Early Contenders high school football preview: No. 8 Centennial

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Video: 2017 Early Contenders - No. 8 Centennial
Host Zack Poff breaks down one of the most explosive teams in all of high school football.

Head coach: Matt Logan

Last season: 11-2, No. 15 national ranking, lost to St. John Bosco in the CIF-SS Open Division semifinals, 49-47

Last decade: 127-19, one state title

Famous alumni/players: Pro Bowl LB Vontaze Burfict, former Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez, former Arizona QB Matt Scott, DT Will Sutton, NBA second-round pick Ike Anigbogu (2017) PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB Tanner McKee (6-6, 220, Sr.) — The No. 3 pro style quarterback in the Class of 2018 is also a Top 25 recruit overall.



WR Manuel Allen (6-2, 175, Sr.) — The Nebraska commit is a Top 200 recruit in the Class of 2018.

C Solo Vaipulu (6-2, 280, Sr.) — He's the No. 9 center in the Class of 2018.

ATH Gary Bryant (5-10, 160, Soph.) — One of the top prospects in the Class of 2020, his FBS offers include UCLA, Oregon, Washington and a handful of other top schools.

LB Camron Pitcher Jr. (6-0, 220, Sr.) — The three-star linebacker led the team in tackles in 2016. KEY GAMES

Aug. 25 — vs. Pittsburg (Calif.)

Sept. 2 — vs. No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Honor Bowl at Cathedral Catholic in San Diego

Sept. 15 — vs. Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.)



STORYLINES

* Corona Centennial's only two losses in 2016 came to two teams that finished in the top five (IMG Academy and St. John Bosco), with the losses coming by a combined three points. The Huskies were a missed 2-point conversion and a questionable spot by an official from having a chance at finishing last year undefeated and in the conversation of being named national champions.

* Logan is one of the best high school football coaches in the country and has developed one of the best offensive schemes in the nation since taking over in 1997. Logan has led the Huskies to eight CIF-Southern Section titles since 2000 and his teams have averaged at least 40 points per game in every season over the past six years.

* Back in 2008 Taylor Martinez and Ricky Marvray helped form one of the best quarterback/wide receiver duos in prep football. In, 2015 the Huskies had Anthony Catalano and Javon McKinley. This season, expect McKee and Allen to be one of the best QB/WR duos to ever come out of Centennial.

* The Huskies get another crack at IMG on Sept. 2. The matchup last year was one of the best games during the 2016 season, so don't expect things to change a year later.