Best could be saved for last when No. 1 Centennial plays No. 8 De La Salle in California Open Division Bowl

Video: No. 1 Corona Centennial vs. No. 8 De La Salle

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — It's one of the biggest football games of the season, with national championship implications on the line. It just happens to be the last high school football game scheduled for 2015 as well.

Six-time California bowl champion De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), No. 8 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard, takes on No. 1 Centennial (Corona, Calif.) at Sacramento State on Saturday night for the CIF Open Division title.

See game preview



It's a rematch of last year's championship game, a 63-42 De La Salle victory. That contest featured a state bowl game record 1,129 yards.

The teams run simple but meticulous offenses — De La Salle the veer and Centennial the spread — based largely on reads. Centennial averages 56.5 points and 523 yards per game, almost perfectly divided between run (265.5) and pass (252.5).

De La Salle averages 45.7 points and 462 yards per game, primarily gobbled up on the ground (352 per game).

Though the game will likely come down to line play — as it often does — and defenses, the spotlight will likely shine brightest on six players as it has all season. Those six have combined for 11,593 yards and 157 touchdowns — in one season.

This much-anticipated, national showdown will feature a game of three-on-three: Centennial's Anthony Catalano, J.J. Taylor and Javon Mckinley versus De La Salle's Anthony Sweeney, Antoine Custer and Andrew Hernandez.

The coaches for both teams, however, say these six gents are much more than numbers. In fact, both agree that they represent a big chunk of each team's heart and soul.



Here's a breakdown of these players' season statistics, last year's game numbers, and comments from each coach. 

Centennial
QB Anthony Catalano, 5-foot-10, 175 pounds
2015 statistics: 153 of 235, 2,867 yards, 29 touchdowns, four interceptions; 106 rushing attempts (including sacks), 900 yards, 11 touchdowns.
Last year's game: 5 for 10, 172 yards, one TD; 12 rushes, 89 yards, TD. Played in a two-quarterback system.
Recruitment: No FBS offers.
Comment: "He's an awesome kid," said Centennial coach Matt Logan. "Good student. Very, very quiet. One of those silent leaders. He comes from a real good family. A hard worker. ... He's come through even when not 100 percent physically. ... He understands the offense. He competes. He's tough on himself. He understands exactly what we're trying to accomplish. He's got a big arm. He's a great runner with good speed. We're going to miss him greatly next year."

RB J.J. Taylor, 5-6, 170
2015 statistics: 222 carries, 1,980 yards (8.9 average), 41 touchdowns.
Last year's game: 14 carries, 133 yards.
Recruitment: Arizona commit.
Comment: "He's a super quiet kid," Logan said. "He's not comfortable unless he knows you. ... If you think he's made some incredible moves on the field, he's even better at practice. ... He's from Corona, went to JSerra Catholic as a freshman, transferred back and had to sit out five games as a sophomore. ... He backed up Tre Watson (now at Cal) at running back but started at cornerback. ... He's small now but will surely get bigger. He'll end up being a Maurice Jones-Drew type. Pound-for-pound, he's one of the strongest kids. He can catch. He blocks well. He'll do great at Arizona."

WR Javon McKinley, 6-2, 195
2015 statistics: (in 12 games due to ankle injury): 53 catches, 1,145 yards (21.6 average), 12 touchdowns (in 12 games).
Last year's game: 6 catches, 153 yards, 2 TDs; 92-yard kickoff return for TD.
Recruitment: Uncommitted but 4-star recruit according to 247Sports has more than 20 offers.
Comment: "He's one awesome kid," Logan said. "A 4.0 student. Great personality. One of those kids who always has a smile on his face or gives you one. He's an All-American kid, one you want to be the poster child for your program. He's a kid we'll really miss. He'll go a long, long way in all facets of life."

"He may be the best wide receiver in the country," said De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh.

De La Salle
QB Anthony Sweeney, 5-10, 180
2015 statistics: 75 of 127, 1,358 yards, 15 touchdowns, 4 interceptions; 109 carries, 1,052 yards, 20 touchdowns.
Last year's game: Injured, did not play.
Recruitment: No FBS offers.
Comment: "People don't realize how fast he is," Alumbaugh said. "He's one of the fastest on our team, if not the fastest. He's such a competitor. We have to harness him sometimes. We don't want to lose his fire but we also don't want to lose him to injury. He's been 100 percent healthy this year and people are seeing how athletic he is. ... He's just a special kid. He's a unanimous team captain. He treats people with such respect. He volunteers everywhere. He tutors kids. He just cares about people. Frankly, he's one of the best and most enjoyable kids I've ever coached and our entire staff would say the same. I'm going to miss coaching him. Wherever he ends up is going to get a steal. Whoever gets him will be very thankful."

RB Antoine Custer, 5-9, 185
2015 statistics: 118 carries, 1,223 yards, 13 touchdowns.
Last year's game: 31 carries, 273 yards, 4 TDs.
Recruitment: Offers from Washington State, Wyoming
Comment: "We needed him on defense this year and he's been a great free safety," Alumbaugh said. "His rushing stats are a little less than last year, but that's just because we've run him less. He's got a great nose for the ball on defense. But he continues to be a great runner. He's dynamic. .. Off the field, the only time we can get a smile off his face is during conditioning. He's just a happy-go-lucky kid. Great personality. Funny. Teachers love him. We all do."



RB Andrew Hernandez, 5-9, 175
2015 statistics: 114 carries, 1,168 yards, 16 touchdowns.
Last year's game: 26 carries, 175 yards, 3 TDs.
Recruitment: No FBS offers. Baseball recruit.
Comment: "Another really neat kid. Quiet. Very bright. Has vision on the field. Extremely hard worker. He just needs a little crease and once he plants his foot he really gets up the field in a hurry. He's got very good speed. He's really dangerous. Runs hard."