Football Recap: Rickey Johnson and Gunter Golla Iii Secure Win for Independence + How To Watch

Independence hadn't done well against Centennial recently (they were 0-4 in their previous four matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. The Falcons were the clear victors by a 38-13 margin over the Golden Hawks. Fans of the Falcons have seen this all before: every one of the games they've played this season has ended in a blowout of 20+ points.

Gunter Golla Iii

Rushing Touchdowns (Career)

09/05/25 @ Centennial	2
08/28/25 vs South	1
11/01/24 vs Bakersfield	1
10/24/24 @ Bakersfield Christian	1
09/20/24 vs Kennedy	1

Leading Independence to victory were Gunter Golla Iii and Rickey Johnson. Golla Iii rushed for 16 yards and two scores, while Johnson rushed for 53 yards and one touchdown on only six carries. Those two rushing touchdowns gave Golla Iii a new career-high. Bricen Gutierrez got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.

Independence didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Centennial to a completion percentage of just 45.8%. The team can thank Jeffery Smith for the heroic effort on defense: he. Independence wasn't nearly as limited: they posted one of 89.5%.

When it comes to explaining why Centennial lost, don't look at Mikel Iturriria. Despite the final result, he rushed for 97 yards and one TD.

The win was the third in a row for Independence, bringing their record up to 3-0. The victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they've averaged 39.7 points this season. As for Centennial, they are on a four-game losing streak (dating back to last season) that has dropped them down to 0-3.

Independence has already played their next game, a 41-0 win against Stockdale on the 12th. As for Centennial, they also wasted no time getting back out on the field and have already played their next match, a 28-0 victory against Chavez on the 12th.