MaxPreps 2013 Preseason Xcellent 25 Football preview: No. 10 Centennial

Centennial (Corona, Calif.) has played De La Salle three times in CIF Bowl Games. To say that the Huskies have been Southern California's top program in the latter half of head coach Matt Logan's tenure is no stretch.

Last December, De La Salle prevailed 48-28, as Centennial could not recover from several costly mistakes.

With what it returns from last year's team, particularly on offense, Centennial is poised to play deep into December once more.

Following a prolific season in which he passed for 3,968 yards and 41 touchdowns, quarterback Robert Webber returns behind center. He also rushed for 781 yards and seven scores, making him a threat on the ground as well.



Tre Watson, who approached 1,500 yards rushing last year, will be the team's premier running back. He found the end zone 22 times. Given Centennial's record of cultivating highly-productive halfbacks, don't be surprised to see Watson double his production from a year ago.

Receiver Barry Ware provides a true vertical threat in the team's offense. Viane Talamaivao, who is committed to Alabama, will lead an offensive line that, traditionally, is both big and physical.

On defense there's no shortage of talent either, especially thanks to Austin Maloata, who moved in from American Samoa and was promptly offered by USC.

He'll line up on a defensive line that will also feature Jaylen Johnson and Will Nicholson.

John Plattenburg, a shutdown cornerback, will lead the secondary. Outside of Xavier Hughes, the linebackers will be new.

Local outlook: "Centennial wasn't supposed to be as good as it was last season and made it to the Open Division Bowl Game. Key players are back throughout the team. The Huskies don't figure to lose, if at all."
- Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times (@latsondheimer){PAGEBREAK}
School size: Division I




Enrollment: 2,900 (approx.)


2012 finish: 14-2, Open Division CIF Bowl Game finalist


Head coach: Matt Logan


Career record: 173-39


Years at school: 16

Notable players coached:
RB Terrell Johnson (Oregon, UTEP)



QB Taylor Martinez (Nebraska)

LB Vontaze Burfict (Arizona State)

QB Michael Eubank (Arizona State){PAGEBREAK} No. of returning starters: 6 (offense), 4 (defense)

Key losses:

OL Lio Lafaele

DL Milo Jordan



WR Chase Krivashei


Key returners:

QB Robert Webber

RB Tre Watson

OL Viane Talamaivao

DL Jaylen Johnson



WR Barry Ware

DB John Plattenburg


Key newcomers:

DL Austin Maloata

WR Greyson Burkhead{PAGEBREAK} Toughest game: Despite nationally-ranked Long Beach Poly looming in week three, St. Bonaventure could be the Huskies' toughest game. In each of the last two years, the Seraphs have found a way to hand Centennial a narrow defeat to start the season.

Question mark: Can this team survive September? An August opener against Bishop Henderson is followed by games against St. Bonaventure and Long Beach Poly. If Centennial can weather the storm early on, it has proven to be extremely difficult to beat in December, and could play for another CIF Open Division Bowl Game.



Local outlook: It's a deep year for Southern California teams. Centennial may have the clearest path to the CIF Open Division Bowl Game. If it does earn the nod, it won't be from lack of competition, as four teams from Southern California begin the year nationally ranked.

Overall outlook: Head coach Matt Logan likes what his team returns: a nice balance of starters at every position. Offensively the Huskies will be explosive, per usual. Last year, the team's defense struggled at times, including in its two losses. If Centennial's defense can match the excellence that its offense will likely put forth, Centennial could go undefeated.

Coach quote: "We're kind of excited. It's the way you want it to be, having half your team coming back."
- Matt Logan, head coach{PAGEBREAK}