Centennial Huskies
Location: Corona (Riverside County) Calif. (population 150,308)
Enrollment: 2,684
2008 national (California) rank: No. 9 (No. 2).
2007 national (California) rank: No. 12 (No. 3).
2008 record: 1-0.
2007 record: 13-2.
Record since 2000: 90-15.
CIF championships: 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007
League titles: 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Most famous scholarship players: 2007 - RB Ryan Bass (Arizona State), QB Matt Scott (Arizona); 2004 - OL Devin Head (Colorado); 2003 - LB Ryan Phipps (Oregon), Terrell Jackson (Oregon); 2001 - Terry Richardson (Arizona State).
Senior Division I recruits: LB Vontaze Burfict (USC commit), QB Taylor Martinez (Nebraska), DL William Sutton, RB Arthur Burns, WR Ricky Marvray, WR Nick Beasley, OLB Anthony Whitlow.
Junior Division I recruit: LB Brandon Brown (injured).
Friday’s opponent: Mater Dei (Santa Ana) at Santa Ana Bowl, 7:30 p.m..
TV: FSN.
By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
CORONA, Calif. – The list is short but emphatic and bold: De La Salle (Concord), Long Beach Poly and Mater Dei (Santa Ana).
These are California high school football teams that annually grab the most national attention. All are past mythical national champions.
Many over the last two decades have surfaced in the national rankings – St. Bonaventure (Ventura), Lutheran (Orange), Hart (Newhall) and Mission Viejo to name a few — but the one that looks to have some staying power is just off Interstate 15, 45 minutes east of Los Angeles.
Behind a high-powered spread attack, a bevy of big and fast athletes and a rock solid cohesive coaching staff, Inland Empire and public school power Centennial (Corona) seems well prepared to challenge the big California trio for nationally consideration year in and year out.
The Huskies get to challenge that claim Friday when it burst back into the national spotlight during a huge nonleague tussle with Matt Barkley, the nation’s No. 1 recruit, and the Mater Dei Monarchs at the Santa Ana Bowl.
It’s a rematch of one of the greatest games in state history last season at the same venue, a 51-37 Mater Dei victory in a frenzied 3 hour and 15-minute contest that featured a state-record 1,298 yards and 58 first downs.
Mater Dei won the game, but Centennial eventually won the war later that season by earning Southern California’s state Division I Bowl Game selection, losing to the aforementioned De La Salle Spartans 37-31, a game it trailed once 31-7.
Like the Mater Dei loss, Centennial put up a massive fight in a thoroughly entertaining game. Both losses served as notice that the Huskies are knocking at the elite door.
More importantly they serve as motivation for the 2008 season.
“Although we are very proud of how the kids fought back and displayed themselves that night (against De La Salle) it was still a loss and a big loss, the biggest of my career and for all those seniors,” Centennial coach Matt Logan said. “It’s definitely been a driving force. We want to go back and be a state champion.”
Said 6-foot, 185-pound receiver Ricky Marvray, who hauled in two scoring passes in the state-title game: “Losing a game like that gives you a feeling you never want to feel again. It was so painful you want to cry, but then you’re so mad you don’t.”
Said 5-foot-10, 205-pound receiver Nick Beasley: “We can’t wait for those two games (Mater Dei and another possible state-title game).”
Said blue chip 6-2, 265-pound defensive lineman William Sutton: “We’re going undefeated. We’re going to take it all this season.”
They’re off to a 1-0 start, though it wasn’t terribly impressive, a sloppy 26-16 road victory last week over a very good Chaparral (Temecula) squad. An inexperienced offensive line (four new starters) and talented but new quarterback led to the first-game jitters.
A repeat performance probably won’t translate to victory over Mater Dei, but the cohesive Centennial coaching staff can iron out wrinkles with the best of them.
Logan, who actually started his coaching career at Mater Dei, has kept defensive coordinator Dan Herring and staff throughout his 11-year tenure at Centennial. Since 2000, the team has won four CIF Southern Section crowns and secured 44 college scholarships and at least five from the current senior class will likely earn full rides.
Burfict: The King of Nasty
The top of that list is Vontaze Burfict, a tenacious, fast, instinctual 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker who has already committed to USC. He’s ranked the 72nd best recruit overall from the class of 2009 by CBS College Sports recruiting expert Tom Lemming.
Burfict had 10 tackles last week after recording 130 last year.
“He combines a great understanding of the game, he has a great feel for it with great instinct along with size and athleticism,” Herring said. “He has the combination of everything you need to be one of the greats.”
His disposition is part of what sets Burfict apart.
“He’s mean,” Sutton said. “Off the field he’s very cool, but once he struts on the field, he goes full speed. Even in spring ball when you’re not supposed to hit people, he’s hitting people.”
Said Herring: “He definitely has a nasty streak. Off the field there are no issues, but on the field he plays like you’re supposed to - aggressive and on the edge.”
Don’t think Burfict is just some crazed lunatic between the lines. Quite the opposite in some regards.
He played quarterback as a freshman and is quite cerebral. At least when it comes to reading plays.
“What’s crazy about him is that he’s so instinctual, which they say all the great ones have,” Logan said. “He can see things and read things before anyone reacts.”
Herring said even in passing league Burfict will know where the play and ball is going. Same goes during practice.
“By the second day of running our next opponent’s offense, he’ll see a formation and yell out where the play is going,” he said. “He’s just football smart. He could probably play anywhere on the field and with minimal practice be an All-CIF player.”
Burfict is not the only blue chip defensive recruit.
Sutton is the son of former NFL defensive back Mickey Sutton. He ranks the 43rd best recruit in California by rivals.com despite his lack of height. Arizona, UCLA and Nebraska are on his short list.
“The colleges normally look at 6-5, 6-6 guys on the line so for them to show so much interest in a 6-2 kid shows what a great player he is,” Logan said. “(William) is really a guy who has developed in three years. It’s amazing how he finished last year and it’s only going to get better and better this year.”
Said Herring: “He’s probably the best defensive lineman we’ve ever had. He’s got a great feel for the game, a great work ethic and is a great student (3.5 GPA).”
Replacing 6,000 yards and 79 Touchdowns
While the defense is blessed with two returning stars and one of the state’s top juniors – Norco transfer linebacker Brandon Brown (out with a broken fibula) - the offense lost two of the most prolific players in the state in quarterback Matt Scott (now at Arizona) and running back Ryan Bass (Arizona State).
Scott accounted for 3,500 total yards and 32 touchdowns while Bass rushed a remarkable 348 times for 2,608 yards and 47 touchdowns.
On the hot seat replacing them are seniors Taylor Martinez and running back Arthur Burns.
Logan thinks it’s unfair to compare the duo to Scott and Bass. Besides, he believes the Huskies’ high-powered offense, which has produced more than 42 points per game the last 11 seasons, is pretty much bullet proof.
“It’s not so much replacing those guys but plugging people into our system and letting our system adapt to those kids,” he said.
Martinez landed in Logan’s lap, a transfer last fall from Cajon High in San Bernardino. He watched practice for a season, and then joined the team full time during lifting and running.
Turns out, he’s quite a specimen.
The 6-1, 185-pounder is the fastest player on the team, according to Logan, and his arm is as strong as Scott’s, said Beasley.
Even though he took his first varsity snap just last week, he has committed to Nebraska.
“We really didn’t know what we had until the offseason,” Logan said. “He really took to our lifting and running program. He got bigger, faster and stronger in a short time. He had a great summer as well. He’s the fastest quarterback we’ve ever had here.”
That’s saying something considering Scott had 4.6 speed and was a breakaway threat.
“Matt had a stronger arm, was more experienced and had great straight ahead speed,” Logan said. “Taylor is more elusive. He’ll make his own way.”
He had an 80-yard TD run called back by penalty last week, when he threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed for only seven yards on nine carries.
Burns, a rugged 6-foot, 215-pounder, is a known commodity. He rushed for 514 yards and eight touchdowns last year and though not nearly has elusive as Bass, just as capable of carrying the load 30 to 40 times a game.
“He’s the type of back I envisioned when we put together this offense,” Logan said. “We had it the first year but not any year since. The rest of the guys we’ve had were scatbacks. He’s a mixture of both.”
Burns is extremely strong. He squats more than 500 pounds; power cleans 315 and benches more than 300.
“He’s one big tough physical kid and he’s got some early offers,” Logan said.
California, Colorado State, San Diego State and Fresno State are among those interested.
Coaching, Cohesion and Kings
With its vast success over the last decade, all in Corona are interested in Centennial football. It’s a bedroom community, loyal and tight.
The coaching staff which also includes Brian Benz, Jeremy Goins, Kunane Burns, Ron Gueringer, Matt Lance, Stan Hunt, Mike Nicks, Sebastian Hernandez and Casey Richardson has primarily stayed in tact throughout the decade with Logan and Herring.
“Simply, it’s been dedication of the players and dedication of the coaches that has led us to this point,” Logan said.
Most of the players have siblings who have flourished in the program. Bass and Scott, for instance, each had older brothers star on the field and earn rides to college. Their names are scattered through the record books and all-league teams.
And though winning and notoriety is nice, the program’s overall experience keeps kids coming out.
“The coaches don’t just coach us but they workout with us,” Sutton said. “Sometimes they act like us and will jump around and have fun.”
The Huskies had 90 freshmen try out this year, the most in Logan’s tenure.
“The coaches have made us a great program,” Marvray said. “The might seem tough on us, but everything we do, it all pays off. No one works harder than us.”
That’s evident on this 100 degree-plus day as players and coaches sweat profusely in a stuffy but ample 1,500 square foot weight room. Players also climb steps with weights bars balanced and spotters supporting.
“They definitely have bought in,” Logan said.
Guys like Marvray set the tone. He’s on time. He’s a workaholic. He’s upbeat.
“He’s a great student, a great athlete and he comes in every day with a smile and says hello,” Logan said. “He comes ready to work.”
“Give me 11 Ricky Marvrays and we won’t lose a game.”
Not losing is challenge enough around Corona.
There are other huge schools in the district – Santiago (4,096), Corona (3,196) and Norco (2,206) - but Centennial has had by far the most football success.
The community recognizes it.
“They treat us like kings out here,” senior outside linebacker Anthony Whitlow said.
Now they hope to collect the state crown that goes with it. That would secure the Huskies spot on the national map.
They are currently ranked ninth nationally by MaxPreps and last year they finished 12th.
Logan said it’s flattering to be mentioned with the Golden State’s elite. But he and his staff aren’t enamored with it.
“We’d love to think we’re at that level and it’s nice to think people believe that,” Logan said. “It’s flattering. But we’re still very much a work in progress. If people think that great, but all I know is we have to prepare for each game.”
Friday’s game especially.
See the Mater Dei-Centennial preview later in the week and live coverage of the game by Mitch Stephens on Friday. E-mail Mitch at mstephens@maxpreps.com.
