The challenge for nationally-ranked Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.) just got a little tougher.
The nation’s No. 20 high school football team, according to the MaxPreps’ Xcellent 25 Early Contender rankings, will open out of state in three weeks when it faces Nevada power McQueen (Reno) at MacKay Stadium on the campus of University of Reno.
The 7 p.m. kickoff on Aug. 22 pits defending state champions in this fourth annual Sollenberger Classic, which honors former Arizona Interscholastic Association employee Barry Sollenberger. The teams and venue were announced this week by the AIA.
{VIDEO_614b7667-6f7c-4850-8a41-0dda2a88950b,floatRightWithBar}Centennial, which returns 13 starters, won the Arizona 5A Division II title last year and went 14-0. McQueen also went 14-0 and won Nevada’s highest 4A division.
This is the first time the Sollenberger Classic has been played outside of Arizona and just the second time the game has pitted the neighboring state rivals.
Last year, before a sparse crowd of about 8,000 at spacious University of Phoenix Stadium, Brophy Prep (Phoenix) slugged out a 16-6 win over Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).
{VIDEO_d254cca3-e273-42ea-b459-29c9635594c2,floatRightWithBar}This one figures to be much higher scoring as the teams combined to score 1,150 points last year, almost exactly evenly divided.
Centennial, which scored 571 points, returns quarterback Dane McFarland (1,668 yards passing) and running back Anthony Hughes, who split time with his brother John (now at Southern Illinois) and still rushed for more than 800 yards.
Running backs Vegas Johnson and Lebron Harrington, along with a host of standout receivers should make the Coyotes potent, however the strength of the team lies up front where all but one starting offensive lineman returns, including Nick Rowland (6-foot-5, 305 pounds) and Dylan Lusk (6-2, 305), who rank the No. 2 and 7 prospects in the state overall, respectively, by the Arizona Republic.
Others who made the newspaper’s top 50 list were linebackers Austin Arias (6-1, 225, UNLV commit) and Austin Garday (6-0, 205), cornerback/receiver Kyle Coffey (5-9, 175), Hughes, McFarland, lineman Junior Nieves (6-3, 305).
That’s eight from the top 50 in the entire state.
Scary.
{VIDEO_26eacf2e-fc24-4e3c-b121-57232117249a,floatRightWithBar}Under coach Jim Snelling, McQueen won’t be in any way scared after finishing No. 1 in Nevada last year according to the MaxPreps/Army National Guard computer rankings. The Lancers finished No. 122 nationally.
McQueen had numerous impressive wins but perhaps the most was a 24-7 throttling of Serra (San Mateo, Calif.), which lost by just a point to six-time mythical national champion De La Salle (Concord, Calif.).
{VIDEO_c783f23f-bff9-4405-a9da-ed4530d6f6f8,floatRightWithBar}The Lancers lost their top four playmakers to graduation, but with 25 players returning from last year they figure to be one of the top teams in the state again. Whether they can slow down Centennial is another matter.
“Centennial is very impressive on film and they have several key players returning,” Snelling said. “We’ve worked very hard this summer and are excited to play a top level program from Arizona.”
The feelings are mutual, Taylor said.
“McQueen has a long and glorious history and from what we’ve seen from them on film, they will be one of the best teams we play all year,” he said.
Taylor might have wanted to get a few games under his belt before facing McQueen, but, he said, the chance to play in Sollenberger’s honor was too good to pass up.
Sollenberger was a passionate sports historian who published an award-winning high school sports magazine and voluminous archives in the state office.
“Knowing Barry Sollenberger and all he’s done for high school football, it’s a great honor and a privilege to play in a game named after him,” Taylor said.
NOTES: Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the AIA Scholarship Fund in honor of Sollenberger. … Tickets will be available the day of the game at the Mackay Stadium box office. … The game will be streamed at www.aia365.com and broadcast on radio at The Fan AM 1060 in Phoenix and in Reno on ESPN Radio 630. … The last three Sollenberger Classic winners have gone on to play in the state championship: Hamilton (Chandler) in 2006 and Brophy Prep the next two seasons.
