Adam Taylor's hard-charging running could be the ticket for Katy to beat Centennial in this mythical Fiesta Bowl matchup.
Photo by Leslie Johnson
Bowl Game: Fiesta Bowl, Oregon vs. Kansas State
High school equivalent: Centennial (Corona, Calif.) vs.
Katy (Texas)Rankings: (Xcellent 25, MaxPreps Computer Rankings): Corona Centennial: 17, 21; Katy 2, 20.
With a 16-0 season and a Class 5A-II state title, Katy fans are feeling overlooked for the BCS title game, but face a worthy opponent in Centennial.
Robert Webber, Centennial
Photo by David Hood
Perhaps no offense in the country has resembled Oregon's high-scoring, fast-paced offensive attack more than Matt Logan's wildly successful spread offense at successful Centennial. From Michael Scott to Taylor Martinez to Michael Eubank, Centennial's offensive system has flourished each season despite losses of key personnel to graduation.
This year's team earned a berth in the CIF Open Division Bowl Game thanks in large part to quarterback
Robert Webber. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior threw for 3,660 yards and 38 touchdowns.
Centennial hung tough with De La Salle in the Bowl Game, but the Spartans pulled away and won 48-28. Prior to that game, Centennial had won 14 consecutive games, including victories over Alemany, Vista Murrieta and Narbonne.
The No. 2-ranked team in the Xcellent 25, Katy is the top-ranked team from Big 12 territory.
The Tigers are led by a highly efficient running back in
Adam Taylor, who rushed for 2,754 yards and 44 touchdowns, including five in Katy's final game against Cedar Hill.
Defensively, Katy also shined. It intercepted 30 passes en route to allowing only 12.9 points per game.
In its loss to De La Salle, Centennial showed a vulnerability to a precise rushing offense, so Katy would almost certainly move the chains against the Huskies. How Katy's defense held up against Centennial's offensive onslaught would likely determine the outcome.
Our Computer Projection (neutral field): Centennial 35, Katy 24
