FOURTH ANNUAL SOLLENBERGER CLASSIC
Teams: Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.) vs. McQueen (Reno, Nev.)
Records last year: Centennial 14-0, McQueen 14-0.
When: Saturday, 7 p.m. (PDT)
Where: MacKay Stadium on campus of University of Reno.
Proceeds: To benefit AIA scholarship fund in honor of Barry Sollenberger.
Broadcast: Streamed at www.aia365.com and broadcast on radio at The Fan AM 1060 in Phoenix and in Reno on ESPN Radio 630.
MaxPreps coverage: National Director of Photographer Todd Shurtleff and senior writer Mitch Stephens will provide stories, pictures and video Saturday night from Reno.
RENO, Nev. – Richard Taylor appreciated the gesture but thought maybe Barry Sollenberger was off his rocker.
In 1990, Taylor had just taken over at then spanking new Centennial High School in Peoria, Ariz., when Sollenberger, an iconic Arizona high school football supporter and historian, gave him a call.
“He congratulated me and told me what a great area I had landed at,” Taylor said.
By “great,” Sollenberger meant ultra competitive. Centennial sat right between Peoria and Cactus (Glendale) Highs, a pair of juggernauts, both with histories of state football championships. Peoria won the state 4A crown in back-to-back years starting in 1986 and it beat Cactus in the 1987 finals 28-6.
“I thought who is going to want to play football at Centennial with these two, great established programs right here,” Taylor asked rhetorically.
The answer certainly currently is many.
Centennial, in fact, is now the Coyotes’ howl throughout the state and a nationally revered program.
The Coyotes open the season Saturday against McQueen (Reno, Nev.) as the No. 20 team in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national human rankings and No. 32 in MaxPreps’ computer rankings.
The opener is an intriguing match-up of defending, undefeated state champions from neighboring states and the fourth annual game played in the honor of the late Sollenberger.
Earlier this week, USA Today ranked Centennial No. 9 in its preseason poll, the first team in recent memory from Arizona to crack the top 10 before the year.
“I can’t recall of any,” said Arizona Republic staff writer Richard Obert, who has smothered the prep beat in the area for the last two decades.
“Perhaps Hamilton was ranked preseason top 10 once before. But this clearly is a special team.”
And, like Sollenberger advised, Taylor has a plethora of talent to pick from.
Eight of the Arizona Republic’s top 50 seniors from the state play for Centennial, including quarterback Dane McFarland, running back Anthony Hughes and a tremendous offensive line that includes Nick Rowland (6-foot-5, 305 pounds), Dylan Lusk (6-2, 305) and Junior Nieves (6-3, 305).
Throw in linebackers Austin Arias (6-1, 225, UNLV commit) and Austin Garday (6-0, 205) and cornerback/receiver Kyle Coffey (5-9, 175), and no wonder people are saying this is the best Centennial team ever.
That’s a mouthful considering the Coyotes have won three straight state 5A-II titles and are 41-1 in that span and 74-7 in the last six years.
“We’re facing the toughest schedule we’ve ever faced,” Taylor said. “But definitely one of our most major opponents may be ourselves. It’s vital we put team first and are young men of character. I’ve seen a lot of squads that have great athletes but aren’t great teams. So far I feel very good about where we are at.”
It all didn’t come all over night.
“Taylor is a very good coach and a hard worker and he just kept plugging away in those early years,” Obert said. “The kids realized they were in good hands and the word spread.”
Taylor said he’s never forgot his initial conversation with Sollenberger or how much he meant to Arizona football.
“He did so much to promote the sport and athletes,” Taylor said. “Every summer he’d come out with his magazine and all the kids could hardly wait to see if their name was in it. I couldn’t wait either. He was a great man for the state.”
NOTES: This is the first game out of state in school history for Centennial. Taylor said 10 of the 60 players who flew into Reno on Thursday had never been on an airplane. “This is just a super event and a great experience for our kids.” … This is also the earliest the Coyotes have ever played a game: “The kids are tired of practice,” he said. “They can’t wait to get the game on.” … Under new coach Jim Snelling, McQueen returns just three starters but has a lot of talent off its undefeated JV team from last season. … The Lancers’ top players are linebacker/tight end Watson Asi (6-3, 205), lineman Charlie Moore (6-3, 230) and receiver/defensive end Chris Stocker (6-5, 185). … The two schools have no history. “We exchanged film from three games last year,” Taylor said. “If they run the same stuff we’re well prepared. If they run new stuff we’ll have to do a lot of adjusting.”… 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.
