Corona Centennial Beats Narbonne 41-34 In A Regional Playoff Thriller

 Story by L.T.Willis

Centennial #2 Austin Renker scores from the first touchdown
against Narbonne.Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.





When Narbonne (14-0) and Corona Centennial (14-1) met for the first time in the State Cif Regional Playoffs, no one could ever have imagine what was going to happen in the first half . Corona Centennial scored 20 points in the first half against a team that was suppose to have one of the best defense in the state. The Huskies scored first with 1:17 left in the first quarter on 2 yard touchdown run  by Austin Renker. The Gauchos miss a chance to get on the board after missing a 13 yard field goal.

The Huskies' second score of the night came with 9:22 in the second quarter when Tre Austin scored on a 19 yard touchdown pass from Huskies' quarterback Robert Webber.The third score of the night came with 5:01 still in the second quarter, when Webber connected with Barry Ware on a 13 yard touchdown pass, and now the Huskies led he Gauchos 21-0. Narbonne finally got on the board with a touchdown catch from Jon'tae Roberson from 41 yards out with 3:01 in the second quarter.

The Huskies #88 Barry Ware had 2 touchdowns on the night against
the Gauchos. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.



Centennial responded with a score with 31 seconds left in the first half with another touchdown catch from Barry Ware to push their lead to 27-8 at the half. Coach Douglas at the half put everyone out the locker room except for the starters, and gave them a gut check speech, and challenge them to step up to the challenge that stands before them." If we going to lose, we are going to go out swinging,"we have come to far, and we are not going to just lay down and get our rear end kick like this.

The Gauchos #16 Jon'tae Roberson scores on a 41 yard touchdown
pass from Troy Williams. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports







One of the biggest plays of the game happen in the third quarter when the Huskies fumble at the two yard line of the Gauchos, and the Gauchos recovered the ball. The defense made a stop that they had to have, other wise that might have been the nail in the coffin for Narbonne.. The Gauchos march down the field on a 98 yard drive to have A.J. Richards score, and now trail the Huskies 15-27 with 6:25 left in the third.

The Gauchos defense had the Huskies backed up deep in their own side of the field, and was force to punt, and moments later Troy Williams on the punt return with some fancy moves, got into the end zone from 27 yards out, and now the score was Huskies 27-22 with 1;30 left in the third quarter.

The Gauchos # 3 Troy Williams takes a punt return
27 yards out to score to trail 27-22. Photo by
Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.



The Huskies as they have done all night answer back with a score of their own when Webber found Ryan Pascarella from four yards out and push the Huskies lead to 34-22 with 9:48 left in the game. The Gauchos defense allow Pascarella to pick up a big first down after a fourth and sixteen to catch a 21 yard pass from Webber before he scored his touchdown.

The Huskies #4 Ryan Pascarella touchdown made the score 34-22
late in the fourth quarter.Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.



The Gauchos still had some gas left in the tank, had another impressive drive as it seems that neither of the defenses could stop each other from scoring in the second half, as the Gauchos got another score from Jon'tae Roberson with 5:24 left in the fourth, now trail the Huskies 34-28. The Gauchos defense held the Huskies on a big fourth down, and gave the ball back to Troy Williams and their offense.

The Gauchos #2 Marquis Lomax is pumped up
after a big defensive stop by their defense. Photo
by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.



 The Huskies defense just like the Gauchos defense continue to bend, but not break, allow the Gauchos to have another drive, leading to another score by one of their main weapons, A.J. Richards with 1:09 left in the game, straight arm a Huskies defender scored from eight yards out to tied the game 34-34. On that same play Richard injured his leg, and what a blow that was to the Gauchos, because he was the only place kicker holder on the team.

The Gauchos #11 A.J.Richards scored on his second touchdown
of the night to tie the score 34-34. Photo By Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.



Richards got hurt on the same play and that was bad news for the Gauchos, because he was the only place kicker holder on the team, and coach Douglas called a time out to think things over. After the the time out, Troy tried to score going around the right side, but the Huskies' defense came up big, and kept him from scoring on the two point conversion. The Huskies' fans went crazy, as they knew that they really dodge a bullet.

The Gauchos sideline after the miss two point conversion, you could tell that really took something out of them, instead of having a one point lead to fight for, now your defense was ask to get one more stop for the offense, or take the game into over time. The defense had did their job on a big fourth down, until a dead ball personal foul was called against the Gauchos, kept the Huskies drive alive.

The Huskies #1 Tre Watson scores from 14 yards to seal the victory
for Centennial 41-34 over Narbonne. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The Huskies did something that no teams did all year against the Gauchos defense, scored 41 points and defeated the Gauchos 41-34. The Huskies Tre Watson said," that we were very fortunate to win this game tonight, and i was glad that i had a chance to help my team win this game, and i'm am so excited to have a opportunity to have another game next week."Barry Ware said, This game was one of the best games he ever played in, against a team like Narbonne, Ahh man this is a great feeling for us to battle a team like Narbonne.

The Huskies quarterback Robert Webber had a great night as he was 20 of 39 for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns, and his counter part Troy Williams finish the night 28 of 37 for 367 yards and 3 touchdowns, also carried the ball 11 times for 105 yards and i touchdown. The Huskies (14-1) will play next  Saturday against Del La Salle(14-0) for the Cif State Bowl Open Division. All photos are by Eric Wade/ T.G.Sports and EW Gems Images.