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Tucson, Arizona | Published: 12.05.2008
Peoria Centennial takes domination to a new stratosphere.
The two-time defending state champions are the 24th-ranked team in the country according to Rivals.com. Centennial has won 23 consecutive games and flaunts a rushing game that bruised for 3,095 yards (258 each Friday night) this season.
Fourth-seeded Ironwood Ridge attempts to tackle the Coyotes tonight at Chandler High School in the 5A-II state semifinals.
Centennial's quick hits:
● The Coyotes are the only team in the state to topple, Chandler Hamilton (ranked No. 26 in the nation). That was a 35-16 Centennial victory on Sept. 12.
● The Coyotes have outscored their opponents 510-67 this year. The average score of a Centennial game this season: 43-6.
● Over the last three years, Centennial faced two Southern Arizona teams — Rincon/University and Sunnyside — twice each. The Coyotes won those four games by a combined 197-6.
● No one finished within single digits of Centennial all year.
With those stats staring him in the face, Ironwood Ridge coach Gary Minor said Centennial will likely be the premier squad his program has ever faced.
"They've built a legend in this state over the last five years with all the championship runs. And they are impressive, especially with the speed and athletes they have everywhere on the field," Minor said. "We are big, big underdogs. And I think that's what we have going for us. There is no pressure on us at all. Centennial is always expected to win. We're just trying to surprise everyone."
No. 4 Ironwood Ridge (10-2) vs. No. 1 Peoria Centennial (12-0)
Where: Chandler High School, 350 N. Arizona Ave, Chandler
Last time: First meeting
Player to watch: Jake Fischer, FB/LB, Ironwood Ridge
Football players don't come more fierce than Fischer, the Nighthawks' 5-foot-11-inch, 225-pound leading tackler (9.9 per game) and a future UA defender.
Besides being an all-state-caliber linebacker, Fischer is also a vital member of the offense, pounding his way to 704 yards on 97 carries behind a physical offensive line.
Player to stop: John Hughes, RB/SS, Peoria Centennial
The diminutive Hughes (5-6, 170 pounds) is extremely explosive, dashing to 1,373 yards and 27 rushing touchdowns on just 151 carries. That's more than 9 yards per run.
When John needs a breather, younger brother Anthony Hughes is the Coyotes' second option on the ground, totaling 835 yards rushing and eight trips to the end zone.
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