5A-II CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 1 Chaparral vs. No. 3 Centennial
When: 8 p.m. Monday
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium
TV/Radio/Internet: Fox Sports Arizona/KDUS (1060 AM)/aia365.com
Records: Chaparral 13-0; Centennial 12-1
Last meeting: Centennial 30, Chaparral 0 (2004 Playoffs)
Tickets: $10 for adults, $6 for students and younger (with I.D.), Free for kids ages 5 and under
FIREBIRDS AT A GLANCE
Chaparral offense
WR — Davonte Neal
LT — Andre Yruretagoyena
LG — Nick Plimpton
C — Wade Wright
RG — Carter Wood
RT — Wes Schweitzer
WR — Alex Holmes
QB — Connor Brewer
RB — Lucas Petrullo
RB — Zach Skeen
WR — Jordie Hein
Chaparral defense
DE — Sean Kamela
DT — Pete Greene
DE — Justin Jackson
LB — Kyle Combs
LB — Hunter Gregg
LB — Cody Ippolito
LB — Nick DeRegis
CB — Davonte Neal
SS — Colby Targun
FS — Colton Bishop
CB — Kevin Day
Chaparral special teams
K — Sean Buizer
P — Alex Holmes
KR — Davonte Neal/Kyle Brown
PR — Davonte Neal
Chaparral season stats
Name Comp Att Yds TD INT
Connor Brewer 139 203 2,558 36 5
Name Att Yds Avg TD
Lucas Petrullo 137 1,079 7.9 19
Zach Skeen 79 536 6.8 5
Davonte Neal 50 522 10.4 11
Name Rec Yds Avg TD
Davonte Neal 34 869 25.6 11
Alex Holmes 35 679 19.4 10
Jordie Hein 30 521 17.4 10
COYOTES AT A GLANCE
Centennial offense
WR — Gary Ross
LT — Wilson January
LG — Tyler Brown
C — Jake Abbot
RG — Paul Ray
RT — Hunter Finn
QB — Justin Sanchez
RB — Vegas Johnson
RB — Zach Hoffpauir
WR — Julien Singleton
WR — Bryce Pierson
Centennial defense
DE — Jake Abbot
DT — John Finocchi
DT — Denzel Daniel-Jones
DE — Walter Nunley
LB — Jebron Harrington
LB — Wes Westbrook
LB — Tevin Ray
CB — Gary Ross
SS — Jesse Callahan
FS — Zach Hoffpauir
CB — Julien Singleton
Centennial special teams
K — Alex Kammeyer
P — Hayden Savacki
KR — Jalen Ortiz
PR — Gary Ross
Centennial season stats
Name Comp Att Yds TD INT
Justin Sanchez 78 114 1,221 12 5
Troy Hawthorne 36 69 648 9 2
Name Att Yds Avg TD
Vegas Johnson 150 1,134 7.6 17
Jalen Ortiz 73 824 11.3 11
Justin Sanchez 42 227 5.4 1
Name Rec Yds Avg TD
Gary Ross 31 670 21.6 8
Zach Hoffpauir 25 372 14.9 5
Julien Singleton 21 359 17.1 3
Three things to watch
• Davonte Neal: Jalen Ortiz, Gary Ross and Vegas Johnson are electric in their own right for Centennial, but Chaparral’s junior wide receiver/cornerback/kick returner is the most exciting player in the state. Neal has the capacity to score a touchdown every time he touches the ball. If Centennial can keep Neal corraled, its chance to win this game improves immensely.
• Centennial’s balance: Chaparral’s defense is so good that a one-dimensional attack has little chance of working against it. However, the Coyotes can effectively run and throw the ball. This should cause the Firebirds to play honest defensively, and Centennial must take advantage. Vegas Johnson and Jalen Ortiz need to get the running game going early, which will open up the passing game.
• Chaparral’s running game: Chaparral doesn’t have a standout running back, but the offensive line has shown the ability to create big enough holes for anyone with the ball. Centennial isn’t as talented on the defensive line as in the past, but has still shut down some decent running backs. Chaparral will have its success through the air, but Centennial can’t let the Firebirds get consistent yardage on the ground.
