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CORONA CENTENNIAL 41, VISTA MURRIETA 14: Huskies need a half, then run away from Broncos

Martinez throws three third-quarter TDs as Centennial blows game open

By TOM SHERIDAN - Staff Writer | Saturday, November 29, 2008 12:13 AM PST ∞

MURRIETA ---- Bradley Randle ran like a beast for Vista Murrieta. Yet he was no match for the monster that Corona Centennial has become.

Taylor Martinez threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as top-seeded Corona Centennial overcame a slow start and early fumbles in a 41-14 victory Friday night in a CIF Southern Section Inland Division quarterfinal at Vista Murrieta High School.

Click here for boxscore

It was the closest call that Corona Centennial (12-0) has had in a playoff game since it last lost one, a 42-28 defeat to Chaparral in the 2006 CIF SS quarterfinals. On Friday, the Huskies turned it over four times on fumbles, three in the first half, and only led 14-7 at halftime.

"We had six turnovers versus Chaparral (in 2006)," Centennial coach Matt Logan said. "Having four turnovers makes it difficult to win any game, especially a quarterfinal game against a good team."

Centennial, which is ranked in the top 10 in national polls and is second in the CIF state poll behind Long Beach Poly, will play host to another Southwestern League team, Murrieta Valley, in a semifinal scheduled for Friday.

Randle, who committed to UNLV earlier in the week, pounded the Centennial defense for 148 yards on 31 carries and allowed Vista Murrieta (9-3) to stick with its plan to run a lot of clock with a patient offense against the go-go Huskies, who favor a high-tempo, no-huddle, spread attack.

"The first half went exactly how we wanted it to go," Vista Murrieta coach Coley Candaele said. "We were able to slow the game down. We were looking for turnovers and we got two. We capitalized on one but we could not capitalize on the other."

This was Vista Murrieta's fourth consecutive loss in the quarterfinals, although it had second-half leads in the other three games. Not this year.

Martinez saw to that as he ran for 90 yards and touchdowns of 3 and 32 yards, while completing 15 of 20 for 211 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

A transfer from San Bernardino Cajon, Martinez has come a long way since making his debut for the Huskies in a 26-16 win over Chaparral in September.

"We've improved a little bit since then," Logan said. "In particular, he's more comfortable in the offense."

Demeitri Beasley also returned an fumble 54 yards for Centennial's first score. The Broncos defense kept the Centennial offense off the scoreboard until Martinez scored on a 3-yard sneak to break a 7-7 tie with 4:49 to play in the second quarter.

Centennial had trouble getting its offense untracked early on, turning the ball over on its first two possessions and giving Vista Murrieta the ball at midfield after a short punt on its third possession.

The Broncos were only able to take advantage of the first of those field-position opportunities. Following Ryan Hofmeister's recovery of Martinez's bobbled long snap in the first minute of the game, Brown led the Broncos on a six-play, 63-yard march which ended with a 21-yard pass to Bryce Hintz and a 7-0 lead.

Randle rushed for 62 yards on 14 carries in the first half, and Vista Murrieta ran five more plays than Centennial, 32-27.

"That kid is one heckuva football player and I told him that after the game," Logan said. "UNLV got themselves a steal. I don't know if I've seen a back better than him."

In the third quarter, Martinez came alive with touchdown passes of 9 and 24 yards to Nick Beasley, and 9 yards to Geshun Harris in a 7-minute stretch that blew the game open.

"We're a second-half team," said Centennial receiver Ricky Marvray, who caught four passes for 43 yards. "We always expect to get id done in the first half. But if we don't we know we'll get it done in the second."

Contact staff writer Tom Sheridan at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2649, or tsheridan@californian.com.

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Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

BBC wrote on Nov 29, 2008 8:35 AM:Broncos, you guys are warriors!Great year! You played the best and have nothing to be down about.Next year you will be bigger , faster and stronger. Go get'em! I'M IN!

MV Fan wrote on Nov 29, 2008 9:22 AM:Vista, you guys are done! Your glory days are over. You can count on 4th place next year. There's a new team in town. GO MV!!!

TO Vista Murrieta Mom wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:10 AM:You were RIGHT "CIF will separate these teams in the end"

Lets give this Mom some credit!!
G O N I G H T H A W K S

CC Fan wrote on Nov 29, 2008 11:25 AM:Okay Nighthawks. You will see the difference between Men and Boys this
Friday Night when you come to our house.
And please let your QB run around and up the middle and you will find out what I am talking about. Strap it on and welcome to Big 8 Football.

VM FAN wrote on Nov 29, 2008 11:45 AM:No shame Broncos you played hard. Yes we have been KO'ed the 2nd round the last 3 years (06 Norco who won the Final) (07 Corona Satiago who made it to the final and lost to C. Cent.) (08 to C. Cent and the only team that can hang with them is the Pumas). Good luck Pumas in the Title Game.

GO Fan wrote on Nov 29, 2008 11:51 AM:It's kind of funny how the MV fans have to come over to this story and pour salt into a wound when your team won last night. Very Strange.

Murrieta wrote on Nov 29, 2008 12:24 PM:TO GO Fan: It's not funny.....they are just so happy to finally have a winning team they don't know how to act. MV: good luck with Cent you are going to need it.

Puma Town wrote on Nov 29, 2008 2:52 PM:it's almost as funny as a GO fan-errrrr-coach, being on, around, or involved in any story...

Good work Vista, you amost made it happen. Randle is a freak. Top prospect with a chance to play on Sundays.

Hoping Murrieta Valley beats CC. If not, loving an opportunity for a Puma vs Centennial rematch if Chap can get it done in a REVENGE game.

Youll See wrote on Nov 29, 2008 4:22 PM:Remember you read it here first:

MV -- 7
Centennial -- 55

And the following week versus Norco or Chaparral, and I know CC hopes it is Chaparral for obvious reason....it will be just as bad....CC is the beast in the Inland Division....Chaparral merely caught them napping in Week 1.

murrieta lifer wrote on Nov 29, 2008 5:11 PM:I've lived here for 20 plus years and root for both teams. I am happy that MV is back to were it was. It was only four seasons ago that they won a league title. They had over ten years in the playoffs and yes they seemed to always get knocked out by Cent. or the epic game against the topped ranked Riverside North Team in the semis; so they have been there before and know what they are up against. They've had a Division Defensive Player of the year and all CIF players and sent kids all over the states to play. They were and are a good program. Vista is a good program as well, they are well coached and have talented kids on and off the field. We should feel fortunate to have two good programs that our kids can play for in town.

South Western League wrote on Nov 30, 2008 7:43 AM:Congratulations to Vista Murrieta, Murrieta Valley and Chaparral. YOU have made our league strong! Go get em NIGHTHAWKS!! Good luck Pumas.

Be Proud wrote on Nov 30, 2008 10:03 AM:Both Murrieta Teams should be very proud of thier accomplishments. I think the reason that MV fans are using this article to comment is because there was no article to read about the MV game. Way to go Californian.

Jim wrote on Dec 1, 2008 12:41 PM:Actually VM has been knocked off 4 consecutive years in the quarters (Santiago 05, Norco 06, Santiago 07, CC 08) What can be done to fix this?

TO JIM wrote on Dec 1, 2008 4:53 PM:Santiago 05 Santiago went on to the semi finals/ 06 Norco went on to win the Championship(Beat down Chap)/ 07 Santiago who went to the championship and lost to to CC and CC who will take it all. Have any of the other SWL teams won the title??? Humm! that's what I throught. And what can be done to fix this??? Nothing cause the Big 8 will always be better than the SWL. The truth hurts.

To Jim wrote on Dec 3, 2008 10:31 AM:Vista lost in 05' and 07' to Santiago which Chap beat earlier in the year. The Norco and CC quarters they were just overmatched. In my opinion they should be 2 and 2 vs. the MVL/Big 8. They just got out coached on two of the losses. Just a supporter's opinion.

Registered Comments[-]Go to Top