Ben Stapley
Staff Writer
bstapley@azpreps365.com

Centennial wins 6A state title behind Mannan’s arm, transfer skill players

December 7, 2024 by Ben Stapley, AZPreps365

Centennial’s Owen Reynoso (1) tries to elude Mountain View defender Dom Girard Saturday at Mountain America Stadium. (Ben Stapley/AZPreps365)

Centennial capped the most unlikely of playoff runs Saturday  afternoon with a 6A state championship. 
Junior quarterback Kainan Manna led the Coyotes explosive passing attack as Centennial knocked off No. 4 Mountain View, 31-21 at Mountain American Stadium. 
It's Centennial's eighth state title, all under coach Richard Taylor, and by far the most unorthodox.

The Coyotes began the season 0-4, finished 3-7 and weren't sure the playoffs were a possibility. A 21-7 first round victory over No. 3 seed Red Mountain kick started the improbable postseason run.

"I'm not sure I've felt more proud of a state championship team," Taylor said afterward. "After the 0-4 start, people asked if this was the worst Centennial team in history."

Centennial celebrates after winning the 6A title Saturday. (AZPreps365)

A gauntlet of a schedule and a young team lead to close losses. The Coyotes expected an influx of transfers after week five, but chemistry was still a struggle. 
That all changed four weeks ago at Red Mountain and carried through to Saturday. Centennial (7-7) used big passing plays in the second half to pull away from Mountain View (12-2), which had its best season in 18 years and its best quarterback performance in school history in Brady Goodman.
Manna threw for 335 yards and two scores. His junior counterpart Goodman also tossed a pair of touchdowns along with 247 yards. Neither turned the ball over.
The key were big third down conversions made by Centennial in the second half.

"That's a great team with a great quarterback over there," Manna said of Mountain View. 
"We also knew we're pretty good too so had to find a way in the second half."

How it Happened
Highly touted transfer receivers Nikko Boncore and Shamar Berryhill came up big for Manna and the Coyote aerial attack, combining for 188 yards and nine of Manna's 17 completions.
On the game's fifth play, Manna threw a laser to a streaking Moncore down the right seam, hauling in the pass for a 33-yard score.
Goodman had to operate a bit more methodically in the first quarter, but the Toros tied the  on its second drive when Goodman found Zach Galaviz in the corner of the endzone from five yards.

Centennial then struck again in one play. Brayden Long took a short shovel pass going to his right before streaking 80 yards down the sideline for the 14-7 lead, and a shootout was seemingly in the works.

But the Toros came up with a few defensive stops while its offense kept moving the ball methodically. Centennial made a huge goal line stand in the second quarter, but Mountain View got the ball right back at Centennial's 41-yard line. The Toros drove to the five when Beckham Barney punched it in from five yards, and the teams went to halftime notched at 14.
 

 

Centennial came out swinging in the third quarter, storming 67 yards in five plays, four on the ground. The key play was another Manna to Boncore connection after Manna had escaped pressure. Owen Reynoso then scored from 13 yards on the next play and it was 21-14.


Centennial's defense was then able to elevate its game, frustrating Mountain View's offense until the fourth quarter.

"I knew we were going to have to come up with some stops along the way," Taylor said.
Boncore came up with another highlight reception in the fourth quarter, a one hander that set up a 45-yard field goal and a 24-14 lead.
"Nikko was amazing today from start to finish," Manna said. "It took a while to develop chemistry even after he and others became eligible, but it paid off in the playoffs."
With less than eight minutes in its season, Goodman and Mountain View's offense came back to life. Goodman found Talan Arnett for his 24th touchdown reception from 24 yards and it was a close game again with 6:47 left.
 
However, Manna had one more clutch third down play left in him, finding Carter Reidy for a 56-yard first down. A few plays later sophomore Darrion Bartholomew scored from one yard out, capping the scoring at 31-21.
 
Taylor Nation?
Taylor's eighth title is a state record for big-school coaches. At Media day early in the week, Taylor admitted that retirement is drawing closer, but hadn't made a decision even after Saturday's championship. "I'm getting a little tired, but I don't know. "It's still so much fun."
Taylor referenced his son Andrew, the longtime defensive coordinator, as a hopeful choice to eventually take over someday, a scenario many have speculated. This was Taylor's 34th season leading Centennial, the program he opened in 1990.
 
Quotable
"It's really hard to lose this kind of game, but (Centennial) is a great team," said Barney, a senior and three-year starter for Mountain View.
"I'm really proud of this team and this season though. We brought Toro football back now and for the future."
Centennial's Shamar Berryhill (8) and Mt. View's Beckham Barney congratulate eachother after Saturday's 6A championship (AZPreps365)The Toros' return to relevance elevated itself after a week 10 win over Red Mountain, when the state took notice. Brady Goodman broke the school passing record for touchdown passes (43) and exceeded 3,000 yards passing. Fellow junior Talan Arnett led 6A in touchdown receptions (24) while also breaking the school record. Goodman and Arnett have been playing together since they were six years old. Andy Litten's coaching impact was proven once again.