Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
It did not take long for Centennial football fans to realize Jaydin Young was his own young man.
The younger, smaller brother of Coyote legend Dedrick Young, Jaydin never had to worry about direct comparisons to big brother. Dedrick — who graduated in 2015 played tailback and linebacker as a bruising 225-pounder with sprinter speed.
“I started playing tackle football when I was 8 or 9 and I never wanted to go to practice. I was scared to hit. My brother was the complete opposite,” Jaydin Young said. “Dedrick would always go out there and hit somebody. I was just this little fast guy running around, and I decided I needed to go hit people like him.”
So when Jaydin arrived on campus a year-and-a-half after his brother graduated a shade under six feet and around 170 pounds, it was a bit of a surprise.
“I heard there was another Young coming in and I expected to see this kid coming in at 205 or so as a freshman. I had heard advanced press clippings about him. People told me, ‘You wait until he gets there. He’ll be able to play as a sophomore.’ And he was. He’s stronger than he looks. And he played really well as a sophomore. I’ve only seen him miss one tackle in three years,” Centennial coach Richard Taylor said.
As freshman, Jaydin and his friends Jonathan Morris, Eric Haney, Dyelan Miller, Derek Jodarski and D’Angelo Garcia waited their turn for varsity glory.
In 2017 this class started making highlights, and Jaydin was the first to break out as a safety. He started from the first game but arrived on the scene in the sixth week.
That’s when the Coyotes hosted Florida superpower St. Thomas Aquinas. Young made and interception and eight tackles, including a pair that saved touchdowns. Centennial pulled the 12-0 upset.
“Before that game I was super nervous. It’s the No. 3 team in the nation. If I make a mistake the game could be on me,” Young said. “I got the first kickoff and the kid blew me up, I was like, ‘Oh man, this is going to be a long day.’ Then we go on defense and get a few stops. I started getting more comfortable and just being myself. After that game I figured we shouldn’t be scared of anyone.”
Centennial ascended to the national rankings, until a team from its hometown proved its greatest challenger. Liberty upset the Coyotes 21-19 to end the 2017 regular season, then pushed Centennial to the limit in a memorable 42-37 Coyotes 5A semifinal win.
Looking back, Young said he misses those rivalry games.
“I know some of those kids and I live next to Liberty so when it’s like that everyone plays harder and it’s a better game,” Young said. “I miss it so much. I’d love to play it now.”
The last two years have not required many of those gut check type of games. Centennial is 23-2 in that span, undefeated against Arizona opponents and only two of their wins have been close.
While Young is often the team’s “money” tailback, the last two teams have so many rushing options that he saw limited carries. Taylor said, Young has never exhibited diva behavior about his number of touches.
“He always seems to fall forward and gains extra yards. He is a real competitor. He likes real competi-
By 
