A new Leader of the Pack: Andrew Taylor takes reins of defending 6A champions
Centennial safety Elijah Carothers drills Mesa Mountain View senior tight end Porter Wilhelm during the 6A Conference title game Dec. 7, 2024 at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe. Carothers returns for his junior season in 2025. (JDigos Photography/For West Valley Preps)
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Andrew Taylor
It was so incredible to see my dad be able to go out on top and on his own terms. Now it’s my job to continue the legacy.”
Andrew Taylor, Centennial Head Football Coach
CENTENNIAL COYOTES
HEAD COACH: Andrew Taylor (first year)
2024 RECORD: 7-7 (6A State Champions)
REGION: 6A Desert Valley
OFFENSE: Multiple
DEFENSE: 4-2-5
KEY RETURNEES: WR/TE Torrin Hill, Soph.; QB Ethan Beltran, Sr.; RB Owen Reynoso, Sr.; OL Bryce Pollard, Sr.; OL Jesus “Chui” Diaz, Sr.; DL Jace Langley, Sr.; RB Derrion Bartholomew, Jr.; DB Elijah Carothers, Jr.
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: QB Titus Hill, Soph.; DB Josiah Carothers, Soph.; WR Sebastian Moreno, Sr.
PEORIA — For the first time in nearly four decades of Centennial High School football, the Coyotes have a new voice as head coach.
Former defensive coordinator Andrew Taylor is now at the helm, taking over for his legendary father Richard, who has stepped back after 35 years and 8 state championships as the leader of the Pack.
“In one sense, I feel like I was destined to be here at this moment,” Taylor said as his team prepares for the upcoming season. “It was so incredible to see my dad be able to go out on top and on his own terms. Now it’s my job to continue the legacy.”
The head coach is different but the last name is the same. And it’s not like it’s been a massive offseason adjustment — Andrew was at his father’s side leading the defense for all eight of Centennial’s football titles beginning in 2006 up to last season’s improbable run to the 6A crown after the Coyotes won only 3 regular season games.
“We were young in a lot of spots and started 0-4 and that was tough,” Taylor explained. “But once we got going and the new guys got acclimated, it was something special. To be able to win 6A after all we overcame — we will never forget it.”
Two current Coyotes who were part of that 2024 title run said the head coaching transition from father to son has been all but seamless.
“It’s gone smoothly,” senior offensive lineman Bryce Pollard said. “Not much has changed and it is fun adapting to a younger coaching style but we are still the blue-collar Coyotes people are used to.”
Senior running back Owen Reynoso agreed.
“It’s been a great transition — he has a great football mind,” Reynoso explained. “The best part is he is open to change. He takes feedback from us and he listens.”
Taylor admitted the biggest change so far is concentrating on the entire team instead of being totally locked in on the defense. He also attends “more meetings than ever before” and has learned to delegate responsibility to his assistant coaches.
Taylor begins his 26th overall season coaching at Centennial with plenty to work with.
The defending 6A champions have talent back on both sides of the football, but they will need to replace quarterback Kane Manna, who moved out of state and left the program.
Two athletes — senior Ethan Beltran and sophomore Titus Hill — are battling for the starting quarterback position in pre-season practice, coaches said. The Coyotes will run multiple offensive sets.
After a standout freshman campaign, sophomore WR/TE Torrin Hill is looking for more as a sophomore.
“Torrin is so talented with his height and reach,” Taylor said. “We are expecting big things from him.”
Other receivers expected to contribute include junior Romeo Berryhill along with seniors Carter Reidy, Sebastian Moreno and Connor Sports-Trott.
The Coyotes have their own version of thunder and lightning in the backfield with senior Reynoso and junior Derrion Bartholomew.
“Owen has been mature from the very beginning. Great cuts and great vision,” Taylor explained. “These two guys have different styles that really complement each other well.”
Reynoso said the Coyotes are “ready to outwork others. We are looking to be one of the top offenses in the state.”
In the offensive trenches, Centennial has Pollard as the anchor at center with junior Ben Lowther and senior Ty Gates at tackle. Guards are senior Jesus “Chui” Diaz and sophomore Karmello Calloway. Senior Ethan Carbajal and junior Nate Worley provide depth.
Taylor said it could be one of the school’s best O-lines ever, and “that is saying a lot.”
“Offensive line will be a strength,” Pollard added. “We’ve been working hard in the off-season, through Cali camp. We’ve got chemistry and I know that it’s going to show up on the field.”
On defense, Centennial will work out of a base 4-2-5.
Three athletes — seniors Jace Langley and Julian “Juju” Brown and junior Robert Bailey — will man the interior of the D-line with juniors Luke Franklin and Damonte Drake on the ends. Junior Will Bullard will also contribute.
“We expect to get sacks, make big plays and create turnovers,” Langley said. “We’re going to be aggressive in what we do.”
It is important to note that Richard Taylor is still lending his expertise and assisting with the defensive line.
“When he asked if he could help, of course I said yes,” the younger Taylor noted. “He really didn’t even need to ask.”
Linebackers include sophomore Aidan Torres and senior Gabriel Garcia.
Safeties slated to start are juniors Elijah Carothers and Devin Taylor. Cornerbacks include senior Clarence Kabbah and sophomore Josiah Carothers with junior Nate Olmos playing the nickel spot.
Kabbah has waited in the wings for his chance to shine.
“I’ve just put my head down and worked, learning under my coaches and the former DBs,” Kabbah said. “It was hard waiting but now it is my time. I just want to help this defense any way I can — I’m holding myself to a high standard this season.”
Taylor confirmed he will not call the defensive signals full time anymore as he had for more than two decades. More responsibility is falling on assistants John Drago and Dyshod Carter.
“But the defense will still have my stamp on it,” Taylor added.
Special teams duties will fall to junior kicker Jeremiah “Chango” Harvey and junior punter Kaden Jones.
The Coyotes are part of the 6A Desert Valley Region with Mountain Ridge, Boulder Creek, O’Connor and crosstown rival Liberty, winners of the last two Open Division state football titles.
“I love the region — it’s got a great mix of challenging teams,” Taylor said.
Centennial also has the odd scheduling quirk of 42 days between home games this fall. After facing Desert Ridge on Sept. 12, the Coyotes hit the road for four straight games and have their bye week before returning home to play Mountain Ridge on Oct. 24.
“I’m not sure exactly how that happened but we will deal with it,” the head coach said.
As he sat back in his classroom thinking about what is coming up, Taylor could not mask his excitement.
“Every day is a new challenge,” he said. “And I can’t wait for the season to start.”
Centennial running back Owen Reynoso (1) runs for yardage in the 2024 6A title game against Mesa Mountain View. Reynoso returns for his senior season in 2025. (JDigos Photography/For West Valley Preps)
Matt Loeschman has had two separate stints at Independent Newsmedia. He began as a reporter covering Peoria and later Surprise from 2000-2009. In 2017, he returned to Arizona and INI as the news editor of the Daily News-Sun (now the Phoenix Independent). He previously covered the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League for more than a decade.
Community: During high school football season since 2017, he contributes live postgame radio reports to the AzPreps 365 Friday Night Football Wrapup Show. He supports organizations such as Phoenix Children’s, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley and the American Cancer Society.
Education: The University of Texas at Austin majoring in Journalism-News and Public Affairs.
Random Fact: He can sing and he has been fortunate to meet many famous people during his journalism career including First Lady Hillary Clinton, King of Country Music George Strait and Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey. Attended all 4 home games of the 2001 World Series.
Hobbies: Watching and playing a wide variety of sports, including golf, tennis, pickleball and softball. Playing PlayStation 5, working out, shopping and reading.
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