Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

Coaches never like a late-season bye week, and the havoc a week off plays with a team. But whichever team won the second showdown of 2017 between Centennial and Liberty was going to be so spent that a slower week before the 5A finals was  needed.

These Peoria rivals deployed every weapon in their considerable arsenals Friday night at a packed Jantzen Field at Peoria High School, in the rare sequel that lived up to the original. The Coyotes never trailed, but also never got comfortable as the unflappable Lions offense came back to tie four times in the first three quarters and drove near the Coyotes' red zone with a chance to win in the final minute.

Finally, leading 42-37, the Coyotes could exhale when sophomore D'Angelo Garcia tripped up Liberty senior quarterback Ryan Bendle short of the line to gain on a fourth down run with about 30 seconds left. No. 2 seed Centennial (12-1) ran out the clock and punched the ticket to its fourth straight state title game.

"I think our defense did a really good job. Our kids were calling the plays. we knew what they were doing and still couldn't stop it. I'm sure they were doing the same thing," Centennial Coach Richard Taylor said. "I'm very glad we don't have to see (Bendle) again. D'Angelo told me earlier, 'Coach, I can get him.' I put somebody else in there. Then he got in there and did it. (Bundle) may still have been running if D'Angelo didn't make that tackle."

Centennial will face No. 4 Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep (13-0) in the 5A finals at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at University of Arizona Stadium in Tucson. The Saints reached the title game by knocking off No. 1 Vail Cienega 37-34 in Tucson Friday night.

And the Coyotes would not be poised for a third state title in four years if they had not played the Lions — both times. Three weeks ago Liberty (11-2) shocked an undefeated Centennial squad ranked in the top 20 nationally with a last second touchdown and a 21-19 win on the Coyotes' field.

"It made us a lot better. We had to redeem ourselves from the first time we lost to them," senior linebacker/tailback Jordan Ware said.

That game, and this rematch pushed Centennial out of its comfort zone and forced the Coyotes to open up a previously run-heavy playbook — far more than even Centennial's own upset of Florida megapower St. Thomas Aquinas required.

Senior quarterback Ruben Beltran was up to the task, particularly in the first half. He completed five of nine attempts —  on Oct. 27 he attempted six passes in the entire game against Liberty — for 90 yards and two touchdowns to sophomore Dyelan Miller.

"It feels really good. Ever since Monday, we knew where we were supposed to be," Beltran said. "We knew what we had coming into the game, and we just had to execute it."

Centennial's Ruben Beltran (#4) evades a tackle by Liberty's Braxten Croteau (#5) during a 5A semifinal game against Liberty on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 at Peoria High School in Peoria. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps]

Meanwhile, Liberty quickly dismissed any notion of it as a plucky underdog. Time and again, the Lions proved the win at Centennial was not a fluke.

That allowed these schools to meet as equals on the field of the traditional power in town. It was one of those magic Friday nights as an overflow crowd ringed the track, former greats from both programs filled the sidelines and each school's band played in the stands at their respective end zones.

"These two teams are probably built on defenses coming in, but it was the offenses that showed tonight. I wouldn't have guessed that 42-37 would have been a final for Liberty and Centennial," Liberty Coach Mark Smith said. "That's usually not the way this game goes. We still knocked heads. We see stuff all the time in practice from our offense. The biggest thing is, it was second and 7 or more on their first three touchdowns in the first half. We didn't make critical down stops and #2 (Zidane Thomas) is a special player."

Thomas broke into the clear on the second play of the game, dashing 78 yards for the opening score. Led by Bendle, who completed 16 of 27 passes for an even 300 yards, the Lions struck back in just more than three minutes.

Bendle just got a wobbly third-down throw off under intense pressure to senior tight end Alec Moonier for 24 yards. That set up an 8-yard score on senior receiver Dylen Bieber on an end around.

Beltran replied with a 27-yard touchdown connection on a slant route by Miller. Learning from the first game, Centennial offensive coordinator Ian Comes opened up the Coyotes' offense, adding more spread formations, Wildcat run looks and multiple-option runs to the typical Thomas-led power run attack.

"This week he said, 'Coach, I'm telling you, we're going to open it up.' There's just that temptation to keep giving it to Zidane. At any moment he can just go. He can get hit four times, keep his balance, jump over a kid and go," Taylor said. "But when they have o many people brought up there, Ian said we needed to loosen things up. He said, 'Ruben will do a good job.' And Ruben did. I was so happy for Ruben."

But Liberty offensive coordinator Colin Thomas once again kept the Coyotes defense off balance, expertly mixing formations and spreading the ball among the Lions' array of playmakers. He had an assist again, no doubt, from first-year Liberty assistant Kyle Pooler — the Centennial offensive coordinator for the first 20-plus years of Coyote football.

When Centennial loaded up to stop Bendle's ability on scrambles and designed runs, the first-year starter made them pay deep. Greg Tremble streaked past the Coyote secondary and Bendle hit him in stride for a 58-yard touchdown.

"We had 20-some players that scored points this year. Our offense does a great job week in and week out of figuring it out. Coach Thomas and the crew don't feel like there's a bad situation ever. They did everything they could to keep us in the game and we needed to get one more stop," Smith said.

Liberty's Ryan Bendle (#2) throws a pass during a 5A semifinal game against Centennial on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 at Peoria High School in Peoria. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]Zidane Thomas was banged up on the next drive, so senior linebacker Jordan Ware came in and ran the Wildcat, rushing three straight times for 17 yards and two first downs.

"I really liked how they put me back in there. We've been practicing (the Wildcat) here and there, keeping it fresh," Ware said.

Then Thomas returned and Centennial faced third and one at the Liberty 9. Beltran faked the draw and threw a fade to Miller. Th youngster caught and controlled the ball with one hand for a touchdown and 21-14 Centennial lead.

For this Liberty offense 1:47 was plenty of time to score before half. Junior tailback Jett Kinsch burned the Coyotes twice on wheel routes of 30 and 33 yards.

With 32.4 seconds until the break, Kinsch plunged in for a 3-yard touchdown and the teams were tied once again.

The Lions looked like they would carry that momentum to a second half lead after Tremble dashed nearly 60 yards on the opening kickoff. But two plays later, Bendle dropped a snap and junior defensive tackle Tyler Watkins fell on it at his own 42.

"I think (the play of younger defensive players like Watkins and Garcia) says a lot about their position coaches.

Thomas immediately reeled off a 27-yard run. On third and goal from the Lions' 8, Beltran took the shotgun snap and pitched to senior Alex Escobar, who got to the corner for a touchdown and 28-21 advantage.

The lead was short-lived. Bendle's screen pass to Kinsch picked up 21. Then he threw a back shoulder strike to senior Jace Johnson for a 24-yard touchdown and another tie.

But now Centennial was relying on Thomas again, and the Liberty defense had seen enough of the Coyotes' other weapons to decided against putting nine defenders in the box. Thomas started the drive with a 26-yard burst.

Then, on fourth and one from the Lions' 30, there was no disguise. Thomas simply took the handoff, leaped over a diving Lion at the line of scrimmage and took off, hopping over another Liberty player inside the 10 to score with 4:17 left in the third quarter.

"I felt like their defense was really on their heels, worried about our pass and the run. It's a great feeling when out defense and offense is clicking," Thomas said.

The teams traded rare defensive stops. Biggest of all for the psyche of Andrew Taylor's defense was when Bendle was stuffed for a loss of one on fourth down and one at the Coyotes' 27.

Senior linebacker Qadeer Mumin sacked Beltran on third down to force a punt just before the third quarter ended. Kinsch broke loose for a 47-yard run early in the fourth, but the offense stalled and junior Kolter Nelson kicked a 31-yard field goal.

"In the second half we switched up our coverage and I don't think their quarterback was ready for it," Ware said. "They run a lot of motion and try to confuse our defense."

Leading 35-31, Centennial went right back to Thomas for three straight carries. He rumbled for 15 on third down, and finished the night with 279 yards on 24 carries.

Beltran took a deep shot and drew a penalty. Ware made a huge play, rushing for 38 yards on a counter, and Thomas finished the drive on a 1-yard plunge.

Liberty now trailed 42-31 with 7:17 left in the game. But after the Lions' scored 14 in the final three minutes to win at Centennial last month, nobody thought it was over.

This time, Bendle hit Bieber for 24. Then, on third and 12, Bendle ran a designed delayed quarterback draw for a 20-yard touchdown. His two-point pass attempt was knocked down.

"After we kicked a field goal and they came back and scored, it was just a little bit too much. It would have been interesting to see if we got that two-point conversion. We might have been able to kick that field goal to tie," Smith said. "You have to play in all three phases and we struggled on defense."

Five minutes remained and the Coyotes nearly ran them out before two straight penalties near midfield short circuited the drive. The Lions started at their 27 with just more than two minutes remaining.

A 26-yard strike to Moonier flipped the field. But senior defensive tackle Anthony Campbell's third-down sack and Garcia's fourth-down stop thwarted another Liberty comeback bid.

With Liberty moving up to 6A next year, the long-term question is, will the best rivalry in the West Valley over the last five years continue. Several talented juniors should form the foundation of a Lions team that gives the big boys fits next year.

But right now, the Liberty staff is saying goodbye earlier than they wanted to a group that just finished the best of Smith's three seasons as head coach, and, arguably, a team every bit as good as the 2014 5A runners up.

"These kids went out and battled. They're great character kids and high achieving academically. They're fun to be around. They're fun to go to practice with. We're going to miss them," Smith said.

Liberty's Dylen Bieber (#7) runs with the ball after catching a pass during a 5A semifinal game against Centennial on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 at Peoria High School in Peoria. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]Score by quarters

Liberty 7 14 7 9 – 37

Centennial 14 7 14 7 – 42

Scoring summary

C – Zidane Thomas 78 run (Xavier Rojas Kick)

L – Dylen Bieber 8 run (Kolter Nelson kick)

C – Dylan Miller 27 pass from Ruben Beltran (Rojas Kick)

L – Greg Tremble 58 pass from Ryan Bendle (Nelson kick)

C – Miller 9 pass from Ruben Beltran (Rojas Kick)

L – Jett Kinsch 3 run (Nelson kick)

C – Alex Escobar 8 run (Rojas Kick)

L – Jace Johnson 24 pass from Bendle (Nelson Kick)

C – Thomas 30 run (Rojas Kick)

L – Nelson 31 FG

C – Thomas 1 run (Rojas Kick)

L - Bendle 20 run (pass failed)

Top performers

Liberty: As with most competitors, Bendle is probably thinking most about his fumble. But Centennial players and fans are thrilled to never have to deal with him again. He repeatedly burned the Coyotes deep, passing for 300 yards on 16 completions, and kept drives alive with his running ability, gaining 112 yards on 20 carries. The Coyotes covered Liberty's four receivers a bit better this time, but Jett Kinsch burned them coming out of the backfield, with 84 yards on 3 catches. Kinsch was bottled up most of the night on rushing attempts but ran for a touchdown and also had a 47-yard burst.

Centennial: Zidane Thomas had a typical big game performance for him, with 279 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries. Normal for him, otherworldly for almost any other back. The young man simply will not go down on first, and usually second, contact. Ruben Beltran and Dyelan Miller provided a downfield dimension the Coyotes simply did not need the rest of the season, but did need to beat Liberty. They connected three times for 70 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, forcing the Lions to stop stacking nine men in the box like they did Oct. 27.