Centennial stuns Mesa 41-39 after twins’ miracle connection
Coyotes unforgettable win propels them to 6A semifinals
Centennial sophomore kicker Esteban Antonsen (50) is carried off the field by his teammates as his field goal lifted the Coyotes to the 6A semifinals after a wild 41-39 win over Mesa. (Courtesy MediaByNash/For West Valley Preps)
Centennial senior running back Owen Reynoso celebrates a rushing touchdown against Mesa on Nov. 21 at Deer Valley High School. The Coyotes pulled off a miraculous 41-39 playoff win to advance in the 6A bracket. (Courtesy MediaByNash/For West Valley Preps)
Mesa wide receiver Kameron Williams (2) moves downfield on his way to a touchdown in the Jackrabbits' 41-39 loss to Centennial on Nov. 21. (Courtesy MediaByNash/For West Valley Preps)
GLENDALE — For all intents and purposes, the Centennial Coyotes’ 2025 football season was done.
The opportunity to advance in the playoffs and defend their 6A championship seemed over just about as quickly as it began.
But never underestimate the power of twin magic.
On 4th and 26 with time running out and the season on the line, Centennial sophomore twin brothers Titus and Torrin Hill connected on one of the most unlikely, incredible plays in the Coyotes’ storied history — as Titus heaved a ball 50 yards down the field that Torrin miraculously managed to tip to himself to set up a game-winning field goal as Centennial beat Mesa 41-39 in an unforgettable 6A quarterfinal playoff game Nov. 21 at Deer Valley High School.
“I’m trying to catch my breath here and not have a heart attack,” first-year Centennial Head Coach Andrew Taylor admitted following the game’s stunning conclusion. “This was exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. I’ve never seen anything quite like that.”
“We run that play in practice all the time and it never works,” Coyotes senior running back Owen Reynoso said. “I’m sure glad it worked this time.”
As the Coyotes’ coaches struggled to keep their team in check on the sidelines, Titus Hill calmly spiked the ball with 4 seconds left at the Mesa 3 yard line. Centennial sophomore kicker Esteban Antonsen then delivered the knockout blow from 20 yards away.
Which leads to a game-winning 20-yard field goal by Centennial sophomore kicker Esteban Antonsen. This was ONE FOR THE AGES, y’all.
“Esteban was money tonight,” Taylor said. “He made every kick. All credit to him for stepping in as a sophomore and performing under pressure.”
The outcome left the Centennial sideline in ecstasy and the visiting Mesa sideline in stunned silence, especially since Centennial’s last-minute miracle wiped out a remarkable comeback by Mesa that saw the Jackrabbits score two touchdowns in a span of 3 minutes to take a 39-38 lead with 43 seconds left in the game.
Mesa’s Rio Arnett tumbled over the goal line to give the Jackrabbits the lead but Taylor said there was a plan in mind.
“We were basically in an impossible situation,” the Centennial head coach said. “We felt like we had to let them score to preserve time for our offense.”
And the Coyotes stayed calm under immense pressure, moving all the way down the field with no timeouts left to set up Antonsen’s heroics.
Centennial made a statement early as Reynoso broke off a 56-yard touchdown run to put the Coyotes up 7-0 in the first minute of the game.
Yotes on the board :47 into the game on a 56-yard TD dash by @OwenPReynoso. PAT Esteban Antonsen.
Mesa immediately answered with a 6-yard TD pass from quarterback Derek Carr to standout tight end Caleb Tafua.
Reynoso checked in with another TD run from 5 yards out to give the Coyotes a 14-7 advantage midway through the first.
“The offensive line was amazing tonight,” Reynoso said after the game. “Some of them had been suspended and they came back tonight and showed out. My touchdowns were their touchdowns.”
The Jackrabbits kept it close with a pair of Evan Romero field goals, the second a 52-yard line drive that bounced off the crossbar and through the uprights.
And @evanromero88 drills a 52-yard field goal that hits the crossbar and bounces over. Wow.
That field goal brought Mesa within 14-13 with 6 minutes to go before halftime.
The momentum continued as the Rabbits got the ball back and after a Centennial personal foul penalty, Arnett scored on a short run to give the Jackrabbits a 20-14 halftime lead.
“We told our kids at the half to just calm down and execute,” Taylor said. “They weren’t doing anything that was surprising us.”
Despite the advice, Mesa continued to score as Tafua seemed nearly impossible to cover.
Centennial chose not to decline a holding penalty that would have forced a fourth-down situation for Mesa. Instead, on third and long, Carr fired over the middle to Tafua, who broke multiple tackles on his way to a 43-yard score.
Coyotes don’t decline a penalty that would’ve made it 4th and long and Mesa makes them pay with a 43-yard TD pass from @DerekCarr_13 to @CTafua7. PAT Romero.
The Coyotes needed a spark and got it with a sustained drive that ended with a 23-yard Antonsen field goal to cut the Mesa lead to 27-17 with 4:56 left in the 3rd.
Feeling the momentum shifting back to the home side, Centennial’s massive O-line started moving people and it culminated with a 1-yard TD run by Damonte Drake to cut the lead to 27-24 after three quarters.
The Centennial defense got in the act as Javier Chacon recovered a Jackrabbit fumble.
Then the Hill brotherly connection showed up again as Titus found Torrin with an 11-yard TD pass to give the Coyotes the lead again.
BIG PLAY ALERT
Coyotes take the lead on an 11-yard TD hookup between brothers @TitusHill_QB and @TorrinHill_TE. 17-0 scoring run.
Reynoso followed with his third rushing TD of the game and Centennial had a 38-27 lead with just five minutes left in the game.
“We felt like we took control in the fourth quarter, especially in the running game,” explained Taylor.
But that’s when Mesa found their own magic.
Carr moved his Jackrabbits down the field in less than 2 minutes, connecting with WR Kameron Williams on a 27-yard touchdown strike. Williams would not be denied, dragging multiple Centennial defenders with him into the end zone. A failed 2-point pass left Mesa down 38-33 at the 3:16 mark.
The Jackrabbits needed the ball back immediately and Romero executed a perfect onside kick that bounced off a Centennial player’s hands and into the waiting arms of Kingston Anetema.
“That onside kick was as good as you can do it,” Taylor said.
Mesa moved methodically inside the Coyotes’ 10 where Arnett was then allowed to score, setting the stage for a chaotic final minute.
After a touchback, the Coyotes called a screen pass and it worked to perfection as Reynoso, who tallied more than 300 all-purpose yards in the game, scampered up to midfield and got out of bounds. Titus Hill later was twisted around by the pass rush and lost the ball backwards. Facing “fourth and forever,” Titus immediately redeemed himself with the “Hill Mary” to his twin brother.
Centennial moves to 8-4 with the victory and will host ALA-Queen Creek (6-6) on Friday, Nov. 28 in one 6A semifinal. Casteel hosts Salpointe Catholic in the other semifinal. Mesa’s season concluded at 7-5.
Andrew’s father Richard Taylor, an 8-time state champion as the Coyotes’ head coach, has seen everything in his 35-year tenure at the school. Now serving as an assistant under his son, even he was shocked by the last few minutes of the quarterfinal game.
“Wow,” said the elder Taylor.
The younger Taylor has been with the Centennial program for around 25 years, up until this year as defensive coordinator. Thanks to a miraculous comeback, he still has a shot to earn a 6A state title in his first season as the leader of the Pack.
“This was certainly a rollercoaster contest with tons of huge momentum swings,” Taylor said. “But our guys showed grit, determination and heart. It was a game we won’t soon forget.”
AUDIO BELOW FROM AZPREPS365 FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WRAP-UP SHOW:
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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