Centennial has been a football powerhouse for so long now that the roster is populated with kids who grew up watching Coyote greats.

Two of the senior kids teammates are looking up to on this year’s team were in their seats at the start of this decade. Andrew Nichols and Connor Sovacki watched Connor’s older brother, Hayden, play for Centennial from 2009 to 2011.

Plus these then-elementary school students went to the games knowing the Coyotes were just coming off a run of three straight state championships from 2006-2008. Now, Nichols, Sovacki and three classmates have the chance to be part of a second three-peat.

“We watched his brother play and his dad would take me to some of the games. I saw the players and thought, ‘Wow, I could be like that one day,’ You could tell they knew what they were doing. They were disciplined and well-taught,” Nichols said.

Coach Richard Taylor said many of today’s players have a knowledge and appreciation for the Coyotes who came before them — and those that came before current Nebraska sophomore Dedrick Young — who was a former teammate to some.