The Sports Corner

Centennial Centaurs dominant in semifinal win

In 1966 the Centennial Centaurs won the provincial championship in football. They haven’t had a sniff at a title since, blown out in their only other championship game appearance in 1990.

As a result of beating New Wetminster 37-20 on Saturday night, 43 years after their last championship, the Centaurs will have a chance to add to the trophy case.

“We have a chance to do something really special that hasn’t been done for a long, long time,” said Centennial’s head coach Kevin Phillips.

“I looked up at the scoreboard at 30-6 and I couldn’t believe it,” said Phillips. “It’s unbelievable, our guys played great.”

The Centaurs jumped out to an early lead in this game on a short touchdown pass by Lemar Durant to Nathaniel Derappard.

At the end of the first half, down 16-6, the Hyacks gained some momentum with a long drive right down to the Centaurs’ goal line. But with six seconds left, New Westminster’s coaches passed up on a short field goal attempt, opting to try for a touchdown but Vivie Bojilov came up short on the play and time expired.

In an uneventful third quarter, the Centaurs scored another touchdown, this time on a jump ball thrown by Durant, hauled in by tight end Spencer Lang.

“When teams focus on me that’s a bad thing for them,” said Durant. “We have so many weapons. I’m not the number one guy, it’s a team effort and I can’t do anything without the rest of my guys. All the love goes to my line and my other teammates.”

The Hyacks fumbling problems came back to bite them against Centenial, losing two fumbles in Centennial territory during the second half. With nine minutes left in the game the Hyacks decided to go for it on fourth and 17 on their own 29-yard line, but the pass fell incomplete.

Centennial’s running back Nehemie Kankolongo took advantage of the great field position, running for the first of his two touchdowns in the final frame and putting the game on ice.

“I think people really found out today that it’s not just one guy out here, it’s not just two guys out here, it’s an entire football program out here,” said Phillips, whose coaching staff also put together the game plan for Centennial’s junior varsity football team, who will being playing for a championship next weekend as well.