2024 Look Ahead: Centennial looks to take next step

Centennial has been one of the most consistently successful programs in New Mexico since the school's founding in 2012. The Hawks have won nine or more games six times, and reached the 6A playoff semifinals twice (2022 and 2018).   As preparations for the 2024 season begin, Centennial looks to take the next step to the Class 6A state championship game and become the first Las Cruces high school since 2017 to reach the final game. The last time a Las Cruces school lifted the blue trophy in the state's highest classification? 2013.   “We feel we have a good group of kids,” Centennial head coach Aaron Ocampo said. “Right now we're just  trying to get better every day and then play well during the season.”   Centennial certainly possesses the talent to compete for the state title in 2024, beginning with dynamic dual threat quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='613746' first='Zaiden' last='Davis'], who emerged in the second half of last season after starter [player_tooltip player_id='1155301' first='Daniel' last='Hernandez'] (ENMU signee) suffered an injury.   “Zaiden performed like we expected him to when Danny went down,” Ocampo said. “We knew he would do well. He competed for the spot when he was a sophomore and Daniel was a junior. Zaiden helped us in other positions. Zaiden is obviously the guy this year.   “He'll take all the reps in spring and summer. He should be improved over last year when he played very well. We're going to put one of our best athletes at quarterback and use him as a runner and passer.”   Rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1604943' first='Ruiz' last='Laborin'] will compete for the backup QB role but with a 6-foot-2 frame the Hawks coaches will find a place to get him on the field.              Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='837060' first='Rudy' last='Rios'] began the 2023 season as Centennial's No. 1 running back but an injury forced him to miss about a month, and opened the door for the graduating [player_tooltip player_id='1037108' first='Jesus' last='Barraza'], who signed with Sul Ross State University. Rios is again healthy, and hopes for a big senior season.   “Rudy is a good athlete and very smart,” Ocampo said.   Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1266467' first='Anthony' last='Villa'] got some varsity experience last season and he is expected to compete with Rios for the starting job.   “Anthony is a quick, tough kid,” Ocampo said. “He played a decent amount last season, including pretty much the entire second half against Las Cruces in the playoffs.”       Camp warrior [player_tooltip player_id='280925' first='Jordan' last='Lucas'] cemented his status as one of the top 2025 wide receivers in the state after catching over 40 passes in 2023. Ocampo envisions utilizing Lucas in the run game, as well.   “Jordan is one of our most dynamic athletes when he has the ball in his hands,” Ocampo said. “He loves the game and works very hard. He's been starting for us since he was a sophomore. We expect him to be a strong leader for us and a guy who makes plays.”   Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1137882' first='Ralph' last='Silva'] was Centennial's No. 3 WR last season and he should ascend to No. 2 behind Lucas. The competition should be keen for the No. 3 and No. 4 WR roles.   Rising junior left tackle [player_tooltip player_id='853023' first='Luke' last='Matherly'], who has shifted between defensive line and offensive line throughout his career, will likely return to D-Line, Ocampo said, opening up a key spot on Centennial's offensive line.   All six blockers who started at one point or another on the O-Line last season are back in 2024, including center [player_tooltip player_id='769759' first='Sultan' last='Arenas'], RG Matthew Garcia, LG [player_tooltip player_id='1748621' first='Devin' last='Salas'] (likely moving to tackle), RT [player_tooltip player_id='1672532' first='Lorenzo' last='Mendietta'] and OT [player_tooltip player_id='1593656' first='Cruz' last='Segura']. Three hundred pounder Mikey Arrowood is a promising rising junior who spent most of last season on JV.       Defensively, Centennial must replace FBS caliber linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='274702' first='John' last='Sierra'] (New Mexico signee) and promising 6-foot-4 defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='853028' first='Ifo' last='Pili Jr.'], who has moved to Utah with his family. His father, formerly the Las Cruces city manager, accepted a job as city manager of West Valley City, UT, a suburb of Salt Lake City.   Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='613749' first='Abel' last='Gonzalez'], a First-Team All-State honoree in 2023, will anchor the defensive line along with Matherly. Gonzalez has been a Hawks starter since he was a freshman in 2021, and enters the 2024 campaign as one of Centennial's most experienced players.   With Sierra graduating and Davis moving to quarterback,  Centennial will break in a new group of linebackers. Who will compete for the jobs? Ocampo said the competition is wide open with rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1266519' first='Joseph' last='Bitar'], younger brother of graduating senior [player_tooltip player_id='1103198' first='Juan-Andres' last='Bitar'], expected to be in the think of the fight. [player_tooltip player_id='1266519' first='Joseph' last='Bitar'] enjoyed a great season with the Centennial JV in 2023.   Rising senior cornerbacks [player_tooltip player_id='1259081' first='Omar' last='Sanchez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='837021' first='Omar' last='Terrones'] (honorable mention All-State in 2023) will anchor the secondary along with returning free safety [player_tooltip player_id='1118044' first='Mychael' last='Ortiz']. Who replaces [player_tooltip player_id='340299' first='David' last='Beasley'] at strong safety is a question yet to be answered.   “We feel pretty good with those three guys back in the secondary,” Ocampo said.   2024 CENTENNIAL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE   Aug. 23 at Cleveland   Aug. 30 at Atrisco Heritage   Sept. 7 ARTESIA (Sat., 1 p.m.)   Sept. 13 RIO RANCHO   Sept. 19 CARLSBAD (Thur.)*   Sept. 27 Bye   Oct. 4 at Alamogordo*   Oct. 11 HOBBS*   Oct. 18 at Organ Mountain*   Oct. 25 at Clovis*   Nov. 1 LAS CRUCES*   * District 6A-3 Game     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DavisZaiden/status/1724269506401333458?s=20 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/luke_matherly/status/1767030264276893975?s=20 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/omarsfb9/status/1766689805214040356?s=20 </div></figure>     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jordan_Lucas_07/status/1760474562079113654?s=20 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Angrybirdfb/status/1734632368961368232?s=20 </div></figure>

Centennial has been one of the most consistently successful programs in New Mexico since the school's founding in 2012. The Hawks have won nine or more games six times, and reached the 6A playoff semifinals twice (2022 and 2018).