Week 1 Game Recap: Centennial vs Hamilton

<p>The 2024 high school football season has officially kicked off! And with it, we got an excellent early season matchup of two highly ranked teams in the state. We will recap the Centennial vs Hamilton Week 1 game in this article and highlight some of the standout performances from Thursday's contest.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game Summary:</h2>   <p>Hamilton nearly opened the season with a touchdown on the first play, but the 78-yard swing pass was called back due to a penalty. However the Huskies scored on their opening drive with QB [player_tooltip player_id='368944' first='Richard' last='Lucero'] Jr connecting with WR [player_tooltip player_id='369012' first='Sabriam' last='Torres'] for a touchdown, making it 7-0. Centennial responded with a field goal with LB/K [player_tooltip player_id='1353769' first='Aaron' last='Alvarez'] to bring the score to 7-3. Hamilton missed a chance to extend their lead with a dropped catch in the endzone before halftime, settling for a field goal to go up 10-3. The second half along with most of the game was filled by penalties, slowing the offenses but allowing the defenses to shine. The Coyotes had a huge 4th down stop by their defensive line for a turnover on downs. Because of this, Centennial tied the game at 10-10 with a passing touchdown from QB [player_tooltip player_id='739454' first='Kainan' last='Manna'] to RB Levi Johnson at the end of the 3rd. Hamilton regained the lead in the middle of the 4th quarter, capping off their drive with a 1-yard TD rush by QB [player_tooltip player_id='368944' first='Richard' last='Lucero'] Jr. The game end in dramatic fashion with a hail mary attempt from midfield to the Huskies endzone that would be intercept to seal the game. Final Score: Hamilton 17-Centennial 10</p>   <p>As mentioned, it was not a clean contest. Despite this, we still had a hard fought, close game that came down to the very last play. Now, we will share some of the players that stood out from Thursday's game.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Offensive Standouts:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">It's hard to overstate how well 2025 Wide Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='369012' first='Sabriam' last='Torres'] played in his home opener. If it weren't for that 78-yard opening swing route pass down the sideline called back, he might have had over 200 receiving yards. He showcased that he has not just great speed but elite speed when he gets going, flashing great play speed on the field. He bursts down the sideline with phenomenal acceleration and explosion, almost outrunning the entire defense. He also showed that he is not limited to the slot but can also play out wide as he had a 50-yard catch on a go route in the 2nd quarter to put the Huskies in field goal position. It was an excellent game from the senior, and we can all expect that Torres is only getting started.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700">2025 Running Back Levi Johnson was a workhorse for this Centennial offense. His hands were always touching the ball, if not around the ball, trying to will his team to victory. He got that late TD score catch from his quarterback in the sniffer position, showing his versatility in catching the football out of the backfield. He is precise with his cuts, direct in running downhill, and does not go down easily. Facing such a fast and talented defense, he still managed to find a way to pull the offense forward. Johnson certainly is a running back to continue to keep your eyes out for.</p>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Standouts</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">2027 Defensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1399752' first='Derrick' last='LeBlanc'] could not have had a better game on the defensive line for the Huskies. Notching 3 sacks in his first varsity game is incredible. He was quick from the interior of the defensive line, bursting past the Centennial offensive line and playing in the backfield. The QB stood no chance as Leblanc showed excellent agility in the open field and finish on the quarterback to put together a stellar performance. It's hard to think that this Hamilton defense could have so many star players, but they might have just found one more in Leblanc.</p>   <p></p>     <p class="text-gray-700">2025 Defensive Lineman Gavin Gardner was a guy who will likely go unsung in this game's typical box score stats. But when you watch him play against a very good Hamilton defensive line, you see that he was putting pressure on their quarterback all night. He shows a fantastic bend around the edge, good use of hands when dualling with tackles, and restless pursuit the entire game. Gardner was the signature guy on this defensive line for the Coyotes and should be talked about as the season progresses.</p>   <p></p>     <p class="text-gray-700">2026 Defensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1353857' first='Ben' last='Jones'] was just as good and impactful as his other teammate, Leblanc. The two of them led the charge in the pass rush as they were unrelenting in their pursuit. Jones had two sacks this game, along with six tackles and an additional TFL. He shows remarkable athletic ability, chasing down the ball carrier from sideline to sideline like a linebacker. This defensive line will be hard to stop, and Jones will be a big reason for that as the season begins.</p>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Notable Players</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1145600' first='Logan' last='James'], TE Hamilton - A huge part of this offense Thursday's night, James at a 6'1 220lb frame would not be denied his yards as he racked in 4 catches for 45 yards. He was also the Hamilton punter and helped pin the Coyotes deep several times. He will be a nice target over the middle for his offense.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='368906' first='Dajon' last='Hinton'], ATH Hamilton - Great to see Hinton back on the football field, especially making clutch plays. He had the game sealing interception for the Huskies in the endzone to put the game away. Playing offense, defense, and special teams as a returner, he is ready to remind the state about his name.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='739454' first='Kainan' last='Manna'], QB Centennial - When he didn't face pressure, Manna was methodical down the field with his throws. He consistently made the right decision and got the ball out to his playmakers. His throw to the endzone on the hail mary was beautiful, giving his receiver a chance to make a play.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Next Matchups:</h2>   <p>A great start for their first year alum head coach, Travis Dixon as he opens his coaching career with a win. Hamilton will host another home game against Desert Ridge (0-1) next Friday.</p>   <p>A tough loss for Centennial to start the season but they will need to regroup quickly. Centennial will go on the road again and face Highland (1-0) next Friday in another high powered matchup.</p>

The 2024 high school football season has officially kicked off! And with it, we got an excellent early season matchup of two highly ranked teams in the state. We will recap the Centennial vs Hamilton Week 1 game in this article and highlight some of the standout performances from Thursday's contest.