MaxPreps 2014 California Bowl Game Preview: Open Division, De La Salle vs. Centennial
Photos by Dennis Lee/Heston Quan, Graphic by Ryan EscobarOpen Division
Centennial (Corona) vs. De La Salle (Concord)
Saturday, 8 p.m., StubHub Center (Carson)
Records: Centennial 12-2; De La Salle 13-0
Points for/against: Centennial 648-433; De La Salle 679-140
Computer rankings (national-state): Centennial 4-1, De La Salle 16-3
Calpreps.com projection: De La Salle 40, Centennial 31
4-Star WR Javon McKinley - 2014 Highlights Photo by Louis Lopez
J.J. Taylor, Centennial
How the Huskies got here: The 12-2 Huskies won the Big VIII League title and the Southern Section Pac 5 Division title. They beat Serra (Gardena), Mater Dei (Santa Ana), Bishop Amat (La Puente) and St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in the playoffs.
Who got them here: The Huskies use a two-quarterback system and it has worked wonderfully. Nate Ketteringham and Anthony Catalano alternate series and do it well. Star wide receiver Javon McKinley has been unstoppable in the postseason and Sammonte Bonner has done a masterful job filling in for J.J. Taylor, who is still out after an appendectomy. Taylor is expected back on Saturday.
Why they were chosen: Winning the Pac 5 is pretty much a stamped ticket to the bowls. Centennial is on a 12-game winning streak after starting 0-2, showing exceptional resiliency. Their losses are quality ones as well: Mater Dei and Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).
Their bowl history: Centennial lost the Open Division Bowl Game to De La Salle in 2012, lost the Division I Bowl Game to Palo Alto in 2010, won the Division I Bowl over De La Salle in 2008 and lost the Division I Bowl to De La Salle in 2007. Also, they lost to St. John Bosco in last year's Open Division Regional Bowl.
De La Salle (CA) wins 23rd consecutive North Coast section title - Highlights Photo by Dennis Lee
Andrew Hernandez, De La Salle
How the Spartans got here: The 13-0 Spartans played a freelance regular season schedule and then won the North Coast Section Division I crown. They beat San Ramon Valley (Danville), California (San Ramon) and Pittsburg in the playoffs.
Who got them here: Andrew Hernandez (131 carries, 1,632 yards, 27 touchdowns) and Antoine Custer (155-1,677-20) split the rushing duties and keep the ball moving on the ground. The Spartans have rushed for 5,101 yards at almost 10 yards per carry. Keanu Andrade posted 90 tackles and Damon Wiley has 10.5 sacks.
Why they were chosen: Because they are De La Salle and nobody from Northern California can beat them. It's been 23 years and 261 games since a NorCal team has defeated the Spartans. Their nonleague schedule was also commendable.
Their bowl history: De La Salle has played in the Bowl Games every year since their inception. Last year they lost to St. John Bosco in the Open Division, in 2012 they beat Centennial in the Open Division, in 2011 they beat Westlake in the Open Division, in 2010 they beat Servite in the Open Division, in 2009 they beat Crenshaw in the Open Division, in 2008 they lost to Centennial in Division I, in 2007 they beat Centennial in Division I and in 2006 they lost to Canyon in Division I.
