Centennial clinches playoff berth with 42-16 win over Azle

The Spartans clinched their 10th-straight playoff berth behind Keyshaun Tucker's three touchdowns in a 42-16 win over the Azle Hornets

Thank you, Tech Simple TX: Neighborhood Tech Support for sponsoring this newsletter.

Tech Simple TX is a local tech-support business dedicated to supporting Burleson small-business owners and at-home workers with affordable, personalized and reliable services.

Call 215-834-5876 or email TechSimpleTX@gmail.com for neighborhood tech support today.

---

AZLE – Keyshaun Tucker scored three touchdowns as the Centennial Spartans (7-3) clinched a playoff berth for the 10th straight season with a 42-16 win over the Azle Hornets Friday at Hornet Stadium.

Centennial head coach Kyle Geller was thrilled Centennial fought hard to clinch the playoffs after a roller-coaster season in which they learned a lot of lessons, Geller said after the win.

“I’m just really proud that these guys fought through some adversity and we won tonight and got in,” Geller said.

Tucker scored the game’s first points on a 44-yard rush to give Centennial a 7-0 lead after the extra point with 7:42 left in the first quarter. Centennial never gave up the lead.

Tucker also scored on an eight-yard rush to extend Centennial’s lead to 14-0 as the first quarter ended. Tucker rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries in Centennial’s playoff-clinching victory.

“Keyshaun Tucker is just a fantastic player,” Geller said.

Centennial rushed for 330 yards in the victory. The run game starts with the offensive line, Geller said.

Centennial center Jaden Ferguson left the game with an apparent leg injury with 11:49 left in the third quarter. Centennial will find out the extent of the leg injury Saturday, Geller said.

It would be a huge loss if Ferguson misses Centennial’s playoff game against Red Oak November 10 due to the injury, Geller said.

Centennial quarterback Iverson Moore completed three of six passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in the win. 

Centennial receiver Damien Long scored on a 40-yard pass from Moore to bring the score to 28-6 after the extra point with 1:43 left in the second quarter. Long caught three passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Azle quarterback Derrek Vowell completed nine of 15 pass attempts for 116 yards and two touchdowns in Azle’s loss.

Aiden Mackey scored on a 22-yard pass from Vowell to pull Azle within two scores and cut Centennial’s lead to 28-13 after the extra point with 14 seconds left in the second quarter.

Mackey caught two passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in Azle’s loss.

Centennial will face the Red Oak Hawks (10-0) at 7 p.m. November 10 at Billy Goodloe Stadium in Red Oak in the first round of the playoffs.

Centennial needs to protect the football, prevent big plays from an “explosive” Red Oak team and play good special teams to beat Red Oak, Geller said.

“We’re going to make them play us, play our game hopefully and give it our best shot,” Geller said.