Elks take back The Boot
Burleson beats crosstown-rival Centennial 45-21 for first Boot Bowl victory since 2021
BURLESON — The Burleson Elks beat their crosstown-rival the Centennial Spartans 45-21 Friday at Burleson ISD Stadium in the 2025 Boot Bowl, Burleson’s first victory over Centennial since 2021.
In front of a sold-out crowd in beautiful late-August weather, Burleson seniors Nate Jackson and Donya Armstrong each scored rushing touchdowns while junior quarterback Andrew Sparks threw a touchdown pass in their victory.
After Burleson scored a safety and led 2-0 by the end of the first quarter, Armstrong forced a Centennial fumble to set up Jackson to score the game’s first touchdown and give Burleson a 9-0 lead in the second quarter.
Jackson ran for 94 yards on 17 attempts with the touchdown.
Armstrong finished with eight tackles, two forced fumbles and his own rushing touchdown.
Burleson was up 38-0 before Centennial scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
The loss came in new Centennial head coach Blake Meyer’s first game at the helm after being hired to succeed Kyle Geller—the only other head coach in Centennial football history—in March.
Centennial didn't quit as sophomore Ben Chavarria scored three touchdowns in the fourth with Burleson scoring one to bring the score to 45-21.
Chavarria ran for 105 yards and the three touchdowns on 15 carries.
In an error-filled game—unsurprising for an opener—Burleson got on the board first with its first of two safeties as Centennial kicked the ball out of its own end zone to give Burleson a 2-0 lead two minutes into the first quarter.
Following Jackson’s touchdown, Burleson junior linebacker Lawson Blanchard returned a Centennial fumble for a touchdown to give Burleson a 15-0 lead in the second quarter.
Burleson scored another touchdown to take a 22-0 lead to the locker room at halftime.
After Burleson scored another safety to extend its lead to 24-0 in the third, senior receiver Jayden Hernandez scored on a 58-yard touchdown pass from Sparks to bring the score to 31-0 in the third quarter.
Sparks completed nine of 11 passes for 108 yards and the touchdown pass and rushed for 79 yards on eight carries.
Burleson cuts Centennial’s series lead
Beating Centennial for the first time since 2021, Burleson cut Centennial’s Battle of The Boot-series lead to 8-6.
Burleson moves onto “War on 174”
Burleson will look to start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2021 when it faces its long-time rival the Cleburne Yellow Jackets (1-0) Thursday at 7 p.m. at Yellow Jacket Stadium in Cleburne in the “War on 174.”
Cleburne opened its season with a 24-3 victory over the Corsicana Tigers (0-1) Friday in Corsicana.
Centennial looks for Meyer’s first win against Sam Houston
Centennial will look to bounce back and earn Meyer’s first win as head coach when it returns to Burleson ISD Stadium Friday at 7 p.m. to host the Sam Houston Texans (1-0).
Sam Houston is coming off a 28-14 season-opening win over the Nimitz Vikings (0-1) Friday in Irving.