Torres accounts for three touchdowns as Spartans beat Elks 28-7 in 2024 Boot Bowl

Centennial's sophomore quarterback throws two touchdown passes and scores one on the ground in win over crosstown rival

BURLESON – Jacob Torres accounted for three touchdowns to lead the Centennial Spartans varsity football team to a 28-7 victory over the crosstown-rival Burleson Elks in the 2024 Boot Bowl Friday at Burleson ISD Stadium.

In his first game starting for varsity, the sophomore quarterback Torres completed seven of 17 pass attempts for 86 yards and two touchdown passes and rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

“For the first game he did some really good things,” Centennial head coach Kyle Geller said after the win. “He also did some things that he’ll learn from.  He’s a very smart kid and he’ll learn from film.”

Torres scored on a two-yard run to cap off a nine-play 65-yard drive and tie the game 7-7 with 10:08 left in the second quarter after Burleson scored the first touchdown of the game.

Burleson’s touchdown came on sophomore quarterback Andrew Sparks’ three-yard run that gave the Elks a 7-0 lead with 7:29 left in the first. Sparks completed four of eight passes for 83 yards and threw two interceptions and ran for 76 yards and the touchdown on 14 carries.

Centennial shut Burleson out the rest of the way, scoring four unanswered touchdowns–three in the first half.

Torres’ first touchdown pass as the varsity quarterback came on a six-yard pass to senior running back/wide receiver Kelian Gregory to give Centennial a 14-7 lead with 6:20 left in the second quarter. 

Junior running back Jaylon Walker scored on a 21-yard rush to increase Centennial’s lead to 21-7 with 2:45 left in the second quarter. Walker ran for 97 yards and the touchdown on 12 carries, carrying the load after senior starting running back Jaxon Williams exited in the first half with a sprained ankle.

Burleson junior running back Nate Jackson led the Elks with 63 rushing yards on 18 carries in the loss.

After a scoreless third quarter, Torres threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Damien Long to bring the Spartans’ lead to 28-7 with 8:52 left in the fourth. 

Centennial has won the last three Boot Bowls and eight of the 13 total crosstown-rivalry games.

Geller said he’s happy for the team and school to get the win but that the Spartans have a long way to go. He added that the offense needs to get in better rhythm and be less erratic but ultimately the mistakes the team made are correctable.

Centennial (1-0) will look to maintain momentum as they travel to Arlington to take on the Sam Houston Texans (1-0) Friday at 7 p.m. at Wilemon Stadium. 

Burleson (0-1) looks to bounce back and earn its first win under new head coach Phillip Tanner as they travel down the road to take on the Cleburne Yellow Jackets (0-1) Friday at 7 p.m. at Yellow Jacket Stadium.