Canby Herald Online

Preview: Centennial has utmost respect for Cougars heading into quarterfinals

Coach Chris Knudsen realizes the weapons Canby has on its roster

• By: Alex Tam  
• Published: 11/24/2009 11:55:23 AM
• Last Updated: 11/25/2009 1:31:55 PM

Courtesy of Jim Clark of the Gresham Outlook
Centennial senior Kevin Bannister (right) hauls in an interception during the Eagles’ second-round win over Clackamas on Friday. Bannister is the leader for Centennial, leading the team in rushing and receiving yards.

Long-time Centennial coach Chris Knudsen was open about the respect he has for the job that Canby coach Mike Doty and his staff have done over the past two decades.

Although both teams have faced each other just four times over the last 20 years, the Canby program has earned the accolades as one of the best in the state.

“I have a great amount of respect for the job that Mike Doty does and his staff,” Knudsen said. “Our whole program has a lot of respect for their program. They’ve been very successful for many, many years.”

No. 3 Canby will face unranked Centennial for the second time over the past four seasons in the playoffs on Friday at 7 p.m. at Oregon City Pioneer Stadium in the quarterfinals of the Class 6A state playoffs.

Knudsen said the Cougars’ offense, which ranked first in the Pacific Conference and eighth in the state in points per game (36.9) will be a stiff test for his team.

“It’s a very difficult offense to defend,” he said. “And this year, they have some outstanding athletes at key positions there that make it very difficult to defend. And also, I’m talking about their offense but we think they have a very good defense as well. Obviously, they’ve been blowing out a lot of opponents and we just think they’re an outstanding football team.”

Centennial (8-3 overall, 6-1 Mt. Hood) enters as the Mt. Hood Conference champion, receiving the league’s No. 1 seed and followed a first-round bye to post a 42-21 win over Clackamas in the second round last week.

It was the Eagles’ first playoff victory since reaching the Class 4A semifinals in 1993.

“It’s been very exciting for us and actually our whole school and community is very happy and excited for our program,” Knudsen said. “That’s been wonderful to see. Something like this is great for our community in this time and economic time … so it’s been great to get the response we’ve gotten from everyone.”

Over the years, the Eagles have prided themselves with its veer option offense, which is a scheme that was used heavily in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

It is an offense predicated on reading the opponent’s defense and reacting to it with a power run game.

During the regular season, three players had at least 550 rushing yards for Centennial led by senior Kevin Bannister, who had team highs in carries (112), rushing yards (751) and touchdowns scored (14).

Bannister was also the team’s leading receiver with 26 catches for 520 yards and six touchdowns.

Senior quarterback Nate Wolf was a dual-threat with 81 carries for 558 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. He also completed 54 of 99 pass attempts for 822 yards, with six touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Knudsen said those two have been their leaders on offense.

“Nate does a lot of good things for us at the quarterback position,” he said. “He has a lot that he has to know in our offense and make some critical decisions after the snap of the ball and he’s done a very good job with that this year.

“Our tailback Kevin Bannister has had an outstanding year for us so far. He’s a very fine athlete.”

Junior Ivan Palavra is the other threat out of the backfield with 78 carries for 609 yards and eight touchdowns.

Knudsen said the key for Friday’s game is simply slowing down Canby’s offense as much as they can.

“I don’t think there’s any way of stopping their offensive attack,” Knudsen said. “We have to slow it down and we cannot turn it over offensively. We have to protect the ball.”

With Canby’s decision to move the game from its home grass field to turf at Oregon City, Knudsen said looking at it from the Cougars’ perspective, he could understand why they did it.

“They’re going to let their speed be a factor in the game and they want to utilize that,” he said. “So it’s a good move. We’ve got a grass field ourselves and just played on it the other night and it got a little bit muddy, so we’re excited to play on the turf but I could see why they want to move it.”

Knudsen added that he knows his players are amped up for Friday’s game as they continually hear about it from the community for the other 22 hours of the day when they are not practicing, and it’s been his job to get his players to focus on it like it’s any other game.

“We’re trying to get them to think it’s another opponent and to prepare just like we’ve been preparing,” he said. “… We’re looking forward to it. It should be a fun game. I just want to reiterate we have a great respect for their program and they’re in it every year in and year out and do a great job over there.”

David Ball of the Gresham Outlook contributed to the story 


PLAYERS TO WATCH
• QB Nate Wolf, sr.: The senior quarterback has put it all together in his final season, having rushed for 13 touchdowns and passing for six touchdowns this season

• RB Kevin Bannister, sr.: Bannister has been the undisputed leader for the Eagles, leading the team in carries, rushing yards, receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns scored.

• DL David Vieru, sr.: The 6-4, 270-pounder was a runner-up at heavyweight at the Class 6A state wrestling tournament last season and was second in the Mt. Hood with eight sacks.

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