Central High keeps dream alive for a state championship. Grizzlies punch ticket to final
Now it’s time for the state championship for the Central High football team.
The Grizzlies’ defense made a stop on fourth down at their own 48-yard line with less than a minute left in a 38-32 victory at Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills in a California Interscholastic Federation Division I-AA North Regional final.
Next up for the Grizzlies (14-0) is a matchup with Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth (14-1). The Trailblazers defeated Helix-La Mesa 38-20.
“We didn’t come here to win a regional championship,” Central coach Kyle Biggs said. “Our goal is to win the state championship. I’m already watching film on Sierra Canyon.”
Central and Sierra Canyon will meet on Friday, Dec. 13 at Cerritos College in Norwalk. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.
Jekob Jones scored on a 2-yard run with 6 minutes to go that gave the Grizzlies the lead for good.
Central had the ball again with about 2 minutes remaining but Biggs admitted he got a little greedy with two pass plays that didn’t generate any yards.
The Grizzlies punted and Biggs said he had a simple message for his team:
“Go win the game,” he said. “Get a stop to win the game. That’s what they did and played phenomenal. My defense saved my behind.”
Grizzlies offensive lineman Dwight “DJ” Tatum admitted his team “played flat at certain parts of the game” but is happy how they finished.
“We aren’t done yet,” he said. ‘They were just in our way to get to our ultimate goal which is state.”
Said wide receiver Jeremiah Hunter, who had 10 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns: “We played hard and players stepped up when we needed them. I’m just glad we are blessed with great coaches because they did a great job showing what they would do during practice.”
Quarterback Jameson Silva was 12 of 25 for 197 yards and three touchdowns. Xavier Worthy scored two touchdowns, on a 98-yard kickoff return and a 53-yard catch-and-run.
Anthony Galaviz: 559-441-6042, agalaviz_TheBee
This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 10:56 PM.
