CHAMPAIGN — Shouts of “Our city!” filling the south finish zone.
The singing of the Centennial Excessive Faculty struggle music.
Chargers soccer gamers coming back from the locker room for celebratory pictures.
Kyle Jackson skilled little to none of this in his first season as Centennial’s coach, throughout an 0-9 run in 2019.
Issues are trying a lot brighter for the Chargers in 2021.
Three completely different gamers scored a landing for Centennial throughout its 22-0 win towards Champaign Central on Saturday at Tommy Stewart Subject.
The victory gave the Chargers (2-1, 2-1 Huge 12 Convention) possession of the Wright Road Trophy for this season. The Maroons (0-3, 0-2) are the one different contender, with Urbana forgoing its spring slate.
“They’re shopping for in, they usually’re having enjoyable,” Jackson mentioned of his children. “We hyped (the rivalry sport) up somewhat bit, however not all that a lot.”
Neither group scored throughout the competition’s first 5 drives — three for Central and two for Centennial.
However a major occasion transpired early within the afternoon when Maroons junior Miles Wooden went down with an obvious leg damage after breaking off a 29-yard run within the first quarter. It wound up as Wooden’s solely carry of the sport.
“He’s an essential a part of that offense,” Central coach Tim Turner mentioned. “It sort of hamstrung us somewhat bit with out having him on the market.”
The Chargers bottled up the Maroons at almost each flip, with Central junior David Willis (25 rushes for 89 yards) the one constant offensive risk.
The Maroons turned over the ball on downs 4 occasions in Centennial territory, together with twice on the Chargers’ 6-yard line.
Centennial junior David Navarra recorded a sack and a fumble restoration, as nicely.
“We’re taking part in much more bodily than we did final 12 months,” Jackson mentioned. “We’re swarming to the ball higher than we did final 12 months. However we’re maintaining it easy, so our guys can fly round and play arduous and play quick.”
“We had alternatives and simply didn’t execute,” Turner added. “Once we get the ball and we drive and we’re on the 5 and we will’t punch it in, it’s going to be robust.”
The Chargers’ offense discovered its footing when it began letting sophomore Brandon Harvey carry the ball.
The 6-foot, 195-pound athlete rushed 5 occasions for 57 yards on Centennial’s third drive to arrange a 28-yard landing go from junior Brady Boatright to junior Jack Younger Jr.
Harvey completed with 150 yards and a landing on 16 carries, outweighing a misplaced fumble.
“We talked about attempting to get him the ball,” Jackson mentioned, “and he introduced it (Saturday).”
Junior Montez Dubose added 67 yards and a landing on 11 carries for the Chargers.
Kharthyl Phillips and Michael Eduarte every recovered a fumble for Central, which retired the No. 1 jersey of Drew Adams earlier than the sport. Adams, 18, died final Could in a boating accident.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Turner mentioned. “Drew was a child that your entire metropolis liked.”
Colin Likas covers Illinois soccer and highschool sports activities at The Information-Gazette. He may be reached at [email protected], or on Twitter at @clikasNG.
