Members of the Centennial High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun’s high school football media day July 20, 2016 at the South Point. They include, from left, Jacob Kelly, Marvin Perkins Jr., Jacob Arsen, Kayuon Miller, J.J. Johnson, Bryce Hamton, Jamaal Evans, and Savon Scarver.
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 | 2 a.m.
Prep Sports Now
Football: There is no close second
Las Vegas Sun sports editors Ray Brewer and Case Keefer ring in the start of football season by discussing some of the valley's top storylines and teams, like Bishop Gorman, Liberty, Arbor View and Desert Pines.
Related content
The Centennial High football program is one of four Las Vegas-area teams with a playoff victory in each of the past six seasons.
Continuing the streak in 2016 will depend on how quickly the Bulldogs’ defense develops. It returns just two starters — safety James Johnson and linebacker Marvin Perkins — but has plenty of talented younger players.
“We are excited about the kids we have,” Centennial coach Leon Evans said. “In this new division we have to stop the run week in and week out.”
Realignment reshuffled the leagues in the offseason, placing Centennial in arguably the state’s toughest division, the Northwest League. The league is affectionately called the “Black and Blue Division” because many of the teams feature a physical style of rushing attack.
With teams such as Arbor View, Cimarron-Memorial, Palo Verde, Legacy and others, there will be no easy games.
That’s especially true for teams playing Centennial because the Bulldogs’ offense could be considered the league’s best. While the other teams rely on a ground-and-pound style of attack, Centennial’s offense can spread the field with the speed and athleticism of its skilled-position players.
Senior quarterback Jamaal Evans, a Utah State verbal commit and coach Evans’ son, is a three-year varsity player. He passed for 1,807 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2015 and rushed for 565 yards and 16 scores.
Track sprinting champ Savon Scarver at wide receiver had 46 catches for 865 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, Keyvon Miller returns as the feature running back, and two-way player Bryce Hampton at wide receiver and defensive back has emerged in the offseason. Additionally, three of five starters on the offensive line return.
“I would say I am an extension of him on the field,” Jamaal Evans said of his dad. “Whatever he thinks, I think too on the field.”
Two of the other teams — Arbor View and Bishop Gorman — with a lengthy postseason victory streak each defeated Centennial last season. The game with Arbor View for the Northwest League championship featured packed stands and a back-and-forth game.
“It was really fun and at the same time stressful,” Scarver said. “We both wanted it really bad.”
Whether the Bulldogs get another playoff date with seven-time defending state champion Gorman, which has knocked them out of the playoffs in consecutive seasons, could hinge on how quickly the defense develops.
“Each week, we have to bring our A-game,” coach Evans said. “No weeks off. Back to a smash-mouth, physical type of football. We are getting excited about it.”
1282
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy