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Friday, November 13, 2009
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Centennial knows Brainerd will be ready Class 5A state quarterfinal preview Sports Editor At least on paper, this appears to be another classic matchup between a metro and an outstate team.
Centennial, ranked sixth in the final Associated Press Class 5A poll, is the state's 20th-largest school (enrollment 2,170), but isn't one of the biggest schools in the Northwest Suburban Conference. Brainerd, on the other hand, is unranked and has 373 fewer students.
Cougars coach Michael Watson is well aware of what Brainerd did to Wayzata in the 2007 state quarterfinals at St. Cloud State. The Warriors, then ranked ninth, rallied to beat then sixth-ranked Wayzata 14-10.
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Brainerd's Tate Rusk returned an interception 37 yards against Buffalo in the Section 8-5A championship game. The Warriors play sixth-ranked Centennial in the state quarterfinals Friday night. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Brainerd and Centennial meet in the quarterfinals Friday night.
"We'll be in for a game," Watson said. "We know that's the advantage Brainerd has, going against a metro team. Our kids may ho-hum that a little, but it's our job as coaches to make sure they don't because we know Brainerd will be ready."
The Cougars (11-1) have won eight straight and knocked off third-ranked Blaine 19-14 in the Section 7-5A final. Blaine led 14-13 late in the fourth quarter when Centennial quarterback Chris Anderson threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Brian Sarvela on fourth-and-15. Centennial also beat Blaine 34-25 in the regular season.
Centennial may be the most balanced offensive team the Warriors have seen in the postseason. Anderson can throw and four backs have ranged from 351 to 868 yards rushing. Four linemen range from 255 to 302 pounds.
Warriors vs. Centennial
What: Class 5A state quarterfinals
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Husky Stadium, St. Cloud State University
The series: This will be the first time the teams have played.
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Anderson, who plans to play baseball at Jacksonville State University in 2011, has passed for 1,352 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has added 351 yards rushing and 10 TDs.
"He's an outstanding athlete all the way around," Watson said. "He's a great leader, he throws the ball well, he runs the ball well. He throws (a baseball) over 90 mph. He's got a gun."
Adam LeMere leads the Cougars in rushing with 868 yards and 10 scores. Jeff Burns has added 695 yards and six TDs and Eric Kallevig 391 yards and three TDs.
"All three started last year in the offensive backfield," Watson said. "Kallevig was dinged up for several games."
Sarvela is the leading receiver with 38 catches for 543 yards and five TDs.
Centennial averages 33.3 points and 367 yards per game. Its defense has allowed an average of 18.4 points and 316.6 yards a game.
Brainerd has played two stirring postseason games, beating Cambridge-Isanti 38-3 and top-seeded Buffalo 33-20. Offensively, in the postseason, the Warriors have averaged 35.5 points and 321.5 yards. In postseason first quarters they have outscored foes 47-8.
"One of the things that concerns me is our defense is not real big," Watson said. "We're fast, we move well, but I'm concerned about how our team will come out. If Brainerd starts to pound us I'm concerned how we'll react."
Defensively, in the postseason, the Warriors have forced four turnovers while limiting opponents to averages of 11.5 points and 177.5 yards.
This will be Brainerd's third state tournament in six years, its eighth overall. Since 1984 the Warriors have played in 15 of a possible 26 section finals.
"This season, and the results of it, is a tribute to our football program," Warriors coach Ron Stolski said. "We get good coaching, from BYAA all the way up. The kids learn to enjoy football. We are not a 50-week a year program.
"It's good to see some of the goals the team set prior to the season, realistic goals, have been reached. We've improved all along. Any coach will tell you that's what they would like to see in their team.
"Our leadership has matured, it's really come on strong the last 2-3 weeks. If people watch us play they see we play with enthusiasm, vigor, and hopefully a relentless Warrior style. Our kids are proud to represent the Warrior football legacy.
"Not many schools are still playing in November. I hope that we all realize we take nothing for granted, but we do have a respected football program throughout the state."
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.
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