Senior Analyst, TheOldCoach.com
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THE COLONY- Down 20-9 with 5:30 left the Frisco Centennial Titans (7-2, 5-1) could have easily folded up shop, but the playoff savvy squad never gave up and fought back for a stunning 21-20 win over The Colony (8-1, 5-1) at Tommy Briggs Cougar Stadium.
Centennial down eleven points after a blocked punt wasted little time getting back on the board, scoring in just 52 seconds on a 63 yard touchdown pass from QB Kelly Cordova to D.J. Jackson to make it 20-15 after the two point try failed. Jackson got behind the defense which hesitated when they saw one of their defensive lineman was in the neutral zone, Centennial took advantage of the free play and Cordova hit Jackson in stride.
Disaster then struck The Colony on the next drive as on their first play sophomore RB Khalil Banks fumbled and Centennial LB Chase Keeland pounced on the loose ball to give the Titans a shot to take the lead back. Centennial went backwards on their first two plays, but on 3rd and 14 facing a heavy pass rush Cordova heaved up a pass in the end zone and TE Stoney Hawkins leaped up and made a tremendous catch over two defenders in the end zone for a sensational 37 yard touchdown reception to give the Titans the lead at 21-20.
The Colony would have two more chances to try and take the lead but the Cougars were unable to get a single first down on their final two drives and CHS held on.
It was a defensive struggle early as Centennial took an early 2-0 lead after a snap went over the head of TCHS QB Andrew Lotz. The Cougars would respond with an 18 play 91 yard drive that would be capped by a nine yard run by junior WR Tate Alanis to make it 6-2 The Colony.
Frisco Centennial would go on a long drive of their own keeping the ball six minutes as Cordova scored on a three yard run to put the Titans up 9-6 at the half. The third quarter featured both teams struggling on offense, but The Colony controlled field position. The Cougars would finally jump ahead with 9:09 left on a one yard QB sneak by Lotz to make it 13-9 Cougars. Four and a half minutes later TCHS got a huge special teams play as Shane Penson would block a Centennial punt and Alec Gibbons would scoop the loose ball up and stroll 12 yards to the end zone for a 20-9 lead for The Colony and setting up Frisco Centennial's rally.
Frisco Centennial can wrap up the 9-4A title and top Division I seed with a win over Frisco Heritage next week. The Colony is in the playoffs, but the Cougars need a win and a Centennial loss to get the district title and top Division I playoff seed.