Corona Centennial defeats Vista Murrieta, 45-21, to win Southern Section Inland Division title

Corona Centennial is going to a state bowl game; the only question is which one.

The Huskies all but assured themselves a Southern California bowl berth and gave the selection committee something to think about with an impressive 45-21 victory over Vista Murrieta to win the Southern Section Inland Division championship Friday night at Centennial.

Running back Barrinton Collins rushed for 291 yards and five touchdowns as top-seeded Centennial (14-0) scored 17 consecutive points in the third quarter to pull away from the second-seeded Broncos (12-2), who were behind by only seven points at halftime.

“We considered the game zero-zero [at halftime] like we always do,” said Centennial quarterback Michael Eubank, who completed 11 of 18 passes for 191 yards and rushed 12 times for 73 yards. “It was closer than we wanted it to be, but Coach [Matt Logan] told us that we were killing ourselves and if we just stopped making mistakes we’d be fine.”

Centennial was more than just fine in the second half; it was almost unstoppable. Collins’ 12-yard run halfway through the third quarter gave the Huskies breathing room, then a 31-yard field goal by Ezequiel Rivera and a three-yard run by Collins gave Centennial all the points it would need.

Collins had amassed 183 yards in 23 carries by halftime, scoring on runs of seven, 24 and two yards in the first two quarters. He has rushed for 2,321 yards and 42 touchdowns this season and still has one game to go. For him and his teammates, the next one is the only game that matters.

“We have a great offensive line; I have confidence in them and tonight they blocked great, the holes were there and I just hit them,” Collins said.

Cody Piecukonis returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown to pull Vista Murrieta within 38-21 with 5:13 remaining, but the Huskies recovered the ensuing onside kick and six plays later Eubank threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Larry Scott for the final score. Scott had eight catches for 165 yards.

Jovonte Slater ran 31 yards for a touchdown to pull Vista Murrieta to within 21-14 with 3:33 left in the first half, capping a six-play, 80-yard drive.

Vista Murrieta quarterback Derrick Brown completed six of 15 passes for 64 yards and rushed for 46 yards, including a one-yard sneak that tied the score with 10:30 left in the second quarter. John Hardin added 84 yards in 17 carries for the Broncos.

The Huskies took the opening kickoff and drove 12 plays to Vista Murrieta’s seven-yard line, but Eubank was hit hard and fumbled in the backfield and defensive lineman Jonathan Sanchez recovered for Vista Murrieta.

Centennial’s slimmest margin of victory this season was 19 points in the Huskies’ semifinal victory over Chino Hills. Centennial now awaits the outcome of Saturday’s Pac-5 Division final between Mission Viejo and Anaheim Servite to find out whether it will play in the state Division I game next Friday or the Open Division game next Saturday.

“It doesn’t matter what bowl we’re in,” Collins said. “I just want to win it.”

In other games

George Johnson scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper with 25 seconds left to lift West Covina to a 37-33 victory over La Verne Bonita in the Southeastern Division final…. Running back Matt Bowen rushed for 231 yards and two touchdowns and teammate Terrance Hall ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns as L.A. Fairfax defeated Chatsworth, 51-7, to capture the City Section Division II title.

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