BY STEPHEN LYNCH
Centennial quarterback Max Richey needed a little bit of time to shake off the first-game jitters against North on Friday night.
Thanks to the Golden Hawks defense, that wasn't a problem.
Centennial's defense completely stifled North's offensive attack and Richey went on to turn in a solid effort in the Golden Hawks 42-6 season opening win over the visiting Stars.
Richey was 12 of 18 for 122 yards with three touchdowns passing before he was lifted late in the third quarter of the blowout.
"Our defense just really held us together and gave us the momentum we needed on offense," Richey said. "...It being my first start I had some jitters but after we came back from halftime, I settled down."
Centennial's aggressive, quick-to-the-ball defense allowed North just 185 yards of net offense, much of which came in garbage time.
The Golden Hawks offense finished with 266 net yards, including 141 rushing on 28 carries.
"(North's) a good football team," Centennial coach Richard Starrett said. "They played us really well early. Our kids were nervous first time out. I knew they were going to be over-excited for it. It took a while to get our rhythm. But we got our rhythm and our defense played outstanding. I'm excited for our kids. It was a good win."
Leading 15-0 at halftime, the third quarter proved to be the tipping point for Centennial.
After Morgan Dutton ran back the second half kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to extend the Golden Hawks lead to 22-0, Centennial's defense and Richey went to work.
With just under eight minutes left in the third quarter senior defensive back Keenan Sullivan intercepted North quarterback Alejandro Ruvalcaba.
One play later Richey connected with Elijah Finney on a short screen pass that turned into a 24 yard touchdown.
Centennial recovered the ensuing kickoff, a short floater just over the Stars' return team's front line.
Richey quickly turned the advantageous field position into six more points as he calmly guided the Golden Hawks on 6 play, 41 yard drive that ended with the senior signal caller finding Tim Ruiz in the back of the end zone for a 6 yard TD.
Richey's first touchdown pass was 1 yard strike to Tristian Flores that gave Centennial a 7-0 lead with 8:08 left in the first quarter.
Centennial's defense manhandled North's run heavy offensive attack in the first half.
The Stars managed just 80 yards of net offense before intermission.
Centennial's defense was also directly responsible for two points as they harassed Ruvalcaba into throwing the ball away in the end zone, result in an intentional grounding penalty and safety.
"For the past four weeks we've been preparing for them," Centennial linebacker Jacob Navarro said. "Just hard work every day. 100 degrees. We knew exactly what they were going to do every single play thanks to coach Coyle and his scheme. We just came out and hit them first and that's the way it went."
North did manage to break off one big play in the first half, a 55 yard run by Brian Dean.
Dean's long gainer setup a 36 yard field goal attempt that Stars kicker Anthony Jasso missed wide left.
The Stars only six points came late in the fourth quarter on an 11 yard run by Alex Tejada. The touchdown was setup by a 40 yard pass from Ruvalcaba to Alejandro Marquez.
