Another Prep Football Powerhouse Has Emerged In Las Cruces
By: Kyle Henderson of NMPreps.com
Overview
Another power prep football program has emerged in the City of Las Cruces. Is anyone really surprised by that? Last year the Hawks made their first big stab the playoff scene going 11-2 on the year and reaching the 5A Semifinals. This is just Centennial’s 4th year having a varsity football program: Centennial’s All-Time Record stands at 20-10 with two straight trips to the playoffs.
When the program started these incoming current seniors were just freshman and a good amount of them started, so really at Centennial this year you have some 4-year starters which not many other programs can say this year: Most notably are their big three in George Nino their 320 pound Center, Cameron Burkley, their 275 pound guard, and Jerry Gurrola their 225 pound defensive end. The Hawks will jump into Class 6A next year and though they won 11-games in 2014, it’s not like they have hid from playing in-city talent, in-fact last year the beat Onate 42-10 in the opener and then beat Las Cruces during the midway point 49-47 in a shootout.
The practices at Centennial always seem blistering with heat, their is not a tree in sight, music plays on a portable FM karaoke machine, white jersey’s represent offense and red represent defense. The school and practice field have an un-real look at the Organ Mountains , Coach Ocampo now entering his 4th year at Centennial is a player’s coach, they like to be around him, they follow his lead, he gets on them from time to time, but his way of coaching creates family, unity, and execution on the football field. The quote that Ocampo ended our interview with says it best, “I’m blessed to be here at Centennial.”
What To Expect
“We lost some good seniors last year, we have a lot of kids that have played some football returning, I feel good about the chemistry, feel good about the kids coming back, and we just have to work hard and get better every week. I would say offensive linemen are our strength. We also have some strong leadership right now that is going to be tested. We’ve got a lot of challenging games up ahead, we got 27 seniors that care a lot of this program, and that have been here for 4-years, so I would say leadership is a big strength too,” Said Ocampo on the incoming 2015 team.
The Hawks graduate All-State and All-Star Quarterback Christian Cedano who had a monster senior season and also lose Running Back Jaylon Boston who is no longer on the team for undisclosed reasons. Taking over those two positions will be Junior to be Dante Lopez at 6-foot-1, 158 who is a good passer, but we have yet to see him run in open space, however Lopez did step in late in the season (when Cedano was injured) during the playoffs and had good showings.
Taking over at running back is Keith Jasso who we really liked at practice. Strong kid at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, played a good amount last year, but he’s an aggressive football player that will run you over. The Hawks also have some good tight ends in Chase Austin and Zeke Herrera. Austin will be a three-year starter and another who has impressed us over the years. Split out wide are two very talented receivers in JR Pena who was named the NMPreps Elite Combine WR MVP and Bryce Rewalt who caught for over 300-yards as a junior. Both are capable of making big plays, Pena is a game-breaker, in-fact he returned a kick for at touchdown against Las Cruces last year.
Up front Centennial’s offensive line is anchored by George Nino at 6-foot-1 and 320 pounds and Cameron Burkley at 6-foot-0, 275 pounds. Two of the top linemen in New Mexico for the last few years. Nino benched 185 pounds 21 times, Burkely benched 185 pounds 25 times, the two are outstanding in pass protection, move their feet well, and are both leaders. We have not had a dynamic duo up front like these two in New Mexico in quite some time. Also watch for Bo Glines, the brother of Scott Glines who according to Ocampo has had a good camp. Also watch for Vince Rubino and Steven Garcia who each started last year up front as well.
Their defensive line is stacked with Jerry Gurrola entering the season as a 4-year starter and one of the best pass rushers in New Mexico at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds. Gurrola is amazingly strong benching 185 pounds 20 times at the combine and continues to standout as one of the best in New Mexico, a top 20 player for sure. Watch for 5-foot-7, 269 pound Marcus Minnick originally from Bakerfields, California to make a splash this year up front, he’s like a really heavy bowling bowl coming at you 40 miles per hour and he also has great pass rushing technique.
Edgar Hernandez is a 220 pound Junior that is very good as well and very strong benching 185 pounds 20 times at the combine, watch for these three to have an outstanding season and cause plenty of headaches. Also watch for Antonio Luna in the trenches. The Linebackers to watch include: Jake Boykin at 182 pounds, a two-year starter who impressed us this summer. Gabe Pacheco and Cedric Reynaud are two newcomers to watch and though they played JV last year, Coach Ocampo expects each to have a big year. We don’t know to much about the Centennial secondary, but assume Centennial puts their best on the field come tight game situations.
“Obviously these kids that are seniors have been with us for 4-years and were kind of like the JV to the Varsity the first year. At Manzano the buy in seemed like it took a while, but here at Centennial the kids down in Las Cruces are committed and these kids are born and bred to play football. That is all testament to the kids, parents, the City of Las Cruces, and just how much passion and support there is for high school football and that filters all the way through. I’m just blessed to be here.”
Key Returners
Jake Boykin - Linebacker - 5-10, 182, Senior
Cameron Burkley - Offensive Linemen - 6-0, 275, Senior
Bryce Rewalt - Receiver - 5-10, 141, Senior
George Nino - Offensiv Linemen - 6-1, 320, Senior
Jerry Gurrolla - Defensive Linemen - 6-1, 236, Senior
Chase Austin - Tight End - 5-11, 182, Senior
Marcus Minnick - Defensive Linemen - 5-7, 269, Senior
Keith Jasso - Running Back - 5-10, 165, Senior
New Names To Know
Edgar Hernandez - Offensive Linemen, 5-10, 218, Junior
Dante Lopez - Quarterback - 6-1, 158, Junior
Zeke Herrera - Tight End - 5-10, 184, Senior
Augustine Pena - Receiver - 5-7, 131, Junior
Brandon Gomez - Running Back - 5-6, 147, Senior
Adrian Acosta - Defensive Linemen - 5-10, 200, Senior
Gabriel Pachaco - Linebacker - 5-7, 174, Senior
2015 Schedule
Aug. 28 @ Oñate, 7 p.m. (At Field of Dreams)
Sept. 3 Gadsden, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 Del Norte, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 @ Socorro, Texas 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 Las Cruces, 7 p.m. (At Field of Dreams)
BYE
* Oct. 9 Los Lunas, 7 p.m.
* Oct. 16 @ Chaparral, 7 p.m.
* Oct. 23 @ Valencia, 7 p.m.
* Oct. 29 Belen, 7 p.m.
* Nov. 5 Santa Teresa, 7 p.m.
Our Take
This team is going to make another run, likely an even deeper run to the finals, and they really have the talent to bring another state title banner to Las Cruces. You can’t help but circle weeks 1 and week 5 against Onate and Las Cruces, the hype and rival settings make those much watch games. Where Centennial is going to win games is no doubt in the trenches, not just on offense, but on defense as well, their defensive front is going to be dominate. It’s a new program, they don’t have a lot of friends, they don’t care, they’re going to fly high not only this year, but for years to come. Centennial has quickly arrived at the table of prep football powers.
By: Kyle Henderson of NMPreps.com
Overview
Another power prep football program has emerged in the City of Las Cruces. Is anyone really surprised by that? Last year the Hawks made their first big stab the playoff scene going 11-2 on the year and reaching the 5A Semifinals. This is just Centennial’s 4th year having a varsity football program: Centennial’s All-Time Record stands at 20-10 with two straight trips to the playoffs.
When the program started these incoming current seniors were just freshman and a good amount of them started, so really at Centennial this year you have some 4-year starters which not many other programs can say this year: Most notably are their big three in George Nino their 320 pound Center, Cameron Burkley, their 275 pound guard, and Jerry Gurrola their 225 pound defensive end. The Hawks will jump into Class 6A next year and though they won 11-games in 2014, it’s not like they have hid from playing in-city talent, in-fact last year the beat Onate 42-10 in the opener and then beat Las Cruces during the midway point 49-47 in a shootout.
The practices at Centennial always seem blistering with heat, their is not a tree in sight, music plays on a portable FM karaoke machine, white jersey’s represent offense and red represent defense. The school and practice field have an un-real look at the Organ Mountains , Coach Ocampo now entering his 4th year at Centennial is a player’s coach, they like to be around him, they follow his lead, he gets on them from time to time, but his way of coaching creates family, unity, and execution on the football field. The quote that Ocampo ended our interview with says it best, “I’m blessed to be here at Centennial.”
What To Expect
“We lost some good seniors last year, we have a lot of kids that have played some football returning, I feel good about the chemistry, feel good about the kids coming back, and we just have to work hard and get better every week. I would say offensive linemen are our strength. We also have some strong leadership right now that is going to be tested. We’ve got a lot of challenging games up ahead, we got 27 seniors that care a lot of this program, and that have been here for 4-years, so I would say leadership is a big strength too,” Said Ocampo on the incoming 2015 team.
The Hawks graduate All-State and All-Star Quarterback Christian Cedano who had a monster senior season and also lose Running Back Jaylon Boston who is no longer on the team for undisclosed reasons. Taking over those two positions will be Junior to be Dante Lopez at 6-foot-1, 158 who is a good passer, but we have yet to see him run in open space, however Lopez did step in late in the season (when Cedano was injured) during the playoffs and had good showings.
Taking over at running back is Keith Jasso who we really liked at practice. Strong kid at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, played a good amount last year, but he’s an aggressive football player that will run you over. The Hawks also have some good tight ends in Chase Austin and Zeke Herrera. Austin will be a three-year starter and another who has impressed us over the years. Split out wide are two very talented receivers in JR Pena who was named the NMPreps Elite Combine WR MVP and Bryce Rewalt who caught for over 300-yards as a junior. Both are capable of making big plays, Pena is a game-breaker, in-fact he returned a kick for at touchdown against Las Cruces last year.
Up front Centennial’s offensive line is anchored by George Nino at 6-foot-1 and 320 pounds and Cameron Burkley at 6-foot-0, 275 pounds. Two of the top linemen in New Mexico for the last few years. Nino benched 185 pounds 21 times, Burkely benched 185 pounds 25 times, the two are outstanding in pass protection, move their feet well, and are both leaders. We have not had a dynamic duo up front like these two in New Mexico in quite some time. Also watch for Bo Glines, the brother of Scott Glines who according to Ocampo has had a good camp. Also watch for Vince Rubino and Steven Garcia who each started last year up front as well.
Their defensive line is stacked with Jerry Gurrola entering the season as a 4-year starter and one of the best pass rushers in New Mexico at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds. Gurrola is amazingly strong benching 185 pounds 20 times at the combine and continues to standout as one of the best in New Mexico, a top 20 player for sure. Watch for 5-foot-7, 269 pound Marcus Minnick originally from Bakerfields, California to make a splash this year up front, he’s like a really heavy bowling bowl coming at you 40 miles per hour and he also has great pass rushing technique.
Edgar Hernandez is a 220 pound Junior that is very good as well and very strong benching 185 pounds 20 times at the combine, watch for these three to have an outstanding season and cause plenty of headaches. Also watch for Antonio Luna in the trenches. The Linebackers to watch include: Jake Boykin at 182 pounds, a two-year starter who impressed us this summer. Gabe Pacheco and Cedric Reynaud are two newcomers to watch and though they played JV last year, Coach Ocampo expects each to have a big year. We don’t know to much about the Centennial secondary, but assume Centennial puts their best on the field come tight game situations.
“Obviously these kids that are seniors have been with us for 4-years and were kind of like the JV to the Varsity the first year. At Manzano the buy in seemed like it took a while, but here at Centennial the kids down in Las Cruces are committed and these kids are born and bred to play football. That is all testament to the kids, parents, the City of Las Cruces, and just how much passion and support there is for high school football and that filters all the way through. I’m just blessed to be here.”
Key Returners
Jake Boykin - Linebacker - 5-10, 182, Senior
Cameron Burkley - Offensive Linemen - 6-0, 275, Senior
Bryce Rewalt - Receiver - 5-10, 141, Senior
George Nino - Offensiv Linemen - 6-1, 320, Senior
Jerry Gurrolla - Defensive Linemen - 6-1, 236, Senior
Chase Austin - Tight End - 5-11, 182, Senior
Marcus Minnick - Defensive Linemen - 5-7, 269, Senior
Keith Jasso - Running Back - 5-10, 165, Senior
New Names To Know
Edgar Hernandez - Offensive Linemen, 5-10, 218, Junior
Dante Lopez - Quarterback - 6-1, 158, Junior
Zeke Herrera - Tight End - 5-10, 184, Senior
Augustine Pena - Receiver - 5-7, 131, Junior
Brandon Gomez - Running Back - 5-6, 147, Senior
Adrian Acosta - Defensive Linemen - 5-10, 200, Senior
Gabriel Pachaco - Linebacker - 5-7, 174, Senior
2015 Schedule
Aug. 28 @ Oñate, 7 p.m. (At Field of Dreams)
Sept. 3 Gadsden, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 Del Norte, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 @ Socorro, Texas 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 Las Cruces, 7 p.m. (At Field of Dreams)
BYE
* Oct. 9 Los Lunas, 7 p.m.
* Oct. 16 @ Chaparral, 7 p.m.
* Oct. 23 @ Valencia, 7 p.m.
* Oct. 29 Belen, 7 p.m.
* Nov. 5 Santa Teresa, 7 p.m.
Our Take
This team is going to make another run, likely an even deeper run to the finals, and they really have the talent to bring another state title banner to Las Cruces. You can’t help but circle weeks 1 and week 5 against Onate and Las Cruces, the hype and rival settings make those much watch games. Where Centennial is going to win games is no doubt in the trenches, not just on offense, but on defense as well, their defensive front is going to be dominate. It’s a new program, they don’t have a lot of friends, they don’t care, they’re going to fly high not only this year, but for years to come. Centennial has quickly arrived at the table of prep football powers.
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