Zidane Thomas runs wild, Centennial beats Pinnacle on late FG

For the first time in Zidane Thomas’ high school football career, his mom got to see him play.

She watched on television from her Florida home her son find holes, created holes, breaks free for two long scoring runs, and set up host Peoria Centennial’s game-winning field goal with two seconds left Thursday night in a 23-20 victory over Phoenix Pinnacle.

Thomas had 168 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries in the first half. But he was just warming up.

When Pinnacle gained momentum behind Spencer Rattler’s pin-point passing that included three successful fake punts for first downs, Thomas regained control.

After Pinnacle led for the first time 17-13 on Kaleb Covington’s 14-yard run, Thomas ran 73 yards for a touchdown three plays later late in the third quarter for a 20-13 lead.

After Pinnacle tied the score at 20 on Jacob Veach’s 27-yard field goal with 3:31 to play that capped a 16-play drive that started at Pinnacle’s 6, Centennial (4-0) — ranked No. 1 in 5A and No. 1 in the azcentral sports’ Super 10 — handed the ball off to Thomas five times. He ducked and weaved and fought for extra yardage, helping his team move from its 35 and into field-goal territory.

A face mask penalty on Thomas’ final carry – a 13-yard burst – moved the ball to the 14.

A fumbled snap by quarterback Ruben Beltran was quickly recovered by Centennial, putting the ball on the 12. Centennial waited for the clock to run down to :06 before calling time out.

Pinnacle, No. 4 in 6A and No. 6 in the Super 10, tried to freeze Xavier Rojas by calling a time out.

Rojas then won it with a 28-yard field goal with two seconds to play. It was his third field  goal with the other to coming at the end of the first and second quarters.

Centennial coach Richard Taylor credited his big, experienced line for opening holes for Thomas to get to the linebackers. From there, Taylor described Thomas as “running like a possessed man.”

“I think it had to do with his mom getting to see him tonight for the very first time,” Taylor said, choking up.

Standout performer

Thomas finished with 342 rushing yards on 27 carries. And that included a seven-yard loss on one play when he cramped up and needed to get his left leg worked on for awhile on the sideline.

“I was tired, but the whole team was tired,” said Thomas, who has committed to Boise State. “We just had to hang in there.

“Their defense was hard. As the game progressed, we found out what worked.”

Thomas is hoping his mom can come out from Florida in a couple of weeks when Centennial hosts national powerhouse Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.

“I’m begging for her to come out,” he said.

More standouts

Rojas showed clutch abilities, kicking field goals of 34 and 39-yards on the last play of the first two quarters, giving Centennial a 13-3 lead.

Centennial survived the splendid play of Rattler, who extended drives with three successful fake punts, finding receivers with his quick passes and ability to escape pressure with his feet.

Rattler engineered a 65-yard scoring drive to start the second half, completing four of five passes for 46 yards, capping it with a 10-yard pass to Hayden Hatten. 

Rattler was five of six passing for 55 yards on a 16-play drive that began at his 6 and ended on Jacob Leach’s 27-yard field goal that tied the score at 20-20 in the fourth quarter.

Star watch

Pinnacle junior running back Amelec Juntunen again showed flashes of brilliance, like he did two weeks ago when he scored on two long runs in the final quarter to send the game into overtime against Chandler, before losing.

After Thomas’ 73-yard score, Juntunen returned a kickoff 74 yards to the 10. But a fumble by Covington at the 5 cost Pinnacle points.

Quote

Centennial was undisciplined on one long Pinnacle scoring drive, helping the Pioneers with a couple of 15-yard penalties. “There were two or three minutes there that I thought we lost some of our composure, but we regained it, and then the offensive line said, ‘Coach, we’re going to score.”’ Taylor said.

Stat of the game

Veach’s field goal with a little more than two minutes left in the second quarter snapped Centennial’s 15-quarter streak of not allowing a point. It dated to last year’s 5A state championship game against Gilbert Williams Field.

Rattler’s TD pass to  Hatten opening the second half was the first time since the second quarter of the Williams Field loss that Centennial had given up a touchdown.

“I knew we weren’t going to go through the entire season without being scored on,” Taylor said. “I was concerned about how they were going to react the first time they got scored on. I was hoping it wasn’t going to be against a team like Pinnacle. But that’s in the past now, and I’m pleased with how we adjusted after that.”

Up next

Pinnacle plays at Avondale Westview on Sept. 22, while Pinnacle (3-2) plays at Phoenix Mountain Pointe on that night.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert. Watch azcentral sports high school football Facebook live every Wednesday at 7 p.m.