The Cougars, ranked No. 8 in last week’s Star Tribune metro top 10, lost 29-28 at home to Stillwater (7-0) in Week 1 and 24-17 at Maple Grove (7-0) in Week 4. Those two tight contests are a theme for this team in 2022.
Centennial (5-2) blew out Blaine (3-4) 34-0 in Week 6, but every other game has been decided by single digits. None were closer than last week’s 8-7 grinding win against Minnetonka (4-3). Cougars are allowing the second fewest points per game in Class 6A at 11.4, just behind Rosemount (7.9).
Senior linebacker Reese Littlefield leads the team with 93 tackles. Junior defensive end Marcus Whiting at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds leads with eight sacks. Whiting even got some rare action at fullback last Friday, scoring the team’s lone touchdown.
The question with Centennial is if it can score enough points. It ranks 25th out of 32 teams, scoring 16.9 points per game. The bright side is the Cougars exceeded that total against the two toughest opponents on their schedule.
Their next toughest is Woodbury (6-1). The Royals claimed last year’s matchup 37-20 en route to a 7-1 regular season.
It wasn’t as lopsided as the score might indicate. Centennial burst out to a 14-0 advantage, before 21 unanswered points from Woodbury.
Both quarterbacks are back for this one. Woodbury’s George Bjellos has completed 77 of 116 passes (66.4%) for 899 yards, 11 TDs and three interceptions this season with plenty of receivers to look at. Five Royals have 100-plus receiving yards led by junior Charlie Jacobson with 177 yards on 13 catches.
Woodbury’s going to finish the season with another gaudy win percentage, but the Royals haven’t been tested like they will on Wednesday. Their first seven opponents combine for a 17-32 record with the only team above .500, East Ridge (4-3), blowing the Royals out 28-0 in Week 5.
Don’t expect a ton of points coming up Wednesday. Woodbury’s 13.3 points allowed per game ties for fourth in Class 6A. The Royals are coming off their first shutout of the season in last week’s 55-0 win at Hopkins (0-7) and have held two teams to just a touchdown.