Quarterback Evan Ostergren scrambled right and launched a ball toward the Osseo end zone. Tyler Meany jumped to grab the ball near the goal line but wound up tipping it into the arms of teammate Joshua DeWitt despite the presence of three Orioles in coverage.

Centennial went on to upset then-No. 7 Osseo and has kept rolling to an unlikely 3-0 start. A season ago, the Cougars finished 3-6 and lost four times by seven points or less.

"We had a really good team," second-year head coach Mike Diggins said. "We led the [Northwest Suburban] conference in rushing. We just got too many bad breaks."

The Cougars' turnaround isn't all about good fortune. Diggins scrapped the wing-T offense and modified the offense to fit players' strengths.

"The kids are believing in the things that offensive coordinator Jason Tlusty has been saying," Diggins said. "We've got a blue-collar team that is learning how to compete."