Centennial football defeats Rosemount in Class 6A quarterfinal

STILLWATER, MINNESOTA — The No. 6 Centennial Cougars (10-1) defeated the No. 16 Rosemount Irish (6-5) 24-0 in the Class 6A Quarterfinals Thursday at Stillwater High School.

A Marcus Whiting 4-yard touchdown run was all the Cougars needed as they blanked the Irish 24-0 to send themselves to the class 6A semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Defense leads the way for Centennial

This was the second meeting of the season between the two teams, with Centennial winning 9-0 back in the middle of October. It was the same recipe for success this time around as once again as the Cougars anchored down on defense to get the win.

“Our defensive coaches and defense themselves just went out there and dominated,” Centennial head coach Mike Diggins said.

The Cougars' defense spent nearly no time on their own side of the 50-yard line, forcing a slew of three-and-outs alongside four turnovers to help their offense get solid field possession nearly every drive.

Quarterback Daylen Cummings credits the entire defensive unit when looking at their success.

“Our defense is just great," he said. "Especially our scout guys. They work their butts off in practice giving our defense the best looks they possibly can.”

The highlight on defense came in the fourth quarter from Ayden Sadowski, who caught a deflected pass off a Rosemount receiver to give the Cougars a short field. The Cougars would take advantage as running back Maverick Harper punched it in at the goal line to give Centennial a 24-0 lead late in the fourth.

Just run the football

Rosemount was able to get to the locker down just 10-0, but a service academy-esque drive out of the half from Centennial killed any hopes the Irish had of making a comeback.

The Cougars took almost nine minutes off the clock with a near 20-play drive, all by way of the run, that ended in seven points.

“Our offensive coordinator went out there and told the kids, “we are getting too cute, let's just take it and run the ball." Diggins said. “We also had a new play we ran twice and it went for big yardage.”

The long drive was capped off by Cummings, who ran into the end zone from five yards out to extend the Cougars lead to 17.

“We're just going to drive you down the field, that's what we do. When we go out there and do that, it just makes it a whole lot easier for defense, and they get a longer break.” Cummings said.

What a difference a year makes

Just one year ago, these teams met on the same field, with the same stakes. Tonight, the Cougars would make sure history doesn't repeat itself.

“It's about time," Diggins said. "We've been here before, it's our first time winning this game since 1984 and we've been in this position four out of the last five years.”

Last year, the Irish blanked the Cougars 27-0, with the Cougars unable to match the Irish’s physicality. Cummings, now a senior who played in that game, didn't forget the feeling of losing it.

“We were in their shoes last year, so we know it sucks. It's a lot better being on this side of the field and going to [U.S. Bank],” Cummings said.