After Centennial had completed a rock 'em, sock 'em 9-0 victory over Rosemount on Thursday, there wasn't a speck of dirt or grime to be found on any player.
It just didn't seem right.
The artificial turf at Centennial kept uniforms clean, but otherwise the game was everything modern football isn't. Two teams with reputations for being among the more physical in the metro showed their stuff.
No long runs. No flashy passing games. Plenty of big hits, the kind that make fans say "Ooooh." Yards were paid for in spit and sweat and, yes, even blood.
Mano-a-mano, and may the best mano win.
"It's always fun when you get those games where you can just go out there and smack someone in the mouth," said Centennial quarterback Daylen Cummings, who scored the game's only touchdown, on a 3-yard run in the second quarter. "When you're running the ball, you've just got to lower your shoulders and get what you get."
Centennial senior defensive end/running back Marcus Whiting is the type who relishes contact. "We practice like it's gonna be a hard-nosed game," Whiting said. "We don't care, we're gonna hit them. That's what defines Centennial."
It was rough, but also rough around the edges. Both teams made their share of mistakes. Centennial lost three fumbles, Rosemount turned it over twice.
