Centennial stands strong, overcomes Edina in Class 6A Prep Bowl

Centennial and Edina have a recent history of playing one-score games.

Friday they played a 1-yard game.

Centennial tackled Chase Bjorgaard 1 yard short of the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt, halting an Edina rally and giving the Cougars a 28-27 victory at U.S. Bank Stadium and the Class 6A football championship. Edina had pulled to within a point when Sonny Villegas caught a 21-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left.

It's the first football state championship for Centennial (12-1).

Centennial defeated Edina 14-7 in the 2022 playoffs. Edina won 28-20 in the 2019 regular season, and Centennial won 21-20 in the 2019 playoffs. It was 7-0 Edina in the 2017 state tournament.

"We knew it would come down to that," said Centennial coach Mike Diggins. "It always does, whenever we play Edina. In the same end zone."

Edina coach Jason Potts echoed Diggins.

Centennial is well-known for its bruising style, and it stated its physical intentions early. The Cougars took a 7-0 lead when short-yardage back Marcus Whiting scored on a 2-yard dive up the middle at 11:27 of the second quarter, capping a 13-play, 73-yard drive.

Centennial increased its lead to 14-0 after an interception. Quarterback Daylen Cummings kept the ball and went 15 yards around right end for a touchdown.

The next time Edina had the ball, the Hornets looked like the team that had ripped off eight victories in a row. The Hornets went 66 yards in five plays and got the first of two short touchdown runs by John Warpinski, cutting the Centennial lead to 14-7.

Edina had a chance to cut further into the Centennial lead when Owen Kemper intercepted a Cummings pass, but the Centennial defense forced the Hornets to throw incomplete on fourth-and 17.

Centennial followed by driving 75 yards in 15 plays — eight of them passes — and taking a 21-7 lead into halftime after Cummings hit Josh Lee with a perfect 8-yard back-shoulder throw with five seconds left before halftime.

Cummings said he appreciated the chance to show off his arm.

"We work on those passes every Sunday," he said.

The halftime stats showed Centennial's first-half dominance. The Cougars outgained Edina 225-93 in yards before the break and held the ball for 16:55 to 7:05 for the Hornets.

After halftime. Edina went 65 yards on 12 plays, cutting the Centennial advantage again to a single touchdown on another short Warpinski run.

After an exchange of possessions, Centennial regained momentum when Marcus Whiting went 11 yards untouched off the left side to make the lead two touchdowns again, 28-14.