By Don Ketchum

After losing its first game of the season to Mesa Red Mountain last week, Peoria Centennial rebounded with a decisive 41-21 victory over Class 5A Division II rival Avondale Westview on Friday night  (Oct. 29).

Sophomore Jalen Ortiz scored three touchdowns, including a 98-yard kickoff return. And the defense often put the offense in good field position.

"You could hear it (hitting by the defense) and sometimes you could almost feel it,'' said Centennial coach Richard Taylor.

Centennial climbed to 8-1, Westview fell to 7-2. Westview's only other loss was to defending Class 5A Division I champion Chandler Hamilton.

"The last few years, when we have lost we have been able to come back strong,'' Taylor said.

"Last week's game was disappointing, but we learned a lot. We learned to give the kids more breaks (breathers). We learned that the coaches have to teach better and the players have to listen better. We learned that the next play is the most important, not the one that just happened.''

Zach Hoffpauir and Jesse Callahan set up touchdowns with interceptions.

Hoffpauir's pick came in the first half and Callahan's in the second half on Westview's first possession after intermission.

Callahan returned the ball 18 yards to the Westview 36, and just like that, Ortiz scored on a 36-yard run.

Quarterback Troy Hawthorne found Gary Ross for a 65-yard touchdown pass with 4:01 left in the third quarter for a 27-7 lead.

Westview pulled closer with a 12-yard run by Shayne Miller early in the fourth quarter, but Centennial got the momentum right back when Ortiz broke free for his long kickoff return.

Centennial had a 41-14 lead before Westview scored on the final play of the game.

Hawthorne, who has been in the lineup after an injury to starter Justin Sanchez, ran the offense with efficiency and completed 6 of 10 passes for 101 yards.

"Troy is such a great kid. He took that loss upon himself,'' Taylor said.

Sanchez will return to practice next week, Taylor said, adding that he will see what happens before deciding on a starter for the regular-season finale.