A seasoned championship program in Centennial and a program wanting to break through as a champion in Williams Field. That's the matchup for the 2016 5A Conference football title.

No. 5 seed Centennial (12-1) and its only coach Richard Taylor, are king of Division II/5A-II/5A football in the state. Since 2005 the Coyotes have won five titles and finished runner-up three times. They won the D-I championship last year playing with all the big boys. This is their ninth visit to the title game in 12 years. The only misses to title-game appearances in that span are 2009, 2011 and 2013. Taylor has 281 career wins, 220 at Centennial in 27 seasons. Centennial has won 12 games in a row since a season-opening 26-24 loss to Desert Edge, which featured five Coyote turnovers.

No. 2 seed Williams Field (13-0) and its only coach Steve Campbell, is playing for its third title since the school opened and began playing varsity ball in 2008. The Black Hawks lost in 2010 to Thunderbird in the 4A-II championship in overtime. Their other loss was to Saguaro in the D-III title game in 2014. Williams Field is 95-18 under Campbell in nine seasons.

This year's Centennial team is not unlike most others. An inexperienced defense has grown as the season's progressed led by defensive end Andrew Nichols, linebackers Marcus Wakeman and Taylor Fiame and secondary mates Gage Franklin and Isaac Haney.The Coyotes have alowed the fewest poins in 5A - 123 - an average of 9.5 per game. The offense is run-first led by junior Zidane Thomas. Thomas has become a workhorse and has piled up 1.888 yards and 18 TDs. Thomas gouged Cienega for 336 yards and four TDs in the semis. Four or five other backs chip in. Junior quarterback Ruben Beltran has thrown for 1,498 yards and 14 TDs. The Coyotes top receiver is Connor Sovacki (36 catches, 354 yards, 3 TDs) with tall, physical tight end Nichols an inviting target, too.

Williams Field also lays out the defensive card as its forte. The Black Hawks have allowed 147 points, just more than 10 per game. Their passing game is more prolific and dangerous. Sophomore quarterback Zack Shepherd has passed for 2,482 yards and 24 TDs. He has a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Justis Stokes and Max Fine, who have combined for 23 TD receptions. Williams Field relies on speedy Josh Alexander for the bulk of its rushing yardage. Alexander missed a couple game in mid-October, but is knocking on the door of a 1,000-yard season. Shavez Hawkins, Evan Price and Jordan Neal also get work in the backfield.

The keys to the game: Williams Field's ability to keep tabs on Zidane Thomas, especially preventing big runs, is critical as Centennial banks on physical, trench warfare. Williams Field isn't as physical as Centennial, but its passing game is at least as good as Centennial's seen. Centennial saw only one solid passing team this season -- Pinnacle -- and gave up 255 yards. Shephard, Stokes and Fine are capable of challenging Centennial's pass defense, which works well if the run is respected. Williams Field kicker, the state's most dominant at his position on kickoffs and field goals, is a weapon few teams have. Ruiz has connected on 17 of 19 field goals with a long of 58 yards.