A big second half from running back Calvin Coppersmith proved to be just enough to carry Centennial past Rosemount 21-14 in the season opener for both teams Friday night at Irish Stadium in Rosemount.
The senior’s 4-yard touchdown run with 3:28 to play gave the Cougars their first lead of the night and they were able to hang on from there.
It was Rosemount that struck first after taking the opening kickoff and marching 75 yards to score on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by sophomore quarterback Finn Macken. The touchdown came one play after Macken had completed a 30-yard pass to senior Mayon Dixon on fourth-and-6 at the Cougars’ 31-yard line.
But Centennial answered back with a long drive of its own that looked like it would end with a 25-yard field goal. A roughing-the-kicker penalty, though, gave the Cougars a fresh set of downs. Senior quarterback Isaac Belinske-Strauss took full advantage, bouncing outside to score on a 1-yard run that tied the score 7-7 with 10:26 to play before halftime.
The first two drives ran a total of 13:34 off the clock.
The Irish then jumped on top 14-7 when senior Quintin VeDepo picked off a Belinske-Strauss pass and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown with 1:51 remaining in the second quarter.
After Coppersmith began the second half with a long kickoff return that gave Centennial the ball at midfield, the Cougars advanced all the way to the Rosemount 23. But the drive stalled there and a 40-yard, field-goal attempt was no good.
Centennial got another chance after recovering a fumble at its own 39 late in the third, and this time the Cougars converted on a touchdown run from just over 1-yard out by sophomore Edwin Ekah.
That tied the score 14-14 with 11:11 remaining.
After Centennial forced a Rosemount punt, the Coppersmith show continued as he spun away from defenders for a first down on fourth-and-1 at the Irish 24, then scored five plays later to put his team on top by seven.
Macken led his team all the way to the Cougars’ 40 on Rosemount’s final possession, but a high snap resulted in a 13-yard loss, then a 15-yard personal foul call made it fourth-and-29 and the Irish turned the ball over on downs, allowing Centennial to run out the clock.
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