Panthers’ party on hold … briefly

As the ball fell incomplete on fourth-and-goal in overtime, the Palo Verde celebration started -- and then quickly stopped.

Flag on the play.

"That last call, you just never know," Palo Verde coach Darwin Rost said. "That thing can go either way. I really thought that offensive guy was grabbing our guy, but you know how it is.

"It's high school football, and those referees get one second to make that call, and we get to super-slow-mo it on Saturday, but then it's too late."

It turned out it was too late for Centennial (3-2, 1-1 Northwest). The penalty went against Bulldogs receiver Matt Holley, giving the second-ranked Panthers (5-0, 2-0) a 28-21 home victory.

Palo Verde defender Torin Harris was covering Holley on the play. He said there was a lot of contact, but he wasn't sure which way the call was going to go.

"I had no clue. I just had to play the play," Harris said.

It was Harris' second big defensive play in overtime. On second down, Centennial quarterback Tyson Turley pitched the ball to Holley, who threw a pass for McClain Zornes, who had gotten behind Harris in the end zone.

But Harris stretched out at the last second and tipped the ball away.

"I can't let nobody catch it on me," Harris said. "That's my job as a (defensive back). I can't let nobody catch nothing on me."

Palo Verde needed just two offensive plays to punch in its score in overtime, with Chaz Thomas scoring from 2 yards out to put the Panthers ahead 28-21.

It was the third rushing TD of the game for Thomas, who just returned last week after missing time with a groin injury.

"It's nice to have him healthy again," Rost said. "He's such a strong runner for us. He looks like he's healthy again. We've just got to get him playing a little bit more on the other side of the ball, too."

Palo Verde had a chance to win the game in regulation.

After Centennial tied the game with 58 seconds remaining, the Panthers used big runs by Thomas and Sidney Hodge to move the ball into Centennial territory, and Harris made a leaping catch of a pass from Jahari Selmon at the Centennial 2 with 12 seconds to go.

Palo Verde called its final timeout and elected to try for a touchdown rather than kick a short field goal. Selmon fumbled the snap on the play, and time expired before the team could get another shot.

"If we were at the other end zone, we definitely would have loaded up and kicked it," Rost said. "But it's kind of a crosswind."

Centennial led 14-0 at the half, but Palo Verde owned the third quarter and tied the game at 14. Then on the Bulldogs' first possession of the fourth quarter, Thomas capped a 50-yard drive with a 3-yard run to make it 21-14.

The Bulldogs then went on a 13-play, 80-yard drive that ate up more than seven minutes, with Turley scoring on a 1-yard run to tie the contest again.

Hodge rushed for 76 yards and Thomas 71 to pace Palo Verde's ground attack.

Holley rushed for 109 yards on 24 carries, and also caught a 44-yard TD pass from Turley, to lead Centennial.