Gators get head start in 14-9 win

Nick Christensen

Friday, Sept. 24, 2004 | 9:27 a.m.

After Greg Murphy left Centennial to coach at Green Valley, and Joel Bertsch took over, some wondered whether Murphy would regret the move.

After all, it was the Gators who went 1-8 last season, while Murphy's old team romped to the Sunset Region semifinals.

But coming into Thursday's nonleague finale at Green Valley, the two coaches tried to de-emphasize their first matchup. And in the end, the result had less to do with coaching than Centennial just not coming out ready to play as the Gators held on for a 14-9 win to move to 4-1.

Green Valley started strong, riding a six-minute, 15-second first-quarter drive to an early 7-0 lead. Early in the second quarter, the Gators stopped Centennial's first drive at the 9, then scored their last touchdown of the game 34 seconds before halftime.

The Bulldogs were plagued by fumbles and special teams play. They averted disaster midway through the third quarter, when a Green Valley punt bounced off a Centennial player and was recovered by Green Valley at the Centennial 39.

Early in the fourth quarter, down by five and with fourth-and-1 on their 48, the Bulldogs elected to go for it, but came up less than an inch short to turn the ball over. Penalties through the game cost both teams several big plays.

"I don't think we were really prepared mentally," Bertsch said. "Green Valley did a great job game planning against us. It was similar to our game plan."

As for the coaching matchups, Murphy said as far as his players were concerned, this wasn't a friendly matchup.

"We know they were going to be prepared as well as possible," he said. "It definitely wasn't warm and fuzzy on the sideline. It says a lot about our kids."

After losing 28-7 to Sierra Vista last week, Murphy said that Thursday's win was particularly important heading into league play next week.

"It's huge for these guys," he said. "The confidence factor is huge. We try not to hit on wins and losses, and try to improve each week. If we play to our experience and ability, we'll get that."