The Pueblo Central vs Pueblo Centennial game is the oldest high school football rivalry west of the Mississippi River. This year’s meeting marked the 117th between the two teams dating back to 1892. It is a game that regularly draws a crowd of 15,000 fans to Dutch-Clark Stadium. This season, both teams are going into the game looking for their first win on the season.

MVP

Pat Gonzales

Pueblo Centennial

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Peyton Roth

Pueblo Central

Payton has been the kicker on the football team all four years at Central and has earned 15 varsity letters while participating in five sports each year. Payton is also the Student Body President at Central High School and participates in several club and service organizations. Payton has a 4.57 GPA and plans to attend the University of Southern California or the University of Colorado to study architecture.

Lucas Espinoza

Pueblo Centennial

Lucas is a senior with a 4.52 GPA. He is currently ranked sixth in his senior class. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Annual Staff, Student Government, and DECA. He plans to attend Colorado-Boulder.

HALL OF FAME

Justin Gernazio

Pueblo Central

Justin played in the Bell Game for the Wildcats his sophomore, junior, and senior years. As team captain in 1999, during a historic Bell Game he led his team with 17 tackles, over 100 yards receiving, 50 yards rushing, and two touchdowns. Justin ended his career as the all-time leading tackler in Pueblo Central history and went on to be an assistant coach for the Wildcats for 15 years.

Steve Sankey

Pueblo Centennial

GAME SUMMARY

The stadium was absolutely packed and rocking from fans wearing red and fans wearing blue for each team. The game was a game of inches, it was a tough fought battle in the trenches, coming down to a late missed field goal and a turnover in overtime which was the deciding factor of the game. The game MVP belonged to Centennial quarterback Pat Gonzales, who controlled the game by making smart plays and not committing a turnover. The game was tied 8-8 at the end of regulation. Centennial ended up with the 14-8 victory after capitializing off a Central turnover.