Centauri stays perfect with win against Pagosa Springs

LA JARA — On Friday night the Falcons hosted Pagosa Springs and put on a show for the home crowd with a 36-17 victory off a 3-touchdown night from Taj Cornum.
Centauri has already gone 2-0 in games against Rye and formerly fourth ranked Paonia to move into the number 5 spot. The Falcons were looking to stay perfect against Pagosa Springs. The Pirates meanwhile came into Friday night after giving Salida a fight that closed 30-22 in Salida’s favor.
Nate Anderson got things started with a 26-yard connection with Sam Anderson to go up 7-0 but then Centauri slowed down and fell behind 7-10 in the second quarter.
With their first possession of the second stanza it looked like the sluggish play might continue when their drive went 20 yards before sputtering out of gas and ending in a punt. On the second play of the ensuing drive Brandon Buhr would pick off Pagosa’s Isaiah Griego and take it to his own 48.
The Falcons were sure not to waste this opportunity as later Nate Anderson found Sam Anderson for a 24-yard reception that put Centauri on the doorstep. Three plays later Taj Cornum punched in the go ahead touchdown to make it 14-10. From then on Centauri didn’t look back going on a 15-point run with another Anderson-Anderson connection that spanned 84 yards and some more ground and pound from Cornum to make it a 29-10 contest.
When visiting Pagosa found paydirt for the first time since the first quarter to make it 29-17, Centauri shifted gears and punctuated a seven minute 15 play drive with another Cornum touchdown to total his third of the night to make 5 on the season. Centauri put the finishing touches on this victory when Sam Anderson fell on a loose ball allowing his offense to get into victory formation putting their third victory in as many weeks in the books.
The Falcons got things under control from when we saw them two weeks ago winning the turnover battle getting 2 picks and collecting 2 fumbles to register a plus 3 turnover difference.
Centauri will get an opportunity to test their mettle next week going on the road to face 8th ranked Monte Vista on Friday the 15th. Monte Vista led by two-time champion coach Manny Wasinger, has their own untarnished record to consider with their recent victory over Ellicot.