Centennial Centaurs’ football is all about the process, says head coach Dino Geremia.
“We need to stay true to our systems and philosophies,” and results will follow.
Last season, Geremia’s adage bore fruit as the varsity team reached the BC Secondary School Football Association’s Coastal semifinal after many years of futility.
The 2021–22 season was a bit of a coming out for the Centaurs.
Not only was the team emerging from a year off because of the COVID-19 pandemic, its post-season game was the first since Geremia took over the program.
To get there, the Centaurs stunned the previously undefeated Vancouver College Fighting Irish 27-24 in the quarter-final after finishing the regular season with four wins and three losses.
Geremia said that success proved trusting the process could overcome injuries, an overall lack of depth and even some disappointing losses.
He added the pride of accomplishment has rubbed off throughout the program, bolstering the buy-in.
“The players have a greater understanding of what we are doing,” Geremia said.
Despite the graduation of several key players like running back Ziad Sabry and receiver Keyshawn Beswick, Geremia is confident that this year’s group of seniors have the right stuff to lead a promising crop of younger players, who’ve ascended from backup roles or the junior varsity team.
“They have a great understanding of our program,” he said, adding they’re “setting high exceptions for themselves and our program.”
Among the players Geremia’s looking to take on bigger roles will be returning quarterback Malcolm Cameron and receivers Connor Jones and Marco Kee.
Hulking twins, William and Walter Zhang (6’, 280 lb and 5’11”, 260 lb, respectively) will anchor the line, along with Cade Thorington.
“As a collective, we are capable of great things,” Geremia said.
But fulfilling that potential will take daily commitment, he added.
“If we can stand at the end of the season and look each other in the eye and be proud of our performance and interactions, then we will be heading in the right direction.”
Centennial’s regular season schedule:
- Sept. 29: Notre Dame @ Centennial, 6 p.m.
- Oct. 7: Centennial @ St. Thomas More, 7:30 p.m.
- Oct. 14: Seaquam @ Centennial, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 22: Centennial @ Lord Tweedsmuir, 1:30 p.m.
- Oct. 28: Centennial @ New Westminster, 7:30 p.m.
- Nov. 4: Terry Fox @ Centennial, 7 p.m.
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