A packed house on a picturesque evening didn’t exactly follow script for the host Casteel Colts who were run over and around by Centennial running back Tawee Walker as the Coyotes started fast and coasted to a 42-19 win in the southeast Valley.
The senior transfer from Las Vegas, who plays both running back and safety, single-handed ruined the Colts’ 5A debut, despite battling cramps on a warm, muggy night.
“I need to get more hydrated, I think that’s what it is,” Walker said to the assembled media after the lopsided win. “Because I’m not drinking enough and I’m sweating a lot.”
The 5-foot-10, 195-pound wrecking ball certainly had the Casteel coaches sweating after starting the scoring with a short touchdown run and then taking a swing pass in the flat from junior quarterback Jonathan Morris and galloping 73 yards to the end zone. The TD would essentially seal the game as the defending 5A state champions opened up a 35-0 lead and sent a rude statement to a Casteel team which saw their 14-game win-streak come to an abrupt halt.
Tawee Walker takes the lateral 73 yards for the Centennial score. XP no good. 13-0 Centennial with 9:30 left in the first half. pic.twitter.com/mDNrXRUUcE
— ArizonaVarsity.com ???? (@AZHSFB) August 18, 2018
“They weren’t expecting us to be as good as we were,” Walker said of the defending state champs. “But we knew from the start we had to show them what 5A is really like because they’re a 3A team and they’re not ready to hang with us yet.”
Despite Centennial taking their foot off the gas due to the cramping and fatigue of the long, penalty-filled game, Morris was both efficient and accurate tossing three touchdowns in his first career start.
However, make no mistake, the biggest star under Casteel’s Friday night lights was Walker who is going to be a handful for every one of the Yotes’ future opponents, including national power Bishop Gorman (NV) who visits from Walker’s old stomping ground in two weeks.
“I’ve only been out here about two or three months,” he explained. “We’re going to get a better bond and we’re going to get better every game.”
Tawee walker makes a 13 yard run for the TD. Kick is good. 28-0 2:50 left in Q3
— Coyote Football (@Cehsfootball) August 18, 2018
Walker scored four touchdowns and also scored on a two-point conversion in the lopsided win.
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Eric Sorenson
A Valley native, Eric has had a passion for the Arizona sports scene since an early age. He has covered some of the biggest events including Super Bowls, national championships and the NBA and MLB playoffs in his near 20 years in local media.