Centennial spoils Kitna’s high school return in Boot Game classic at AT&T Stadium
Former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna was hired at Burleson in March right before the coronavirus pandemic hit. More than six months later, his Burleson coaching debut took place at AT&T Stadium, where he spent part of his career.
But Kitna’s night was spoiled as Burleson Centennial senior running back Christian Hudson’s 14-yard touchdown run with 19 seconds left lifted the Spartans over the Elks in the ninth-annual Boot Game to kick off the Class 6A-5A season on Thursday night.
The UIL’s two largest classifications were delayed a month due to COVID-19 concerns.
Centennial (1-0) leads the series 5-4 and extends its winning streak over Burleson (0-1) to three games.
“It was quite exciting,” Centennial coach Kyle Geller said. “I think that’s been part of our brand the last few years, we don’t give up. We’re just going to play.”
Burleson tried to ice the game deep in the red zone, but was stopped short on fourth down inside the 5 with 2:15 left. Trailing 34-31, Centennial needed 94 yards for the go-ahead score.
“Down three, I didn’t want to kick a field goal. I wanted to win the game,” Centennial sophomore quarterback Phillip Hamilton said.
The Spartans ran 10 plays and picked up five first downs. Hamilton picked up 18 yards on a second-and-7 and threw a 21-yard pass to Chapman Lewis to put them on the Burleson 29.
“We have a quarterback, there’s something about the kid. He’s a winner,” Geller said. “So I thought we were in good hands.”
Three plays later, Hudson took a hand-off, broke a tackle and scored the game winner.
“I couldn’t do it without my O-line, they’re some dogs,” said Hudson, who rushed 25 times for 119 yards and two TDs. “It was tunnel vision. We were going to get into that end zone no matter what.”
Centennial grabbed the early 3-0 lead after a 10-play drive, capped off by a 34-yard field goal from Josh Garcia with 9:34 left in the first quarter.
Kitna’s youngest son, Jalen, a 3-star Florida commit, went to work, but the Elks’ opening drive went three-and-out.
However, the defense stepped up when Jaden Kindles recovered a Centennial fumble that resulted into Burleson points. Jalen Kitna’s first touchdown as an Elk came on a 45-yard strike to Luke Peterson for a 7-3 edge with 1:20 left in the opening quarter.
“I try not to get caught up at the fact that I’m his dad. I’m coaching a great quarterback,” said Kitna, who spent the 2019 season as the QBs coach for the Dallas Cowboys. He also played in Dallas from 2009-11 and 2013. “What an opportunity. He played with a lot of resiliency tonight and it was really fun to be a part of.”
The Spartans responded on the ensuing possession, a 7-play, 60-yard drive - all rushes - and was capped off by a 1-yard scoring run by Hudson to help them regain the 10-7 lead with 10:34 in the second quarter.
Centennial was in position to extend the lead when Guerlain Huffman intercepted a Burleson pass attempt, but three plays later, the Spartans put the ball on the turf and Quenton Husband returned it for a 50-yard TD to put the Elks on top 14-10 midway through the period.
Burleson extended its lead 20-10 on the first drive of the third quarter. Kitna and Peterson connected for the second time of the night with a 19-yarder in the corner of the end zone.
The Elks chose to take a knee on the extra point to leave their score at 20 in honor of fallen teammate Tre Allison, who died in a car crash in June. The team honored Allison with Number 20 decals on their helmets.
Burleson got the ball back, but a third-down snap went over Kitna’s head and Justin Alvarado recovered for Centennial at the Elks’ 31. The Spartans scored three plays later on a 24-yard run by David Clerk to pull within 20-17 at the 3:16 mark.
Just nine seconds later, Kitna and Peterson hooked up for the third time on a wide-open 47-yard TD.
“Luke is really good receiver and Jalen sees the field well. We run a pro-style offense,” said Kitna, who last coached a Texas high school football team in 2017 with Waxahachie.
Centennial answered two plays later when Hamilton scored from 77 yards out to get the Spartans within 27-24 with 2:10 to go in the period.
“Execution was bad in the first half, just unnecessary stuff and forcing too much,” Hamilton said. “I can’t say there was an adjustment at halftime, more just locking in and making sure we get those things down that we practice everyday.”
The Elks led 34-24 on Kitna’s fourth TD, a 12-yard strike to Aswan Bonner with 9:19 to play.
“What a great game and honor for these kids,” Jon Kitna said. “Our district is amazing. Bret Jimerson, the leadership from him down to our athletic director Kevin Ozee, to have the fore-sight to do this game and this site - what a great opportunity to have our community celebrate that.”
Hamilton, who led all rushers with 163 yards, scored from the 3 to pull Centennial within 34-31 with 5:35 remaining.
Centennial out-gained Burleson 450-349. The Spartans rushed 50 times for 346 yards. Clerk added 47 yards rushing.
Kitna threw for 204 yards and four TDs on 14 of 18 passing. Peterson made five catches for 141 yards and three TDs while Jarrett Austin was the team’s leading rusher with 155 yards on 21 carries.
This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 11:12 PM.
