CORONA — Centennial football coach Matt Logan watched last week’s game against Santa Margarita from a hospital bed.

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Centennial’s Keawe Browne, (#2), clothes the football for a touchdown in a game against Bingham at Centennial High School, Saturday in Corona, Sept. 6, 2025. (Photo by John Valenzuela/Contributing Photographer)

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Logan went in for a check-up early in the week and tests revealed a rapid heart rate. He could not get it under control, so he was admitted to the hospital. Logan missed two practices and Thursday’s game, which the Huskies lost 33-27 in overtime. Logan said, prior to last week, he had missed one practice his entire coaching career — when his first wife, Donna, was battling breast cancer.

“Those feeds are delayed and it went out for about a quarter and a half,” Logan said about trying to watch the game on a laptop. “That was probably more stressful than any game I’ve ever coached. It was just really frustrating not being able to be with them.”

Logan was released over the weekend and quickly went into preparation mode Sunday for Centennial’s nonleague game against Bingham (South Jordan, Utah). And Logan’s return was triumphant, as the Huskies cruised to a 42-6 win Saturday evening.

“It was great to get back to work Sunday and have back that routine of doing what we love doing as coaches,” said Logan, who earned his 297th career victory. “You can take things for granted at times, and you really do appreciate everything you have something like this happens.”

Logan agreed Saturday night’s performance by his Huskies was uneven. The defense shined with five turnovers, including pick-six touchdowns by Miles Schirmer and Jaden Walk-Green. But Logan lamented some of the mishaps on offense and penalties.

“Unfortunately we carried over some of the mistakes we made last week,” Logan said. “We’re a young group and still learning.”

Centennial (2-1) has its toughest challenge ahead this Friday, when it hosts two-time defending CIF State champ Mater Dei (2-0). The Huskies once owned a 5-3 edge in that series, but Mater Dei has won seven consecutive meetings dating back to 2018.

“We prepare the same way no matter who we play,” Logan said. “With (Mater Dei), it comes down to performing better than we have.”

Centennial’s offense got off to a slow start Saturday evening, turning the ball over on downs on its first two possessions. There were no such problems for the defense, however, as that unit forced a turnover on downs and a quick three-and-out.

Centennial took the lead midway through the first quarter when Dominick Catalano lofted a pass to Keawe Browne, who made a spectacular diving and juggling catch for a 35-yard touchdown.

The Huskies needed only two plays to move the ball 70 yards on their next drive and double the lead. Catalano and Gavin Lorge connected on a 29-yard completion, and Zander Lewis burst through Bingham’s defense for a 41-yard touchdown run.

Centennial’s defense continued to shine during the second quarter. Schirmer tipped a pass at the line, corralled the ball and broke a couple of tackles en route to a 48-yard touchdown. Walk-Green went 68 yards for his touchdown 2 minutes later.

The lead was 35-0 after Malaki Davis ran the Statue of Liberty play for a 25-yard touchdown in the closing seconds of the half.

Bingham ended its scoring drought when Kash Dawson scored on a 2-yard keeper with 8:35 left in the third quarter. The Miners recovered an onside kick, but Centennial’s defense recovered a fumble four plays later. Centennial took advantage with another lightning-quick score, as Catalano found Jaden Bynum over the middle for a 65-yard touchdown to make it 42-6.

Logan said he will be monitoring his health throughout the season.

“I need to get a game plan for this,” Logan said. “We’ll deal with it and figure out how to treat this moving forward.”


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