EXCELLING AMID ADVERSITY

More than ever, Matt Logan needed to be there for his three kids this year. But he didn't forget about his 80-plus other kids.

The Corona Centennial football coach led the program to new heights this season in the shadow of his biggest loss. Logan's wife, Donna, lost a four-year battle with cancer in July.

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Matt Logan

While adjusting to life as a single parent for his three daughters, Logan oversaw a talented group of players that made history. The Huskies won their fourth CIF-SS championship and became the Inland area's first representative in a state bowl game.

"It was very important to have some normalcy back in my personal life," Logan said. "Coaching, obviously, is a big part of that, getting back to doing what you love to do."

There was plenty of work to be done on the field from the first day of practice. The Huskies faced an imposing schedule that included matchups against elite powers in the state, including Compton Dominguez, Fresno Clovis West, Encino Crespi and Santa Ana Mater Dei.

Centennial's only loss before the bowl game was to Mater Dei in a 51-37 game in which the teams combined for 1,303 yards, a state record.

That setback was followed by eight straight wins, including a 42-7 rout over Corona Santiago in the CIF-SS Inland Division championship. Then the Huskies found out their season would be extended by one more game. They were selected to face Concord De La Salle, one of the most storied programs in the nation, in the CIF Division 1 state bowl championship.

The Huskies showed their mettle with a 24-point comeback before falling 37-31. Not surprisingly, Logan already is looking forward to next season.

"The bar has been raised," he said. "We expect to play for the state championship. Anything else is probably going to be a disappointment to our program."