Austin Holthaus & Colton Hasenkamp

Since a season-opening 28-8 loss to Rossville to begin the season the Centralia football team has been on a tear winning 11 straight games and rushing for 334 yards per game behind a stout offensive line.

That strong offensive line play continued Friday night as the junior duo of Colton Hasenkamp and Austin Holthaus were dominant in the trenches leading the Panther to their first state championship game appearance since 2013 in a 44-6 beat down of Jackson Heights.

Centralia rushed for 332 yards in that win and produced 346 yards of total offense, four rushing touchdowns and even one passing touchdown.

Hasenkamp and Holthaus were dominant on both side of the ball in the win as the two combined for 18 tackles defensively led by Holthaus’ 14.

They have been dominant all year defensively with Holthaus leading the team in tackles with 64 at his middle linebacker spot while Hasenkamp has produced 22 unassisted stops.

The duo is part of a defense that is allowing only 12 points per game and has forced 17 turnovers along with allowing just 191 total yards of offense per game.

Hasenkamp and Holthaus have the Panthers into their seventh state title game in school history where they will take on Smith Center whom they beat in 20-19 in overtime in the 2009 title game which ended at the time a 79-game win streak.

Kickoff for Saturday’s Class 1A Championship game is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Hays with live coverage on 103.9 KNZA.