back

"It feels incredible to be back on pole," Russell said.

The Gauchos have improved considerably with new talent, including Atkinson, a freshman who made plays as a running back and defensive back.

Mistakes such as those flipped the game on its head for Centennial, which was once only down 9-7 after defensive back Dean Gibson — a sophomore filling in for beat-up running backs Malachi Roby and Braylin Drake — stormed for a 51-yard touchdown run and a 16-yard touchdown scramble with 6:53 remaining in the second quarter.

On Friday night, the team announced it had hired Chris Woodward to be its new first base coach, bringing back the former Texas Rangers manager for his second stint on Dave Roberts’ staff.

“We are thrilled to have Chris Woodward back on the coaching staff,” general manager Brandon Gomes said in a statement.