As members of the same conference since 1996, Center Grove and Warren Central have history in all sports.
Football takes it to a new level.
The Trojans have faced win-or-go-home situations against the Warriors four times in the last 12 postseasons, losing the first three meetings, all of which were Class 5A semistate games.
Coach Eric Moore’s squad broke through in 2015 with a 24-13 victory in a Class 6A regional on the Warriors’ home turf en route to an undefeated state championship season.
To no one’s amazement, they’ll meet again Friday in another regional showdown.
Center Grove came up short against the Warriors in the season opener, 21-16. The Trojans regrouped and now ride a 10-game win streak into the fifth postseason meeting between the programs since 2003.
“I think we’re meshing together much better now than the first game,” said Center Grove senior defensive end Dan Root, who is fourth on the team in tackles (51) and first in sacks (4.5).
“We had quite a few new guys then, but we’re on the same page now. Week by week we’ve been getting better. We’re all really, really looking for another shot. We’re just looking at one game at a time right now.”
Fourth-year Warren Central coach Jayson West, a Center Grove assistant coach in 1999, is 5-2 against Trojans coach Eric Moore, his former boss. The first of those wins took place at semistate, when West coached Lawrence Central to the 5A state title in 2012.
Their seven meetings have been decided by a total of 52 points. Four finished with a final spread of five or fewer points.
“It’s always a privilege to just be in this position,” West said. “I root for (Moore) every game they play unless they’re playing us. He doesn’t want to lose to me, and I don’t want to lose to him.”
Everything Warren Central does offensively centers around senior quarterback Zach Summeier, who has thrown for 23 touchdowns with only four interceptions this season. He’s exceeded 300 passing yards three times while completing nearly 71 percent of his attempts.
Senior Tristen Tonte averages 93 rushing yards per outing to lead the Warriors’ ground attack. Tonte was also the state wrestling runner-up last year at 195 pounds.
Warren Central is also 10-1, its lone blemish a Week 2 loss at Cincinnati Colerain, 31-28.
It’s a record that surprises West given the challenging schedule his team plays.
“I’m an optimist, but I’m a realist, so I wouldn’t have predicted we would be 10-1 having so many new kids on the field,” said West, who had to rebuild his offensive and defensive lines after so many of last year’s starters graduated.
“We’ve got great kids who work hard every day. I don’t know how much better we are from Week 1, but we are deeper.”
Center Grove is coming off an impressive 41-14 win at sixth-ranked Columbus North in the title contest of Sectional 8.
Trojans’ do-everything Russ Yeast has rushed for 1,201 yards this season and has 23 receptions for 482 yards. The senior averages 153 all-purpose yards per game.
Senior quarterback Jack Kellams has thrown for 930 yards and 13 touchdowns — eight of those to Yeast, Center Grove’s leading scorer with 138 points. Kellams also has yet to throw an interception.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”All on the line” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The postseason history between Center Grove and Warren Central:
2003: Warren Central 30, Center Grove 0*
2009: Warren Central 28, Center Grove 10*
2013: Warren Central 12, Center Grove 7*
2015: Center Grove 24, Warren Central 13**
5A semistate*
6A regional**
[sc:pullout-text-end]
