High school football: Semistate preview

By
Ryan O'Leary
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<p><strong>Class 6A</strong></p><p><strong>Center Grove (9-3) at Warren Central (12-0)</strong></p><p><strong>» Kickoff:</strong> 7 p.m.</p><p><strong>» Radio:</strong> KORN Country 100.3</p><p><strong>» Webcast:</strong> centergrovefootball.com</p><p><strong>» Recent history:</strong> The Warriors topped the Trojans in this year’s season opener, 27-15. In the last postseason meeting between the two, Center Grove won a 28-7 regional showdown in 2016.</p><p><strong>» Last week:</strong> Center Grove beat Avon, 17-0; Warren Central won at North Central, 42-32</p><p><strong>» Sagarin ratings:</strong> Center Grove 105.49 (second overall and in Class 6A), Warren Central 123.14 (first overall and in 6A)</p><p><strong>» Players to watch:</strong> Center Grove — QB Jackson Moore, RB Carson Steele, WR Jacob Keith, DL Lucas Hunter, DL Brian Gaffney, DB Chris Martin, DB Matt Pence; Warren Central — Warren Central — QB Jayden George, RB Romeir Elliott, WR David Bell, OT Justin Britt, LB Kavie Minor, LB Dai’ron Wade, DB Randy Wells Jr.</p><p><strong>» What to look for:</strong> The Warriors’ offense, led by three of the state’s top skill players in George (2,679 passing yards, 38 TD), Elliott (2,266 yards rushing, 32 TD) and Bell (74 rec., 1,393 yards, 20 TD), has been nearly unstoppable. Warren Central has averaged 52 points, and it has scored at least 41 in every game this year — except for Week 1 against the Trojans. The Center Grove defense has been even tougher lately, holding its last four opponents to a measly 13 points and shutting out a pair of pretty good offenses in Columbus North and Avon.</p><p>There might not be a team in Indiana capable of beating the Warriors this season … but if you were to construct a team for the job, it would look a lot like Center Grove looked last Friday. If the Trojan defense can turn in another stout performance and Steele &amp;amp; Co. can methodically grind out yardage while controlling possession and slowing the game down, an upset is possible.</p>

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