The organized clutter inside Eric Moore’s football office is evidence of a man familiar with milestones.
His collection of trophies, plaques, medals and framed photographs should soon have some new additions now that Moore has won his 200th game as the Center Grove coach.
The Trojans, ranked No. 1 in Class 6A, looked every bit the part Friday night in defeating host Ben Davis, 35-12. Center Grove remains atop the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference with a 3-0 record and is 4-0 overall.
Ben Davis drops to 1-1 and 1-3.
“It was 200 (career) wins as a coach in 2015, and that team went on to win the state championship,” said Moore, who is 248-77 overall after coming to Johnson County after a successful coaching stint in Florida. “I feel this team has the same mojo as that team. It feels a lot like that, but we still have a lot of work to do.
“To get 200 wins, it takes great players, great coaches and great community support. Our parents and our families love it. It’s a community event.”
Moore, who is 200-72 since taking over the program prior to the 1999 season, wasn’t the only one making history.
Senior back Carson Steele became the school’s career leader in rushing touchdowns, scoring three against the Giants — a pair of 1-yard plunges and an 11-yarder to paydirt — to eclipse the record of 2001 graduate Jonny Zwitt.
Steele finished with 150 yards rushing on 19 carries and is bearing down on Zwitt’s career rushing mark of 4,738 yards. The senior now stands at 4,673 yards on the ground and has 370 career points scored to Zwitt’s all-time mark of 378.
Center Grove has now outscored its opponents, 153-26, this season. Shutouts of Warren Central and Carmel the previous two weeks marked the 10th time in the Moore era the Trojans have held two foes scoreless in the same season.
It looked as though Center Grove might blank a third straight opponent, but the Giants averted the shutout on a 12-yard fumble recovery for a score. Ben Davis added a 66-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth period against the Trojans’ backups.
The Trojans have won seven of the last eight meetings against Ben Davis, including the past four games played on the westside.
Center Grove started the game by having its defense jump offside on the first two plays, but settled down shortly thereafter. On the Giants’ second play, junior quarterback J’uan Swanson was intercepted by Trojans linebacker Trey Clark after being pressured by junior James Schott.
Starting at the Ben Davis 28, the Trojans needed five plays to score with Steele crashing in from the 1 at 9:16 of the first quarter. On the next series, CG defensive back Dane Young got into the act with a pickoff after running under Swanson’s long first-down pass attempt over the middle.
Center Grove then marched 57 yards in seven plays, with Steele barreling in from 11 yards out for a quick 14-0 cushion. Junior Mitchell Evans’ 39-yard punt return for the Trojans had the visitors in business again late in the first, Steele’s 1-yard run making it 21-0 with 34 seconds showing.
Center Grove quarterback Tayven Jackson’s 1-yard sneak at 4:54 of the second accounted for his squad’s 28-0 halftime lead. Jackson’s second TD keeper of the night pushed the margin to 35-0 at 5:47 of the third, which meant a running clock the remainder of the game.
The Trojans return home Friday night when they host North Central.
