Center Grove football: State finals notebook

<p>INDIANAPOLIS</p><p>No one would blame Trent Veith if he wanted to play a few more games inside Lucas Oil Stadium.</p><p>The Center Grove receiver had not one, but two memorable performances in consecutive Class 6A championship games — one a heartbreaking setback and Friday night’s 38-14 victory over Westfield.</p><p>As a junior, Veith established a 6A finals record in both receptions (nine) and yards (138) in a 20-17 loss to Carmel. His final game as part of the Trojans program added his name in the record book in a third category, longest touchdown catch, the 73-yarder he scored on with 8:43 remaining in the second quarter.</p><p>Veith finished the game with five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. His second score against the Shamrocks was a 10-yard pass from Jackson at 1:29 of the second period.</p><p>“I’m happy it ended the way it did, to go out on top with this team and family. It means the world to me. I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Veith said. “I guess I just get lucky in here. Having a great quarterback certainly helps along with a great offensive line and a great defense.”</p><p>“They should call this place Lucas Trent Stadium,” Jackson added, “because he performs in this stadium every year.”</p><p><strong>Watson gets</strong></p><p><strong>into record book</strong></p><p>Trojans kicker Austin Watson finished his career with 21 field goals, tying former Center Grove specialist Adam Finley (1996-99) for the overall top spot. Watson’s 162 total points over the past two seasons fell just short of Mike Wood’s (2005-08) program standard of 163 points scored by a kicker. Against the Shamrocks, Watson converted five extra-point kicks and made a 28-yard field goal as time expired in the second stanza.</p><p>Moore notches win No. 2<strong>58</strong></p><p>Center Grove coach Eric Moore remains sixth all-time in victories among active coaches in Indiana with 258, but Friday’s defeat of Westfield places him 16 short of Reed May of Brownstown Central. This is Moore’s 25th season overall as head coach, 22 taking place as part of the rugged Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference. Moreover, five of the coaches ahead of him on the list have been on the job at least 31 years.</p><p>Steele wraps up brilliant ca<strong>reer</strong></p><p>Senior running back Carson Steele concluded his four-year varsity career with a variety of school records despite missing much of his junior campaign due to injury. Among the many were Steele’s final numbers in rushing attempts (969), yards (5,935) and touchdowns (81). His final game as a Trojan produced 31 carries, 138 yards and a score.</p><p><strong>Trojans seeing</strong></p><p><strong>red and loving it</strong></p><p>Friday night’s game was Center Grove’s first state championship in football while wearing the red, or home, jerseys. The Trojans were the Class 5A runner-up to Penn wearing red in 2000, then won the 2008 title in dramatic fashion over Carmel wearing white shirts and white pants and considered that the preferred uniform from that point forward. They wore all white in 2015 for the 6A title over Penn, but lost to Carmel in 2016 and again last season modeling the same look.</p><p>“The majority of the seniors wanted to wear red,” said slot receiver Connor Delp, who rushed for 54 yards against Westfield and caught two passes for 51 yards. “I think we were all happy, and we played great in red all year. It was good to switch it up and win in the red.”</p><p>Defense caps o<strong>ff dominant season</strong></p><p>The Trojans defense finished the season with five shutouts and never let any of their 14 opponents score more than 14 points. Opponents totaled 107 points this season for an average of 7.6 a game. Against Westfield, linebacker Trey Clark led the way with nine tackles, followed by defensive back Mitchell Evans with eight.</p>