Scott Utterback | Louisville Courier Journal
LOUISVILLE
Center Grove has now played 299 football games in Eric Moore’s 24 seasons as head coach.
Two have taken place beyond state lines.
On Friday, the Class 6A No. 1 Trojans made the drive to 5,900-seat Marshall Stadium to face Louisville Trinity, bona fide bluegrass football royalty with 27 state championship teams.
As was expected, what transpired in front of an overflow crowd screamed classic in every way possible.
Center Grove, gutting out every play in the name of school and state pride, came up short as the host Shamrocks hung on for a nerve-fraying 29-28 victory in double overtime.
“It was one of the most fun and intense football games,” said Trojans coach Eric Moore, his program’s 30-game win streak now a thing of the past. “I’m so proud of them. They showed me a lot tonight.
“We can fight hard. That was a great high school team we played. Now that (streak is over), we can have some fun and worry about playing Indiana high school football.”
Trailing in the second OT after a Micah Coyle 1-yard touchdown run, the Trojans rolled the dice and decided to go for the victory and attempt a two-point conversion.
The play basically imploded from the get-go, resulting in quarterback Tyler Cherry being rushed and ultimately intercepted.
Senior kicker Kellan McLaughlin’s 21-yard field goal from the left hash with three seconds left in the final period tied the score at 15-15. It was McLaughlin’s fifth field goal of the game.
Center Grove went ahead, 15-12, on an electrifying 63-yard Coyle touchdown reception with 5:06 left in the fourth period.
Facing third and 8 from its own 37, Cherry threw a screen to the right to Coyle, who sped upfield, made a move to get past a Trinity defender and took off downfield. At the Shamrocks’ 30, Coyle cut back, received well-timed blocks from his receivers and took it the distance.
Trinity’s game-winner turned out to be senior quarterback Drew Allen lobbing a 10-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open tight end Noah Meyers on the first play of the second overtime.McLaughlin’s point-after proved the difference.
Moore has no doubt that even in a loss, his squad made significant strides.
“It was a great football team we played, and we can watch on film and correct mistakes,” he said. “You never, ever go backwards when you play a great team like this and have a shootout.”
Three field goals from the howitzer-legged McLaughlin provided the Shamrocks a 9-7 lead at the half.
McLaughlin connected from 36, 44 and 44 yards, clearing the crossbar on every attempt by no less than 10 to 15 yards with his towering boots.
Center Grove enjoyed a 7-3 cushion on Coyle’s 1-yard touchdown run at 10:34 of the second period. The senior’s plunge into the end zone capped a 19-play, 80-yard drive, which was easily the Trojans’ most impressive offensive series of the half.
Trinity looked as though it might cash in right before halftime after a Center Grove fumble gave the Shamrocks the ball back at the Trojans’ 26 with 15 seconds showing.
The visitors dodged a major bullet, though, as Trinity quarterback Drew Allen’s dump pass to running back Clint Sansbury was snuffed out by the Center Grove defense at the 3 as time expired.
Cherry completed 9 of 17 passes for 200 yards. Coyle led the Center Grove ball carriers with 48 yards on 13 carries, while junior Noah Coy made three catches for 97 yards.
Center Grove (2-1) returns to action next Friday night when it plays at Ben Davis.
