Tyler Cherry has thrown for 775 yards and six touchdowns through Center Grove’s first four games.
Daily Journal file photo
The full-circle vibe infiltrating Center Grove football this season originates at the quarterback position.
Tyler Cherry wasn’t yet born when an uncle, Kyle Geiger, was operating the wing-T offense for coach Eric Moore’s first two teams (1999 and 2000), the latter breaking ground as the first of the program’s seven state finalists.
Now it’s Cherry, a 6-foot-5 junior, whose voice will be heard in the offensive huddle for the Class 6A No. 2 Trojans when they host North Central tonight.
“I started playing quarterback in the third grade,” said Cherry, who was a running back the season before while his neighbor and classmate, Noah Coy, was the signal-caller. “I’ve had some uncles play quarterback, and my dad (Josh) played quarterback when he was in high school in Minnesota.
“I just think it’s fun being the guy, the base of the offense. And being the person able to help anybody.”
Through four games, Cherry has completed 45 of 73 passes for 775 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. He’s coming off the best performance of his young varsity career, at least statistically, throwing for 291 yards and a pair of scores in Center Grove’s come-from-behind 35-34 win at Ben Davis.
Quite a step up from the 82 yards Cherry passed for in a Week 1 defeat of Warren Central.
However, as his confidence has grown — as well as the coaching staff’s confidence in him — the junior has been able to better showcase his arm strength, accuracy and decision-making.
“(Quarterbacks and receivers coach Joe) Siderewicz does a great job of game-planning,” Cherry said. “I’ve always thought of myself as a good player, but varsity is definitely faster.
“In the offseason, I got in a good weightlifting program, and I want to work on the mental part of the game, too.”
Following the 2021 season, it was common for Cherry to go to Siderewicz’s offense to study as much game film as possible. That gave the quarterback a better feel for the myriad defensive looks he could potentially face as a first-time starter.
It’s not like Cherry didn’t have sizable shoes to fill.
Center Grove made the 6A state championship game in each of the last three seasons, winning the last two in undefeated fashion, during Tayven Jackson’s time as starting quarterback. Jackson threw for a school-record 4,813 yards in his career as the Trojans racked up a 34-6 record.
The Trojans’ dominance in 2021 allowed for Cherry to see action in the second half of five games.
“We knew Tyler would be behind Tayven and be that guy by the time he was a junior,” Moore said. “I think he’s come along a lot quicker than I thought he would.
“Experience is the essence of life in football. It just helps him make better decisions, and Tyler’s confidence is so good.”
That confidence helps Cherry when it comes to his own brand of leadership.
“Tyler has excellent football savvy, and is a pick-me-up kind of a leader,” Moore said. “He doesn’t pout. He’s very accountable for his actions.”
Center Grove’s lineage of recent starting quarterbacks includes Jordan Luallen, Kyle Barth, Kody Kavanaugh, Luke Calvert, Joey Siderewicz, Jack Kellams, Jackson Moore and, of course, Jackson.
Cherry is proud to be the latest.
“Everybody in the community just starts to recognize you, and it’s fun,” he said. “It’s definitely something special.”
THIS WEEKEND’S GAMES
North Central at Center Grove, 7 p.m. tonight
Martinsville at Franklin, 7 p.m. tonight
Plainfield at Greenwood, 7 p.m. tonight
Perry Meridian at Whiteland, 7 p.m. tonight
Indian Creek at Triton Central, 7 p.m. tonight
Guerin Catholic at Roncalli, 7 p.m. tonight
North Daviess at Edinburgh, 7:30 p.m. tonight
Columbus East freshmen at Greenwood Christian, 7 p.m. Saturday
