INDIANAPOLIS
A lack of conference affiliation removed one of Center Grove’s primary motivators prior to the start of the season.
Through eight games, it doesn’t seem to be having an adverse effect.
The Class 6A No. 2 Trojans continue to create their own concoction of incentives, the latest example being Friday night’s 38-14 victory at Lawrence North’s Dwaine Bell Stadium.
Trojan squads have now won 18 consecutive games against the Wildcats. Lawrence North’s last triumph against Center Grove — and coach Eric Moore’s lone loss to LN — was in 2005 at Bell Stadium, 38-14.
“Just getting our three state (finals) in a row, and our loss to Trinity,” said senior back Micah Coyle when asked about what’s driving he and his teammates. “Every single day, that pushes us. We’re more motivated than any team ever.”
Led by Coyle’s 204 rushing yards on 28 carries and senior Jalen Thomeson going for 143 on 14 attempts, Center Grove’s ground attack compiled a total of 363 yards.
Add junior quarterback Tyler Cherry’s 121 passing yards, and the Trojans’ offense is as in sync as it’s been all season.
Touchdown runs from Coyle and Cherry, combined with the latter’s pair of TD passes to junior Noah Coy, helped Center Grove pile up 322 yards of first-half offense for a comfortable 31-0 lead at the break.
Defensively, the Trojans swarmed to the task, allowing the Wildcats just 54 yards in the opening two periods.
“Our guys did a great job,” Moore said. “The defense was intense and tackled and didn’t give up any plays. And our offense, right from the start, ran down the field each time. We ran the ball well, we threw the ball well.
“The only thing was we had a lot of extra penalties. I’ll have to watch the tape to see what that is all about.”
Lawrence North (3-5), coached by former Trojans assistant Patrick Mallory, could have mailed it in after what had to be a disappointing first-half performance in all phases of the game.
The Wildcats battled, using two touchdown runs from junior quarterback Montez Jones to make the final count more respectable.
“We didn’t lose our focus, which is hard this time of year. Even when you’re winning, at times you lose focus,” Moore said. “And we’ve had so many injuries. Kids have had to step up and play more and play better.
“Sometimes you get to that part of the season where it’s tough and you’ve got to love football. And these guys love football and are having fun.”
Center Grove maximized the game’s initial offensive series, marching 65 yards in 10 plays — all but one on the ground — with Cherry sneaking it in from a yard out at 7:34 of the first.
Lawrence North moved the football as deep as the CG 23 on the ensuing series, but on third and 9, the shotgun snap went through the hands of Jones and was pounced on by Trojans junior linebacker Kaden McConnell. That led to senior Nolan Foley splitting the uprights on a 39-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter for a 10-0 advantage.
Coyle followed with a 33-yard scoring scamper; Center Grove’s final scores of the half came on touchdown passes to Coy covering 12 and 22 yards.
The Trojans wrap up the regular-season portion of their schedule on Friday when they host 6A No. 3 Cathedral.
“It’s going to be the biggest dogfight of our season so far,” Coyle said. “We’ve got to recover from this really long game this week, but it’s fall break, so it will be easier to recover. We’ll be ready.”
