Center Grove’s Jalen Thomeson, top, takes a flying leap over Cathedral defender Stu Smith during Friday’s game against visiting Cathedral.
Chris Williams | For the Daily Journal
Now in its ninth year, Center Grove’s rivalry with Cathedral is, in some ways, an annual battle of contrasts.
The similarities, however, are even more apparent.
On Friday, two of the state’s premier programs locked horns, with the Class 6A No. 3 Irish rallying to score 27 consecutive points in a stunning 40-29 victory against the second-ranked Trojans.
The loss ends Center Grove’s 35-game win streak over Indiana opponents.
“There were a lot of plays in the game tonight,” Trojans coach Eric Moore said. “We had chances to seal it and be done, and we didn’t do it. Congratulations to Cathedral.
“They did a great job of coming back. Showed a lot of heart, and we have to use this to our advantage now. Losing a game like that should leave such a bad taste in your mouth that all you want to do is get back on the field and play again.”
The Trojans led, 29-13, and were at the Irish 1 when the hosts were stuffed on fourth down with 9:02 remaining in the final quarter.
It was the jolt of momentum Cathedral had been seeking.
The Irish (7-1) motored downfield, cutting the spread to 29-19 at the 6:15 mark as quarterback Danny O’Neil threw a 22-yard TD strike to Purdue commit Jaron Tibbs. On the ensuing series, CG senior punter Nolan Foley, his heels touching his own goal line, had his kick blocked by senior Hosia Smith and run in for a score from 3 yards out by Stu Smith.
Center Grove (7-2) made it back to the Irish 23 but went backwards after that, turning the ball over on fourth down on an incomplete pass.
Cathedral started at its 32 with 1:34 showing. O’Neil threw three straight incompletions, but connected with Tibbs on a slant with his final gasp, covering 33 yards. The game-winner came on the next play, with O’Neil finding senior wideout David Ayers in the back of the end zone from 35 yards with only 50.8 ticks left.
With 40.9 seconds remaining, CG junior quarterback Tyler Cherry’s pass went through the arms of a receiver and into those of Cathedral defensive back Michael Jones.
Ball game.
The Center Grove-Cathedral series started in 2014 now shows Center Grove with a 6-3 edge, with six of the outcomes decided by seven or fewer points.
“Once they got the momentum, we kind of beat ourselves a little bit,” Cherry said. “We played all right all game, but in the fourth quarter we hurt ourselves. At 29-13, we had chances. We were down to the 1-yard line and we had a fumble. We just didn’t take advantage of the opportunity that was given to us.
“Last time we lost, we went on to win five straight. We’re just hoping to do it again, bounce back and play our best.”
Trojans junior receiver Noah Coy finished the opening half with seven receptions for 130 yards, the final 27 coming on a touchdown with 2:25 left in the second quarter. That gave Center Grove a slim 14-13 lead at intermission.
Cathedral opened the scoring with O’Neil throwing a 12-yard dart to Tibbs in the right front of the north end zone at 9:49 of the first period, capping a 65-yard drive requiring only three plays.
The Trojans responded on the ensuing series, marching 80 yards in 14 plays — three grabs by Coy covering 64 yards — before senior Jalen Thomeson bulled in from 2 yards out at 3:00.
O’Neil again led the Irish downfield, this time connecting with David Ayers from 34 yards. However, the extra-point kick was no good, allowing Center Grove to hold its slim one-point edge at the break.
The Trojans ran 36 offensive plays over the first two quarters compared to 21 for the Irish. Meanwhile, neither squad mustered much of a ground attack and were knotted at 154 yards apiece through the air.
Center Grove begins what it hopes is yet another long postseason run when it travels to Franklin Central on Oct. 28 for a sectional semifinal contest.
