Asked to assess the progress of his starting quarterback, Center Grove football coach Eric Moore references a movie that hit theaters 52 years ago.
No telling if sophomore Tayven Jackson has seen it, but the coach’s evaluation is relevant all the same.
“Tayven is Cool Hand Luke,” said Moore, going with the 1967 classic that garnered four Academy Award nominations and helped solidify the legend of the late Paul Newman. “He doesn’t struggle with success or failure.
“Over the season, Tayven has gained so much confidence. He’s a point guard on the football field.”
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Not surprisingly, the 6-foot-4 Jackson will likely assume that responsibility on the basketball court for the Center Grove boys squad once football is over. In both cases, having the smarts and maturity to make the right decision quickly is of utmost importance.
On the gridiron, it’s been a process. To both Jackson’s benefit and detriment, he was able to gain experience attempting to lead the Center Grove offense into the teeth of one of the state’s most difficult regular-season schedules.
He is Moore’s first full-time sophomore QB since Jordan Luallen in 2006.
As a senior, Luallen helped the Trojans erase a 19-point deficit to Carmel in the first quarter and pick up the program’s first state title with a wild 36-33 victory.
Jackson, a starter since the Trojans’ first offensive play of the season at reigning Class 6A state champion Warren Central, had no choice but to mature quickly. Center Grove’s first three opponents were the Warriors, 5A juggernaut New Palestine and Carmel.
In those games, all losses, Jackson was just under 50 percent passing (21 of 43) with no touchdowns. Entering tonight’s Class 6A state championship game, he’s passed for 1,032 yards with seven touchdowns and nine picks.
He’s 22 of 35 for 317 yards in the state tournament, though, with four TDs against just one interception.
“A lot of the seniors and juniors, they believe in me, so that shoots up my confidence,” Jackson said. “I was just a sophomore coming in for my first varsity game, and through all the games my confidence has gotten bigger because I believe in my teammates and they believe in me.
“Coming in, coach Moore told me, ‘You’re going to be a starter,’ and he gave me all the confidence to lead this team.”
Recently faced with the daunting challenge of again playing at Warren Central, only this time for a regional title, Jackson stepped up with his lone two-TD passing outing of the season in a 28-14 victory. He’s run for four touchdowns this year, including two during Week 3’s 20-14 loss at Carmel.
Center Grove has won eight of 10 games since.
“I always have the mindset that God put you in this situation and gave you all these blessings,” Jackson said. “My family is really big into sports, and my dad (Ray) always taught me to be confident and my brother (Indiana University basketball player Trayce Jackson-Davis) always taught me to be confident.
“I think my poise as a quarterback and my leadership have been really good. Just staying in the pocket longer and making the right decisions. I really don’t like to lose, and every loss just motivates me and gets me better.”
