Junior linebacker Owen Bright leads the Trojans in tackles and tackles for loss entering tonight’s Class 6A semistate game against Cathedral.
Daily Journal file photo
Owen Bright, author of one of the most memorable interceptions in the 67-year history of Center Grove football, wasn’t going to have his football reputation center around one play.
A dozen games into his junior season, it’s clear he isn’t.
The 6-foot, 205-pound weakside linebacker leads the Trojans in tackles (76) and tackles for loss (11) entering tonight’s Class 6A semistate game against Cathedral.
“Last year, Owen was a bit sporadic. This year he’s making those plays,” Trojans coach Eric Moore said. “He’s raising havoc with the (opposing) quarterback, and is a really good athlete. The defense this season is him. It’s his brand. How he goes, we go.”
One might think Bright’s linebacking instincts have been on display since bantam league.
He actually came through the Center Grove system as a running back from fourth grade all the way through his freshman season.
Moore, who never experiences a lack of willing and able ball carriers and always attempts to put his best athletes on the field, sensed how Center Grove could benefit from converting Bright to defense and having him use his speed to make plays.
The switch was made prior to the 2021 season.
“Earlier in the season, I rotated into games with a senior,” Bright said. “It was probably at the beginning of the playoffs when I started playing throughout the games.”
Bright finished his sophomore tour with 29 tackles and the play of his young life to this point.
With the Trojans clinging to 27-21 lead and Westfield driving late in the 6A state championship game inside Lucas Oil Stadium, Bright stepped in front of a pass thrown by Shamrocks quarterback Maximus Webster at the 3-yard line with 1 minute, 37 seconds remaining.
The theft enabled Moore’s squad to run out the clock on a second consecutive 14-0 season.
“I actually made some terrible mistakes in the Westfield game,” Bright said, laughing. “Sometimes when you’re that young, you think the older guys will make the play for you.
“At halftime, I was like, ‘I’ve got to lock in.’”
He did, and he hasn’t stopped. That includes the preparation needed to put together the kind of season he’s currently enjoying.
“During the offseason, I worked on my conditioning and strength,” Bright said. “And just slowing the game down, really. Locking in on your keys pre-snap and getting to the ball.”
Earlier this season, Bright made a season-high 12 tackles in the 31-27 defeat of Carmel in Week 2. He produced nine as the Trojans sweated out a 14-10 win at Franklin Central to open sectional play and he has been credited with eight tackles two other times this season.
Bright has also carried the football three times this season as part of the jumbo package when the Center Grove offense drives deep into the opponent’s territory.
One twist of irony is that Bright, celebrated as he was after his interception against Westfield, has not picked off a single pass this season.
No worries, as the junior is more than carrying his weight in other areas.
“He’s an excellent run destroyer,” Moore said. “Big (defenders) tend to catch … Owen makes things happen on the other side of the line of scrimmage.”
TONIGHT’S SEMISTATE MATCHUPS
6A: Center Grove vs. Cathedral (at Arsenal Tech), 7 p.m.
5A: Whiteland at Castle, 8 p.m.
4A: Roncalli at East Central, 7 p.m.
