Center Grove players run out onto the field at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio for Saturday’s game against St. Edward.
Ethan Gable | For the Daily Journal
By Jim Smith // For the Daily Journal
CANTON, Ohio
Center Grove had a valuable educational experience during its participation in the NE Ohio vs. America High School Football Showcase.
On Friday, the Trojans and their traveling entourage visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame to learn about the foundation and history of professional football.
On Saturday afternoon, they acquired some valuable lessons on the field during their 27-10 loss against St. Edward (Ohio) at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The Eagles are back-to-back Ohio state champions in Division 1, the state’s largest.
“How about being able to be around, one, the history of the game, and being around the ghosts and gods of the game and you hope a little bit of that sinks into your spirit and your soul,” Center Grove coach Eric Moore said of his team’s trip to the Hall. “We have to take some of that out there with us today.
“We got to play in a facility like this against one of the best opponents in the country. This team is going to do a lot of great things.”
The Eagles opened the contest with an impressive nine play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by Joshua Groudle’s 21-yard gallop for an early 7-0 lead. Center Grove responded with a notable effort that began at its 29-yard line but was halted on a fourth-and-1 play at the Eagles’ 7.
Taking advantage of the momentum it created, and an offensive line that can both pass and run block, St. Edward marched 93 yards down the field while taking 6:46 off the clock to score its second touchdown of the first half. Jacob Robinson scampered in from 2 yards out on the tally, providing the Eagles a 14-0 advantage.
The Eagles’ massive O-line includes two Ohio State University recruits, Devontae and Deontae Armstrong, as well as University of Michigan commit Ben Roebuck.
Center Grove’s second drive of the game, in the middle of the second quarter, stalled out at the St. Edward 46-yard line, but the Eagles fumbled the punt and the Trojans recovered at the St. Edward 14-yard line.
Unable to take maximum advantage of the opportunity, Center Grove still got on the board when Kade Matthews kicked a 29-yard field goal.
Center Grove’s Michael Soderdahl intercepted Casey Bullock’s pass attempt on the next play from scrimmage, but the offense went three and out. Each team had one more fruitless possession before halftime.
“I challenged the defense to get them off the field at 14-3 and let’s carry this on to the second half,” Moore said.
After the teams exchanged punts on their respective opening drives in the third quarter, St. Edward stretched its lead to 20-3 when sophomore Brandon White scored on a 5-yard race to the end zone for the only score of the quarter.
Completing a 12-play drive that began late in the third quarter, Groudle burst 4 yards for his second touchdown of the game with 9:37 remaining in the fourth.
Exhibiting the grit and determination of a three-time state championship program, the Trojans sustained a 12-play drive that ended on the St. Ed 5-yard line and shortly thereafter drove 46 yards to score their only touchdown on the afternoon.
Rylan Cook dashed across the goal line on a 15-yard endeavor with less than a minute remaining in the game.
“Their Xs were a little better than our Os in some situations and that’s what happens in high school football,” Moore said. “All I can say is this is going to be the best practice film we’ve ever had. This early to be able to see kids that are that talented, and what we did against them is some cases was really good.”
“Give credit to Center Grove,” St. Edward coach Tom Lombardo said. “You can tell why they are back-to-back-to-back state champs. It was a heck of a week of preparation. Kudos to our kids for the way the prepared and the way they played.”
“I am so proud to have represented Center Grove and our community, our high school,” Moore added. “We deserved to play in a game like this, against an opponent like that. This football school got to be around real football. It’s going to make us better.”
