INDIANAPOLIS
Center Grove might be independent now, but that doesn’t mean Trojans teams shouldn’t occasionally rub shoulder pads with their past.
The Trojans, ranked second in Class 6A, clicked on every cylinder possible in the first half to score a 48-17 victory at Pike — the 12th time CG has defeated the Red Devils in the 13 meetings since the 2009 season. That includes a six-game win streak in which Center Grove has now outscored Pike, 278-88.
Center Grove’s 48-7 halftime lead put the 35-point mercy rule into effect, guaranteeing a running clock the final two quarters.
“We had some timely penalties in the first half, and our execution was okay,” Trojans coach Eric Moore said. “We had some starters out tonight, and I thought the young kids who went in and played for them did a great job.
“It’s just one of those tough games where you’ve got great athletes you’re playing against, and you have to keep them from scoring every down. That’s what we tried to do, and I thought our guys did a great job of hanging in there and being very physical tonight and getting a big win.”
Pike immediately grabbed the Trojans’ collective attention, scoring on a 64-yard touchdown on a slant over the middle from junior quarterback JuJu Rodriguez to sophomore receiver Latrell Morton at 9:31 of the opening period.
The quick 7-0 deficit might have been the splash of cold water Center Grove needed. Pike’s momentum proved short-lived, as the Trojans retaliated with 48 consecutive points.
Senior quarterback Tyler Cherry delivered touchdown passes of 9, 36 and 27 yards during the blitz, the first two to freshman Drake McClurg. The last was to an all-by-his-lonesome Noah Coy over the middle in the front of the end zone.
Not to be outdone, senior running back Matthew Yoder cashed in with first-half TD runs covering 18, 33 and 1 yards. McClurg produced the other Trojans’ score before intermission with an 8-yard run around left end at 1:38 of the second.
“(The Pike TD) was definitely surprising,” Yoder said. “I think it was just a blown coverage, but we were still pretty confident in our team.”
The Trojans’ first two touchdowns came only 12 seconds apart.
After McClurg scored his first TD at the 7:03 mark of the first, the ensuing kickoff was fumbled by the Pike return man. On the very next play, the Center Grove offensive line provided Yoder a massive running lane up the middle for a 13-7 advantage.
Center Grove piled up 343 yards of total offense in the first half. Yoder carried nine times for 94 yards, while Cherry was 13 of 16 through the air for 209 yards, his passes caught by five different receivers.
“We played really great,” Yoder said. “Our offensive line has really stepped up. Obviously, we graduated four out of five (linemen) from last year, which left a big role to be filled. I believe our offensive line has gone above and beyond anyone’s expectations.”
The lone second-half points were scored by the Red Devils, starting when quarterback Dohnavin Ward threw 62 yards to senior Bryce Hughes late in the third period. Senior Griffin Weaver was true on a 34-yard field goal with 6:43 left in the final stanza.
The Trojans (6-1) are back home on Friday to play Lawrence North.
