Center Grove football wins 13th straight sectional title

COLUMBUS

Perhaps no program in Indiana has squeezed more mileage out of the running clock since its inception than Center Grove.

This time, the Trojans didn’t even wait until the second half.

The three-time defending Class 6A state champions blitzed host Columbus North, 35-12, on Friday night for their 13th consecutive sectional championship and 19th overall.

Center Grove (10-1) scored touchdowns on five of its six offensive possessions in the first half, building a 35-0 cushion with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter to ensure no clock stoppage the final two periods.

“We knew it was important because if you can shorten the game down, it reduces the amount of injuries you can have, and just the bad things that can happen in a football game,” said Trojans coach Eric Moore, whose squad will host Warren Central in a regional next Friday. “And we wanted to be able to play the young kids in the second half, and not worry about juggling people around.”

The game wasn’t nearly as competitive as the final score might indicate. Center Grove played second- and third-teamers during the second half, while the Bull Dogs continued to use many of their starters.

Center Grove was determined to end the suspense early. After the defense forced the Bull Dogs into a three-and-out on the first offensive series, the visitors went to work by moving 53 yards in five plays.

Senior quarterback Tyler Cherry, who took his customary pinpoint accuracy to new levels by going 15 of 16 through the air for 168 yards prior to halftime, connected with senior Noah Coy for an 8-yard TD.

Columbus North then fumbled deep in its own territory, and two plays later Trojans senior back Matthew Yoder scampered into the end zone from 11 yards out. The team’s other first-half touchdowns were Austin Hennessy’s 1-yard run, Cherry’s 15-yard pass to Tristan Baxter and Cherry’s 1-yard sneak.

Columbus North averted the shutout on a 3-yard touchdown run by junior running back Gino Prescott against the Trojans’ second-team defense. The Bull Dogs struck again on quarterback Asher Ratliff’s 22-yard touchdown pass over the middle to junior tight end Elijah Smith.

Center Grove has now eliminated the Bull Dogs from the postseason 11 of the last 13 seasons (the schools didn’t meet in 2013 and 2019). Columbus North’s last conquest of the Trojans was a 23-7 sectional semifinal triumph in 2007.

“I think we’ve been really good at a lot of things,” Moore said. “We’ve had a couple minor setbacks in games, and still fighting injuries a little bit. We’ve just got to put a really complete game ahead of us for Warren Central.

”They’re going to be good, but everybody we play this year is.”

Yoder finished with 84 yards rushing on nine carries; the sure-handed Coy finished with 10 receptions, all in the opening half, for 113 yards.

Center Grove also excelled defensively, allowing the majority of Columbus North’s yards long after that outcome had been decided.

All in all, a perfect tuneup for a regional game against an old conference rival.

“I’m super excited,” Cherry said. “It will be a great test. Warren Central is a good football team. They always are. I’m excited to be back home for the regional.”