CENTER GROVE (9-4) – Trojans face same first four-game dilemma as last year … facing top three Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference foes and 5A state champion threat Whiteland … CG was 1-3 last year and then rolled up an eight-game winning streak, outscoring foes 392-124 … lost to Ben Davis in semistate shocker … look for Trojans to run the ball more … 4-3 defense is strong up front but D-backs lack experience … six seniors attracting lots of Division 1 attention … nose tackle Javon Swann, 36 tackles and seven sacks, has narrowed choices to six teams, including Indiana … defensive tackle Cam Tidd, a Vanderbilt recruit, also doubles a long snapper … punter Jake Conrad (38.7-yard average) and placekicker Nate Snyder (57 PATs, six field goals) are weapons … three-year linebacker Jackson “The Grandfather” Sodrel, 66 tackles, brings experience and leadership … lineman John Richardson (300 pounds) can spring running backs … third-generation player Joey Siderewicz, 1,138 yards passing, nine TDs, at quarterback, junior fullback Titus McCoy (5.9 yards per carry) and senior safety Connor Steeb can bring it … running backs Jackson Hohlt, Lee Clinker and Trevor Hohlt share duties … junior linebackers Sam Bolen and Nate Arbuckle core of defense … coach Eric Moore is 147-54 in 16 years and won the 2008 5A state title … open Friday at Warren Central.
Moore’s comments: “All the skill, strength, size and speed we see early help us down the road. It helps in the playoffs because you’ve been punched by the best punchers; we see the biggest and the fastest throughout the season. And we close with the regular season against Cathedral, and we beat them last year. We try to play hard football and hammer guys who run the ball. We look good on paper.”