Center Grove opens its season with new bleacher seating for the home fans and a new press box. The reigning Class 6A state champions open their season Friday at 7 p.m. against Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference opponent Warren Central.
Center Grove newcomer Russ Yeast, a running back and linebacker from Ohio, has already attracted attention from Big 10 and Southeastern Conference coaches. CENTER GROVE (6A, 14-0) – Gearing up to defend 6A state championship … Coach Eric Moore begins his 18th season with the Trojans ... Outstanding running backs are state’s best: Titus McCoy (Indiana State commit), career of 3,280 yards rushing and 43 TDs; new running back/corner linebacker Russ Yeast (from Fremont, Ohio), sought by top Division 1 programs; prime blocker Trevor Hohlt; Triston Clark (7.4 yards per carry) and Mikala Gardner … O-line has depth with returning starters Nick Davis, Bailey Smith and Clay Hadley plus Dylan Bramlett, Tyler Olson, 6-5 junior AJ Snow (265 pounds) and vastly improved junior Skyler Spetter … senior Jack Kellams takes over for graduated Joey Siderwicz (.648 completion percentage) at quarterback … defensive line retools after graduation of All-State Cameron Tidd (Northwestern). 6.5 sacks, and Jovan Swan (Stanford), 65 tackles … key defenders, linemen Dan Root (37 tackles), Seth Ferrando and Parker Ferguson and D-backs Logan Bontrager (44 tackles) and Corbin Laque … all-new kicking game with punter PJ Buck and place-kicker Luke Eckert and new holders … front end of schedule does CG no favors: Warren Central, Whiteland, Ben Davis and Carmel.
Coach’s comments:
“Our running backs will be our outstanding feature this season; they are solid and five-deep. We want to run those 3- and 4-yard runs and take time off the clock. The defensive line is a total rebuild; to replace a Tidd or a Swan you have to do it with some depth. We’re trying to get five guys to play two spots so they can play as hard as they want every play.
“We have more depth but we don’t have size on that defensive line. We lose two linebackers and have two linebackers back. The young kids we have are extremely talented and they are a year away from being a really good defense. We do have an experienced offense that is seven-deep up front. We have lost our whole battery of kickers. Playing football games can’t come soon enough for us. We have tradition now; we have pride and our expectations are that (state). I don’t want them to settle for less.” – Coach Eric Moore
Coach’s comments:
“Our running backs will be our outstanding feature this season; they are solid and five-deep. We want to run those 3- and 4-yard runs and take time off the clock. The defensive line is a total rebuild; to replace a Tidd or a Swan you have to do it with some depth. We’re trying to get five guys to play two spots so they can play as hard as they want every play.
“We have more depth but we don’t have size on that defensive line. We lose two linebackers and have two linebackers back. The young kids we have are extremely talented and they are a year away from being a really good defense. We do have an experienced offense that is seven-deep up front. We have lost our whole battery of kickers. Playing football games can’t come soon enough for us. We have tradition now; we have pride and our expectations are that (state). I don’t want them to settle for less.” – Coach Eric Moore
Defensively, the Trojans will rely upon D-back Logan Bontrager, linemen Seth Ferrando and Parker Ferguson and D-back Corbin Laque.
SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY Center Grove’s feared wing-T offense will be led by (from left) All-State running back Titus McCoy, who has more than 3,000 career rushing yards, new quarterback Jack Kellams and running back Triston Clark.
Center Grove’s offensive line of Nick Davis, Bailey Smith, Tyler Olsten, Dylan Bram and Clay Hadley will lead the way for the team’s wing-T attack.
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