Almost a third of the tackles Lucas Hunter made last football season came behind the line of scrimmage.
Credited with 16.5 tackles for loss as a junior, Hunter, the latest in the long line of outstanding Center Grove defensive players, isn’t afraid to aim high regarding his final prep season.
“I definitely want to win state this year. I want to do it for my community and all the teammates I’ve come up with,” said Hunter, a 6-foot-2, 275-pound nose tackle. “Tackles are always awesome, but it’s just doing whatever it takes to get wins.”
The Trojans open the season Friday at home against Warren Central. Coach Eric Moore’s team is coming off a 6-6 campaign in which it captured its seventh consecutive sectional championship.
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Coincidentally, it was in last year’s opener, a 27-24 loss at Warren Central, in which Hunter recorded his season high in tackles (nine) and second-most tackles for loss (3.5).
Hunter was a student in the Perry Meridian school system from kindergarten through fifth grade. He’s been a Trojan ever since, playing running back and middle linebacker in middle school and defensive end as a freshman.
During the 2016 season, Hunter, then a sophomore, made significant gains watching and learning from then-senior tackles Parker Ferguson and Seth Ferrando.
“The biggest improvement he’s made is his conditioning. Lucas is a lot more agile and just a better athlete now,” Moore said. “He’s tough and has great feet for a lineman. There are so many things he can do. Just a great person and a great football player.”
Center Grove’s defense held seven opponents to 14 or fewer points last season — including two shutouts and a 35-3 victory at Franklin Central to open sectional play.
In June, Hunter verbally committed to attend Indiana State University on a football scholarship. Owner of a 3.9 grade-point average, he selected the Sycamores over offers from North Dakota and Holy Cross. Hunter is leaning toward majoring in business.
Hunter, who can bench-press 345 pounds and squat 430, is Center Grove’s most noteworthy returnee on defense. However, the senior anticipates big seasons from teammates such as ends Brian Gaffney and Cade Ransdell, linebacker Gabe Boyd, safety Lucas Roehling and cornerback Matt Pence.
Sophomore Austin Booker and freshman Caden Curry have impressed at defensive end.
“The biggest thing is getting off the ball and using our hands. Making sure our technique is better than the opponent’s,” Hunter said. “It’s exciting. I’m ready to go.”
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Date;Opponent;Time
Aug. 17;Warren Central;7 p.m.
Aug. 24;at New Palestine;7 p.m.
Aug. 31;Carmel;7 p.m.
Sept. 7;at Ben Davis;7 p.m.
Sept. 14;North Central;7 p.m.
Sept. 21;Lawrence Central;7 p.m.
Sept. 28;at Pike;7 p.m.
Oct. 5;at Lawrence North;7 p.m.
Oct. 12;Cathedral;7 p.m.
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Coach: Eric Moore (20th year)
Last season: 6-6; lost to Avon 32-21 in Class 6A regional
Key returnees: P/WR P.J. Buck, TE Lucas Doyle, K Luke Eckert, RB/WR Sam Hohlt, DT Lucas Hunter, WR Jake Keith, RB Gavin Matheson, QB Jackson Moore, DB Matt Pence, DB Lucas Roehling, RB Cam Petty and OL A.J. Wiese, seniors; RB Carson Steele, sophomore
Top newcomers: DE Brian Gaffney, DB Drew Green, DB Chris Martin, RB Charlie Ogega and DE Cade Ransdell, seniors; LB Gabe Boyd and OL Ethan Crowe, juniors; DE Austin Booker and RB Connor Delp, sophomores; DE Caden Curry, freshman
Outlook: Moore’s 20th Trojan team should produce plenty of firepower offensively with numerous skill-position players returning. How the offensive line comes together is the big question, though having Wiese, a guard, back is a good starting point.
“Offense, obviously, should be the strength because we have the most returning. Lucas Doyle goes from tight end to offensive tackle, and our guard, A.J. Wiese, is coming back,” Moore said. “We have a great newcomer in Ethan Crowe at 6-6, 300 pounds at right guard, which is going to really solidify probably the most inexperienced part of the offense.
“On the defense, probably the weakest area is linebackers. We lost a lot of tackles, but Gabe Boyd is back at a starter. Lucas Hunter is an Indiana State commit, and Brian Gaffney is an excellent athlete down on the defensive line. The secondary is probably our biggest strength with Lucas Roehling, Matt Pence, Drew Green and Chris Martin. They all have a lot of playing experience, so we’re excited about that.”
Notable: The Trojans accounted for 3,553 yards of total offense last season. Players returning this year accounted for all but 21 of those yards.
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1. Which opponent’s field is your favorite/least favorite and why?
“My favorite place to go is Carmel, for sure. It’s just a great atmosphere to play in. I really don’t like to go to Warren Central. It’s a nice field, but I still have a bad taste in my mouth from last season (27-24 loss).”
2. What other position would you play if your coach let you?
“I’d like to play linebacker. My last time was my freshman year, and then I got switched back to running back once I got to JV. I feel that linebackers are the captains of the defense, and you get to stick people.”
3. Which school that is not on your schedule would you love to play against?
“I’d love to play Decatur Central. We have one or two former Center Grove players there now, so it would be kind of fun to play them.”
4. What’s something about this year’s team that will surprise people?
“The chemistry, honestly. I think we have a great connection and can achieve great things. My senior class grew up playing football together since first or second grade, and us and the junior class are very close.”
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