Long plays from scrimmage are common occurrences when Center Grove plays Warren Central in football.
Tonight’s season opener on the Trojans’ field might take it to a new level.
Center Grove’s wing-T offense, spearheaded by sophomore wingback Carson Steele, will be countered by two of the state’s most highly-touted seniors in Warriors receiver David Bell and massive lineman Justin Britt.
Plenty of mutual respect exists between Bell and Steele, even with a two-year age difference.
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“Last year, we probably had one of the best defenses in the state and (Steele) tore us up in the second half,” Bell said. “When I first saw him, I was like, ‘Is this Titus McCoy again?’
“Just to have the speed, that was the first thing I noticed about him.”
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Bell, a four-year starter, is ranked as the state’s best senior prospect according to Rivals.com. Britt, who stands 6-4, 286, is seventh on the list.
Both have received numerous Division I scholarship offers, though neither has made a verbal commitment. Bell, who has narrowed his college list to five (Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue) will shatter most of Warren Central’s receiving records by the time he’s done.
He enters tonight’s game with career totals of 155 receptions, 2,925 yards and 33 touchdowns.
“David is a really good football player and an even better kid,” Warriors coach Jayson West said. “He gets what you’re trying to do, doesn’t care about stats and just wants to win. That’s why they won the (Class 4A) state championship in basketball.”
A starter last winter on the hardwood, Bell helped lead Warren Central to a perfect 32-0 record and the program’s first state title. With Bell running routes left, right and down the middle since the start of the 2015 season, the football program is 25-10.
“There are a lot of kids who play three or four years, but they’re not a factor that whole time,” Trojans coach Eric Moore said. “(Bell) is a tremendous player with great character. And he doesn’t catch the ball to catch it. He catches it to score. He plays a lot bigger than he is.”
As a junior, Bell torched the Trojans with nine receptions, 200 yards and a pair of first-half touchdowns.
Steele was plugged into Moore’s backfield late in the second quarter of this same game last season, helping Center Grove rally late before falling short, 27-24. He went on to finish the season with 1,703 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns.
“You just don’t see young kids do what he was doing,” West said.
On the gridiron, the Trojans and Warriors have split the last 10 meetings. Center Grove has outscored Warren Central by a single point overall, 200-199.
Six of the games were decided by five or fewer points.
If tonight’s game comes down to the wire, expect the ball to be in the hands of Steele and Bell when it matters most.
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Warren Central at Center Grove, 7 p.m.
Franklin at Columbus North, 7 p.m.
Bloomington North at Greenwood, 7 p.m.
Whiteland at Columbus East, 7 p.m.
Edinburgh at Brown County, 7 p.m.
(Note: Indian Creek will host Evansville Mater Dei on Saturday at 2 p.m.)
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