After a turnover-plagued loss a week ago, Center Grove was back to its old self on Friday night.
Carson Steele rushed for four touchdowns to headline a dominating ground attack and the defense held firm for most of the night as the Class 6A No. 8 Trojans powered their way to a 33-10 homecoming victory over visiting Lawrence Central.
“We came out and were much more focused and paid attention to detail tonight,” Center Grove coach Eric Moore said. “I’m really proud of the way our kids physically handled their size and speed, and it’s a great night to be a Trojan.”
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After failing on fourth down from the Lawrence Central 25 on its first possession, Center Grove (3-3, 3-2 MIC) was able to cash in on a turnover late in the first period. Brian Gaffney recovered a fumble at the Bears’ 32, and seven plays later Jackson Moore found Cam Petty open for a 16-yard score.
The Trojans extended their lead shortly before halftime with a 96-yard scoring march. Connor Fruits’ 33-yard run moved the ball to the Lawrence Central 21, and after a pair of big third-down penalties on the visitors kept the drive going, Carson Steele dragged a gaggle of defenders across the goal line from 7 yards out to make it 13-0 at the 2:59 mark.
“You come out to this atmosphere,” Steele said, “you have about 7,000 people watching you every Friday, and it just makes you want to try harder and harder each play.”
A punt set Center Grove up in Bears territory again for its first possession of the second half, and Steele capped the 48-yard drive when he broke through the line and sprinted up the middle for a 28-yard touchdown to stretch the margin to 19 points.
Lawrence Central (2-4, 2-2) got on the board with a 41-yard field goal, but the Trojans came right back with another touchdown. This time, a 49-yard run by Gavin Matheson set up a 4-yard TD from Steele to make it 26-3 with 3:47 left in the third quarter.
A long John Lewis touchdown throw to Donivan Wright got the Bears back within 16, but the Trojans put it away with another long drive that ate up more than half of the fourth quarter. Steele’s final scoring run, this one a 3-yarder, all but sealed the deal with 5:30 to go.
Moore was pleased with how his team extended drives throughout the night and continually prevented the Bears from doing the same.
“We got off the field on third down,” the coach said of his defense. “That’s the whole deal — football in high school is make first downs and don’t let them make first downs.”
The Trojans now face back-to-back road games, starting with a trip to Pike next week.
