One former Center Grove football player wasn’t about to wave off a final chance to tackle someone.
Brian Gaffney, a defensive lineman, is one of three Johnson County players participating in the annual IFCA North-South all-star football game at North Central on July 12. He’ll then hang up his shoulder pads and return to preparing to be part of Indiana University’s baseball program.
Gaffney, a pitcher whose fastball has been clocked as high as 93 miles per hour, went 3-1 this spring with a 3.05 earned-run average. Gaffney struck out 38 batters in 20 1/3 innings on the hill; he joins the Hoosiers’ squad as a preferred walk-on.
IU’s head coach is Jeff Mercer, a 2004 Franklin High School graduate who in May was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in what was his first season in Bloomington.
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All-Star football players and coaches start practice on July 9 at the University of Indianapolis.
Gaffney looks forward the four days of heat, sweat, camaraderie and traditions leading up to the game such as the helmet decal exchange between teammates.
“I love football and always have. The game means so much to me that when they asked me to play, I couldn’t turn it down,” said Gaffney, who last fall helped lead the Trojans to semistate before dropping a thrilling 27-20 decision at eventual Class 6A state champion Warren Central.
“For me, I’m most excited to play football with new people.”
When it came to first impressions, Gaffney at 5 feet, 11 inches, 215 pounds, might not have made opposing players tremble in fear on the gridiron. However, his combination of speed, strength and fury made him one of the most disruptive defensive forces in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference.
Gaffney is the 33rd Center Grove football player to participate in the annual North-South All-Star game, which started in 1967. He carries on a tradition that began with linebacker Aaron Arbuckle, who was part of the then-30-player roster for the South squad in 1976.
Trojans coach Eric Moore said Gaffney played with a chip on his shoulder every play of every game. The senior finished the season with 40 tackles, 15 of which were for loss. Gaffney gave the Center Grove coaching staff another option on offense, as well. He carried the football 16 times with five resulting in touchdowns.
Gaffney, the Trojans’ long-snapper for punts and kicks, could have been used almost anywhere on the field.
“He’s probably one of the best utility-knife type of players we’ve ever had,” Moore said. “He runs the ball hard, can catch the ball and plays great on the defensive line. If he had been 6-4, he could play for any college in America. Brian plays with such reckless abandon. He’s so physical.”
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What: IFCA North-South All-Star Football Classic
When: July 12, 7:15 p.m.
Where: North Central High School
Admission: Adults $10, students $5
Local players: South – DL Brian Gaffney, Center Grove; CB Trevor Larence, Whiteland; WR Cory Richards, Franklin.
Series: South leads, 27-25
Last year: North 27, South 24
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