Jonny Zwitt’s two-decade-long stranglehold on the Center Grove football record book appears to be nearing an end.
Carson Steele broke one of Zwitt’s school standards in a win last week at Ben Davis and could eclipse the 2001 graduate in as many as three more categories tonight when Class 6A No. 1 Center Grove hosts third-ranked North Central.
The 6-foot, 220-pound Steele is 10 points shy of Zwitt in career scoring, two trips to the end zone behind him in career touchdowns and needs 66 yards to become the program’s all-time rushing leader.
“It’s just a blessing to be in that position. You try not to think about the records and just go out and play,” said Steele, who has run for 4,673 yards since the outset of the 2017 season. “(Zwitt) and I talk here and there, and he’s a great guy.”
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As for Zwitt, now 37 and a married father of two daughters living in Cincinnati, he knows part of athletics is the willingness to see your accomplishments, no matter how impressive, eventually surpassed.
“Just looking at all the talent that has come through the (Center Grove) system the last 20 years, it’s hard to believe some of the records lasted this long,” Zwitt said. “But that’s kind of the beauty of the wing-T offense, that there’s a lot of balance and not a true workhorse in that offense.
“I’ve been following Carson’s career from afar the past four years, and by all accounts he’s a solid kid and hard worker. It’s time to pass the torch.”
Zwitt starred in the Center Grove backfield from 1998 to 2000. He was utilized as a wingback his junior season and at fullback his final campaign as the Trojans advanced to their first state championship appearance.
Steele, who rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 1 loss at Warren Central during his freshman season, began his assault on the record book during last week’s 35-12 victory at Ben Davis. Steele became the school’s career leader in rushing touchdowns.
And to think, Steele missed most his junior season recovering from hamstring issues and, later, a hairline fracture in a metatarsal bone in his left foot. He made it back to play in postseason defeats of Warren Central (regional) and Ben Davis (semistate), as well as Center Grove’s 20-17 loss to Carmel in the Class 6A championship game.
Steele’s contributions through four games this season are dwarfed by what he accomplished as a sophomore (2,270 rushing yards, 30 touchdowns) — but he hasn’t needed to carry such a heavy workload. The current squad possesses more options offensively, whether it’s Daniel Weems running the ball or quarterback Tayven Jackson throwing to Connor Delp, Trent Veith or tight end Garrett Keith.
Center Grove coach Eric Moore is uniquely qualified to make comparisons between the running back that helped put Trojan football on the map and the one who’ll test the Panthers’ defense this evening.
There are similarities, as well as differences.
“Being the first back I had, you don’t know if they’re all going to be that good,” Moore said of Zwitt. “In Carson’s case, he played as a freshman a little bit out of necessity and the fact he was more physically ready at his age.
“Jonny is a little taller with longer legs who was an excellent sprinter. When he broke the line, he was gone. Carson gets his yards inside and just runs over people.”
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How Center Grove senior Carson Steele stacks up against former Trojan Jonny Zwitt, who still holds numerous school records:
Category;Zwitt;Steele
Total points;378*;368
Total touchdowns;63*;61
Rushing TDs;58;60*
Yards rushing;4,738*;4,673
* – school record
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North Central at Center Grove, 7 p.m.
Martinsville at Franklin, 7 p.m.
Plainfield at Greenwood, 7 p.m.
Perry Meridian at Whiteland, 7 p.m.
Indian Creek at Triton Central, 7 p.m.
Guerin Catholic at Roncalli, 7 p.m.
South Decatur at Edinburgh, 6 p.m. Saturday
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