The role senior kicker Austin Watson plays in Center Grove’s drive-by-drive objective of producing points has changed slightly since last season.
His ability to deliver, however, remains straight down the middle.
Early this evening, Watson will begin warmups inside Lucas Oil Stadium having converted 20 field goals and 94 point-after kicks over the last two seasons. One-quarter of the field goals have been this season — Watson sat out victories at Pike and Lawrence North — but that’s more a sign of an improved offense than anything else.
“I’m not disappointed at all because we’re winning games,” said Watson, laughing. “I’m more than happy to put the extra point on the board to make it seven points.”
Unbeaten and top-ranked Center Grove goes into the Class 6A championship game against No. 2 Westfield having produced 74 touchdowns on offense. The 2019 Trojans, by comparison, had also played 13 games prior to the 6A final and had scored 35 TDs.
Therein lies the discrepancy in Watson’s field goal chances. On the other hand, he’s made 57 of 59 conversion kicks this season after going 37 of 38 as a junior.
Watson has also become much better at booming kickoffs into the end zone, with 30 touchbacks compared to two last season. His diligence in the weight room and focus on improved technique has led to a 53.1-yard average on kickoffs, an improvement of well over 10 yards a kick from last year.
“I think I’ve definitely developed as a kicker both technically and with getting stronger,” said Watson, who has been offered to play football by both Taylor University, a NAIA school in Upland, and North Park University in Chicago, which plays at the Division III level.
“It was really about improving my explosiveness and strengthening my core.”
Watson started playing football as a second-grader and wasn’t terribly fond of it, so from grades 3-8 he focused on becoming the best soccer player he could be. While in middle school, he noticed his brother, Tyler, excelling as a Trojans defensive back and decided to return to football as a freshman.
“I just wanted to be part of the Center Grove football program in any way I could because it’s such a great program,” Watson said. “The community aspect is phenomenal. It’s a brotherhood. A family. We love each other and we love winning.”
Watson opened the scoring in last year’s 20-17 loss to Carmel in the state championship game, drilling a 22-yard field goal in the first period and later adding point-afters to Center Grove’s two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
He’s one of numerous players back from that Trojans squad, and coach Eric Moore is comforted by Watson’s dependability.
“Austin is an excellent character kid. He’s got huge community involvement and is committed to his faith and sharing that,” Moore said. “He’s so involved in everything outside of football and in football, and probably as a sophomore wasn’t a very good kicker.
“He took it upon himself because with kicking, that’s what you do, and really got better. He’s really made himself with private coaches and clinics, (assistant coaches) Ryan Spoonmore and Craig Jarrett this year and become a fine kicker. It’s a great feather to have in your hat.”
