All-County football: Defense

<p>One national recruiting website recently stopped just short of awarding Caden Curry coveted five-star status, noting in its explanation that his production — 61 tackles, including 21.5 for loss and eight sacks — was down from last season.</p><p>Those who had the misfortune of playing against the Center Grove junior in 2020 likely didn’t notice any sort of decline in his play.</p><p>Curry was his usual unstoppable self during the Trojans’ perfect run to the Class 6A state championship, setting the tone for the most dominating defense that Indiana high school football has seen in some time.</p><p>It should come as little surprise, then, that he is the Daily Journal’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>Curry, who has moved all the way up to No. 19 on Rivals.com’s list of the top 2022 recruits in America, wasn’t paying any attention to his statistical output this fall, even if others were. </p><p>&quot;This year, I didn’t look at them at all, honestly, because we were a really dominant defense and all the plays were made all over the field by every player,&quot; Curry said. &quot;So I wasn’t looking at my numbers; I was looking at the whole team.</p><p>&quot;I was still being disruptive up the middle, and it kind of pushed everything outside and then my linebackers got out there and did their thing.&quot;</p><p>Center Grove coach Eric Moore applauded Curry’s willingness to play within the system and not chase numbers — and to play inside at defensive tackle for the second year in a row instead of out on the edge, where he’s a more natural fit.</p><p>The Trojans wouldn’t have won the state championship, the coach said, if Curry hadn’t switched positions and played within the natural flow of the defense.</p><p>&quot;Sometimes young defenders that are really in the superstar class like he is try to make every play,&quot; Moore said. &quot;Sometimes it’s about doing your job, and the tackle doesn’t care who makes it; you doing your job enables someone to make the tackle.&quot;</p><p>Curry — who scored a touchdown in the season opener on a return of his own blocked punt and then added a pair of short rushing TDs during the postseason — is one of the most sought-after junior recruits in America, with scholarship offers from the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Ohio State. He’s in no rush to make a decision, though; Curry is in the process of whittling his list of possible destinations down to 12 and deciding which schools he wants to visit in 2021.</p><p>He’s also eager to close out his high school career on a high note. Curry is just one tackle for loss away from becoming Center Grove’s all-time leader in that category, and he’s 13 quarterback sacks shy of J.B. Paxson’s school standard, a mark that should be well within reach regardless of whether Moore puts him back at defensive end.</p><p>No matter what happens for Curry during the recruiting process and his senior season, he’ll never forget the magical ride that he and the rest of the Trojans went on together in 2020.</p><p>&quot;It definitely was special,&quot; Curry said. &quot;Definitely something I’ll always remember wherever I go.&quot;</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="All-County team: Defense" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>The 2020 All-County defense for football:</p><p><strong>DL Austin Booker, Center Grove senior:</strong> A feared presence on the edge who earned IFCA Top 50 honors … Finished with 36 tackles (11 for loss), 3.5 quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles … Verbally committed to play at Minnesota next year.</p><p><strong>DL Caden Curry, Center Grove junior:</strong> Led the 6A state champion Trojans in tackles (61), tackles for loss (21.5) and sacks (8) … Scored two rushing TDs and added another on a blocked punt return … A repeat IFCA Top 50 All-State pick.</p><p><strong>DL Harris Eason, Franklin senior:</strong> A disruptive force on the edge for the Grizzly Cubs with 80 tackles, including 19 for loss … An all-league pick who led the county in sacks with 9 and forced three fumbles.</p><p><strong>DL Donnevan Plummer, Whiteland senior:</strong> Made the Class 5A Senior All-State team after making 76 tackles, including 19 for loss … Had three quarterback sacks and 15 hurries for a sectional title team.</p><p><strong>DL James Schott, Center Grove junior:</strong> Talented pass rusher made a name for himself with 42 tackles (10 for loss) and 6.5 quarterback sacks for unbeaten Trojans … Starting to stockpile FBS scholarship offers.</p><p><strong>LB Trey Clark, Center Grove senior:</strong> A Class 6A Senior All-State and All-MIC selection who collected 55 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, for the undefeated state champions … Intercepted a pass and broke up three others.</p><p><strong>LB Matt Hohlt, Center Grove senior:</strong> Transfer made an immediate impact for the state’s most dominant defense, amassing 51 tackles, two sacks, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.</p><p><strong>LB Gavin Ruppert, Greenwood junior:</strong> An all-league pick made 67 tackles, broke up three passes and recovered a fumble … Also rushed for 470 yards and 18 TDs as the team’s short-yardage quarterback.</p><p><strong>LB Jackson Schott, Center Grove senior:</strong> Big-play defender was again a valuable presence for the Trojans, making 41 stops and picking off two passes on the way to earning IFCA Top 50 All-State honors … Committed to play at Miami of Ohio.</p><p><strong>LB Kayden Welling, Whiteland senior:</strong> Made a team-high 94 tackles, including 11 stops for loss and two sacks … Broke up seven passes, forced three fumbles and returned an interception for a TD in a sectional title win.</p><p><strong>DB Mitchell Evans, Center Grove junior:</strong> Made 43 tackles and intercepted three passes for the Class 6A state champions … Returned a punt 72 yards for a TD in the sectional final win over Columbus East.</p><p><strong>DB Matt Soderdahl, Center Grove senior:</strong> Dependable cover corner who made 36 tackles while intercepting three passes and breaking up 10 more for the undefeated Trojans … Committed to play at Hillsdale College.</p><p><strong>DB Quinn Warweg, Whiteland junior:</strong> Named to the all-conference team after anchoring the secondary for the sectional champion Warriors … Finished with 42 tackles, seven pass breakups and an interception.</p><p><strong>DB Dane Young, Center Grove senior:</strong> Made three interceptions, including one in Class 6A state championship game, and led team with 12 pass breakups … Also collected 20 tackles.</p><p><strong>P Chris Dawalt, Whiteland senior:</strong> Averaged 33.7 yards per punt, putting three inside the 20-yard line … Also a reliable placekicker who converted on 51 of 52 PATs and 4 of 5 field goals.</p><p><span>Honorable mention</span></p><p>Daniel Adams, Whiteland; Beau Baker, Franklin; Brett Barger, Indian Creek; Jordan Gorham, Indian Creek; Owen Green, Center Grove; Lenario Greer, Whiteland; Jackson Griffin, Center Grove; Gabriel Long, Greenwood; Dylan Mayhew, Greenwood; Brandon Murray, Indian Creek; Ewan Niccum, Whiteland; Brodie Rinehold, Franklin; Grant Roberts, Franklin; Brayton Spetter, Center Grove; Austin Streeval, Edinburgh</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]