The No.1 ranked Center Grove Trojans found themselves in a dog fight with Ben Davis in the first half of Friday night’s Semi-State game on the west side. It was all knotted up at 13-13 at the break when Coach Eric Moore decided to dance with what got them there; running the football! When the smoke finally cleared they were walking out of the joint with a 48-13 victory and tickets for Big Momma to see them play at Lucas Oil Stadium next week for all of the marbles.
On Center Grove’s opening possession running back Daniel Weems exploded for 46 yards for a touchdown to put the Trojans up 6-0. However, Ben Davis pushed the cards to the middle of the table and answered on their ensuing possession as J’uan Swanson hit Dillan Moore on an 8-yard strike in the end zone to knot it up 6-6. Both teams missed their extra points.
The Trojans scored again as quarterback Tayven Jackson hit Daniel Weems on a 2-yard touchdown pass to go up 13-6. What did Ben Davis do? Answered the bell on a 4th down and 2 when Swanson hit Tank Mason on a bubble screen that he took 67- yards to the house. So at the break we had a ball game.
Everybody and their Uncle LeRoy and cousin Bubba was looking forward to an unbelievable finish to an already outstanding game. BD’s J’uan Swanson was 10-of-15 for 196 yards in the first half as BD looked to shock the world.
That’s when Eric Moore and Co. made the adjustments to lean on BD by running the football. Center Grove came out of the locker room on a mission to get back to Lucas Oil Stadium. They were the state runner up to Carmel a year ago and it hasn’t set well with them.
They scored on their first five possessions to start the second half. Before I could bite into my hot dog they’d score 21 points and was still looking for more points. The War Horse, Carson Steele, got going and it was a wrap. They simply had no answer for him as the Trojans ran out of the joint with the Semi-State trophy and the ball headed to Lucas Oil. Both Weems and Steele finished the night with three touchdowns apiece.
Up next Westfield for all of the marbles.
