HS football: Center Grove edges Warren Central in season-opening thriller

Center Grove coach Eric Moore called it Zak Smith's first catch. Which makes for a great anecdote, even if it wasn't quite the truth.

"My third overall," Smith said. "But my first one this year."

Smith, a 6-3, 175-pound senior, made one of the biggest plays on an opening high school football Friday night full of them. His 28-yard reception on fourth down kept a game-winning drive alive as Class 6A third-ranked Center Grove knocked off No. 5 Warren Central, 42-38.

"We tried to beat ourselves and we didn't do it," Moore said.

The visiting Trojans played from behind most of the night before tying Warren Central 35-35 late in the third quarter when standout defensive tackle Jovan Swann broke through the line and blocked a punt. Teammate Dan Root scooped it up and ran it in for an 11-yard touchdown.

Warren Central answered on its following possession, taking a 38-35 lead when Schuyler Nehrig hit a 35-yard field goal with 8:47 left.

Center Grove drove to the Warren Central 39 but was faced with a fourth-and-10 with 3:32 left and Moore called timeout. The play called for Smith to run a flag route to the right sideline as senior quarterback Joey Siderewicz rolled that direction. He was wide open for a 28-yard gain as Siderewicz, who was a flawless 8-for-8 for 150 yards and two touchdowns, hit him in stride.

"First catch of his life," Moore said.

Again, not entirely accurate. But it was definitely the biggest.

"I had a good idea (it was coming my way)," Smith said. "I knew I just had to get open and get the first down. Luckily it worked out."

Smith said he had no idea how wide open he was – which may have been a good thing.

"When you're in the moment, you don't really notice," he said. "I just turned and the ball was in the air, headed for me."

Junior running back Titus McCoy did the rest, running on three consecutive plays. His over-the-top, 1-yard touchdown put Center Grove ahead 42-38 with 2:45 left. The Trojans leaned heavily on McCoy in the second half as he picked up 114 of his 131 rushing yards after halftime.

Warren Central appeared to be in good shape for a home-opening win after Isaac Avant dashed 85 yards on a kickoff return to give the Warriors a 35-21 lead with 2:56 left in the third quarter. But Center Grove came right back and scored four plays later on McCoy's 38-yard run.

Swann's punt block, another decisive play, came on Warren Central's next possession. It was only the only time all night Warren Central was set up to punt. There wasn't a punt block called, but the 6-4, 270-pound Swann doesn't necessarily need it to be called.

"I just went," he said. "I wasn't clear what we'd called but I blocked one last year and know I can block punts. It's a matter of speed. We're coached to go all out and that's what I tried to do."

Warren Central coach Jayson West pointed to that play as a turning point.

"That kind of sold us down the river," West said. "You go from the first punt of the night to that kind of a swing, that's a big swing. I don't think we really recovered after that. We got a little out of sorts and got a little dinged up."

Warren Central's offense looked explosive most of the game. Junior Zach Summeier was outstanding in his first start at quarterback, completing 15 of his first 16 passes and finishing 18-for-22 for 223 yards and three touchdowns.

But the Warriors also lost a weapon in junior Tristen Tonte when he left with a shoulder injury in the third quarter. Tonte provided a change of pace as a running quarterback, rushing seven times for 26 yards, and also caught five passes for 37 yards. He was injured on his final reception. West said he'd find out more on the severity of his injury over the weekend.

Former Pike coach Derek Moyers is West's offensive coordinator.

"For the first night of the offense being together, I couldn't have been more happy," West said, referring to new offensive coordinator, former Pike coach Derek Moyers. "We have some things we have to get better at for sure, but Center Grove is one of the best programs out there and for us to move the ball effectively is a positive."

The 42 points allowed was the most Warren Central has surrendered since 2008.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

CENTER GROVE 42, WARREN CENTRAL 38

CG – Trevor Hohlt 29 pass from Joey Siderewicz (Nathanael Snyder kick)

WC – Tristen Tonte 1 run (Schuyler Nehrig kick)

WC – Paul Minor 10 pass from Zach Summeier (Nehrig kick)

CG – Quinton Stirsman 40 pass from Siderewicz (Snyder kick)

WC – Isaac Avant 37 pass from Summeier (Nehrig kick)

WC – Montiaz Brown 30 pass from Summeier (kick failed)

CG – Titus McCoy 3 run (Snyder kick)

WC – Avant 85 kickoff return (Dean Tate pass to Summeier)

CG – McCoy 38 run (Snyder kick)

CG – Punt blocked, Dan Root 11 return (Snyder kick)

WC – Nehrig 35 FG

CG – McCoy 1 run (Snyder kick)

Rushing — Center Grove, McCoy 20-131, Jackson Hohlt 9-49, Trevor Hohlt 13-35, Lee Clinker 2-7, Siderewicz 6-(-2). Warren Central, Dakarai Fulton 9-39, Tristen Tonte 7-26, Avant 5-13, Summeier 10-9, Adrian Banks 1-4.

Passing — Center Grove, Siderewicz 8-8-0 150. Warren Central, Summeier 18-22-0 223.

Receiving — Center Grove, Stirsman 1-40, T.Hohlt 1-29, Smith 1-28, J.Hohlt 1-25, McCoy 2-12, Cory Heinrichs 1-10, Grant Mason 1-6. Warren Central, Jay Coe 6-56, Avant 2-51, Minor 4-49, Tonte 5-37, Brown 1-30.