2022 Center Grove Trojans Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the past few seasons, the Hoosier state has watched as Center Grove has built itself into one of the top high school football teams in the entire nation. Key to them reaching that stature were the seniors who have just graduated. Replacing such a talented Class of 2022 will be a tall order. But rising through the ranks are another talented group of Trojans, keen on capturing another Class 6A State Championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The most likely candidate to fill the starting quarterback role vacated by now-Tennessee Volunteer Tayven Jackson is Junior Tyler Cherry. Cherry saw limited playing time a season ago, but he certainly gave reason for optimism when he was on the field. He threw only 11 passes but he completed 6 of those attempts, gaining 36 yards in the process. Cherry will certainly have learned a lot from a top-tier quarterback like Jackson. Tyler Cherry is a prospect who I would expect to see burst on the scene this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Helping take the load off Cherry will be the dynamic one-two backfield punch of [player_tooltip player_id='107290' first='Drew' last='Wheat'] and Micah Cole. Wheat led the Trojans in rushing yards a season ago. He amassed 1,003 yards on 130 carries with 13 touchdowns during his junior year. Wheat is a credible receiving threat, as well. He caught nine passes for 154 receiving yards and a pair of touchdown receptions. Cole had a very productive junior year in his own right. He tallied 631 yards on the ground on 84 carries with ten touchdowns. If those two can have the senior seasons that one would anticipate them having, Center Grove will be able to continue their dominance in the running-game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior Eli Holht led all returning players in receiving yards last year. Holht plays the superback role for the Trojans. He will be looking to build off a season that saw him catch 17 passes for 384 yards. In 2021, Holht caught two touchdowns. Experience is always pivotal. Eli Holht has garnered a lot of experience. Look for him to have a big season this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, look for Center Grove to be imposing again this year. Leading the way is Senior [player_tooltip player_id='325848' first='Jalen' last='Thomeson']. Thomeson racked up 60 tackles last year with four tackles-for-loss. Fellow Senior [player_tooltip player_id='325828' first='Gavin' last='Oakes'] officially lines up on the back end of the defense at safety, but he makes plays all over the field. A season ago, Oakes totaled 49 tackles and five tackles-for-loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the secondary, Oakes will have rising Junior [player_tooltip player_id='322439' first='Owen' last='Bright'] to make life even more difficult for opposing offenses. Bright played in just nine games as a sophomore, but he flashed the potential that he has coming into this season. Bright has a knack for taking the ball. Last fall, he grabbed a trio of interceptions and defended against one pass. Bright also recovered two forced fumbles. If he can replicate that form, the Center Grove defense will spend another year being a force to be reckoned with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the kicking-game, Center Grove has the luxury of returning their experienced Punter and Kicker Nolan Foley. Foley punted the ball 21 times a season ago, racking up 681 punt yards and 32.4 yards per punt in the process. Foley handles the team's kickoff&nbsp; and placekicking duties. He kicked off 97 times last year- an indication as to just how high-powered the offense is- for 4,019 yards. He converted 68 of his 73 extra point attempts. Foley split the uprights on half-a-dozen field goal tries.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->