Lawrence North Stays Perfect, Knocks Off Center Grove 34-21
Lawrence North made a powerful statement Friday night, securing a 34-21 victory over Center Grove and improving to 8-0 for the first time since 1989. The Wildcats were led by a dominant performance from sophomore running back Izayveon Moore, who rushed for 233 yards on 22 carries and scored four touchdowns, including a 57-yard burst that sealed the win late in the fourth quarter.
The victory not only marked Lawrence North’s first win over Center Grove since 2005 but also dealt the Trojans their second consecutive loss, a rare occurrence for a program that hadn’t dropped two straight since 2019.
Center Grove opened the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown by junior running back Nolan Rees after a 36-yard pass from senior quarterback Gabe McWilliams to senior receiver Tristan Baxter moved the Trojans deep into Wildcat territory.
However, Lawrence North’s defense held strong, forcing multiple turnovers and keeping the Trojans from building on their early momentum.
After a fumble on their first possession, Lawrence North regrouped and found their rhythm late in the first quarter. Moore scored his first touchdown of the night on a 21-yard run, tying the game at 7-7. The game’s defining moment came early in the second quarter when Moore took a handoff at his own 1-yard line and exploded down the sideline for a 94-yard touchdown, putting the Wildcats ahead 14-7.
From there, Lawrence North capitalized on Center Grove’s mistakes. Senior kicker Colton Hughes added a 45-yard field goal to make it 17-7, and after a tipped pass was intercepted by senior defensive back Cale Mallory, Hughes hit a 38-yarder just before halftime, extending the Wildcats’ lead to 20-7.
The second half opened with Lawrence North recovering an onside kick and quickly driving downfield. Moore capped off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, his third of the game, increasing the lead to 27-7. Center Grove struggled to respond, with McWilliams being intercepted twice more in the third quarter.
While Center Grove managed a late push, scoring on a 2-yard run by Drake McClurg and a touchdown pass in the final minutes, Lawrence North’s defense kept them at bay, and Moore’s fourth touchdown of the night—a 57-yard sprint—put the game out of reach.
McWilliams finished the game with 252 passing yards on 25-of-37 attempts but was hampered by three costly interceptions. Center Grove’s offense had some bright spots, including big plays from Baxter and senior running back Austin Hennessy, but turnovers and missed opportunities ultimately led to their downfall.
Lawrence North’s win over Center Grove is the latest in a series of impressive victories. Having already knocked off Ben Davis and Warren Central in recent weeks, the Wildcats are establishing themselves as one of the top teams in Indiana with the postseason on the horizon.
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