Center Grove holds off Westfield to repeat as 6A champions

by | Nov 28, 2021 | Football Blogs, Headlines, RRSN News | 0 comments

Top-ranked Center Grove completed its second-straight unbeaten season with a 27-21 win over Westfield in a rematch in the Class 6A state championship game.
The Trojans of long-time coach Eric Moore needed a late interception by sophomore Owen Bright inside their own 10-yard line to seal the win – the team’s 28th-straight victory and second-consecutive state championship. Center Grove was making its third-straight appearance in the title game.
A year ago, the Trojans beat the Shamrocks, 38-14, in the title game, but this one proved much more difficult. Center Grove trailed, 14-13, midway through the second quarter after a 25-yard run by Westfield senior Micah Hauser.
Center Grove came back before halftime and scored on a 30-yard pass from Tayven Jackson to Harrison Stomps, then appeared to take a commanding lead by returning the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown. The return, however, was nullified by a penalty. Jackson did, however, guide the Trojans on a 12-play, 80-yard drive culminated by a Micah Coyle 5-yard run to put Center Grove up, 27-14.
Westfield, coached by Jake Gilbert, kept CG at bay the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Shamrocks offense cut the lead to 27-21 after a Hauser 1-yard run with 3:42 left in the third.
Westfield senior quarterback Maximus Webster, who finished with 357 yards in total offense, later engineered a drive that reached the Center Grove 11 before Bright stepped in and picked off Webster’s third-down pass near the goal line with 1:37 left.
The Shamrocks finished 12-2, losing only to Indianapolis Cathedral (the Class 5A champion) in its season opener and the title game to the Trojans.
Westfield’s Will Strahm earns the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award
During the awards ceremony, Will Strahm of Westfield High School was announced by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 6A Football.
The award is annually presented to a senior who is nominated by his principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability during his four years of high school.
Academically, Strahm has earned a 4.06 GPA and anticipates graduating with an Academic Honors diploma next spring. He is involved in numerous school and community organizations.
Will has also excelled on the football field as a team captain and a starter on the offensive line helping the Rocks to two straight championship games. He was named an Academic All-State performer and was chosen by the Indiana Football Coaches Association as a member of the inaugural Good Works Team for his commitment to community service. He has also been a team captain for the school’s rugby team and participated in track and field.
Will is the son of Erica Strahm of Westfield, IN and will attend the University of Notre Dame to study Finance next fall.
The award is named in honor of Commissioner Phil N. Eskew, who served as the IHSAA’s third commissioner from 1962-76. Under his leadership, the IHSAA football state tournament was initiated in 1973.
The Indianapolis Colts, the presenting sponsor of the IHSAA state tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Westfield High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Will Strahm.

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