INDIANAPOLIS — The Class 6A No. 4 Lawrence North Wildcats remain perfect after holding the No. 7 Center Grove Trojans scoreless in two quarters during Senior Night on Friday.
Center Grove, looking to rebound from a heartbreaking 49-45 loss to Cathedral last week, struck first when junior running back Nolan Rees found his way into the end zone for a 7-yard rushing touchdown.
With around three minutes left to play in the first quarter, Center Grove's defense stopped the Wildcats offense on third down just barely in Trojan territory. However, Lawrence North coach Patrick Mallory decided to go for it on fourth down, calling for a running play from freshman running back Damario Moore. Moore rose to the occasion, scoring the first down, which led to a 21-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Izavyeon Moore to tie the game late in the first.
Early in the second quarter, Izavyeon Moore scored his second rushing touchdown of the night by taking it 94-yards to the house to put the Wildcats up 14-7. Two consecutive field goals from senior place kicker Colton Hughes extended the Wildcats' lead to 20-7 at halftime.
As the second half began, Lawrence North senior quarterback Tanner Aspeslet kept airing it out, eventually finding sophomore wide receiver Monshun Sales deep, which set up Izavyeon Moore's third touchdown run of the night.
Just before the end of the third quarter, Wildcats senior cornerback Jevonte Wilson picked off Trojans senior quarterback Gabe McWilliams to give Lawrence North the ball to start the final quarter.
Center Grove never backed down despite trailing 27-7 at the start of the fourth. After getting the ball back early, sophomore Drake McClurg took the handoff into the end zone for the Trojans' second score of the night.
However, Izaveyon Moore delivered one final dagger to the hopes of the Center Grove fans by breaking away for a 57-yard touchdown run, his fourth of the night.
The Trojans managed to find the end zone again late in the second half, but it was not enough to stop the Wildcats.
With the win, Lawrence North moves to 8-0 on the season and are now comfortably in first in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC). It is also the Wildcats' first win in football over the Trojans since the 2005 season. Center Grove falls to 5-3 on the season after a loss that will certainly have AP poll implications next week.
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