Center Grove football adds back-to-back Ohio champs to work-in-progress 2023 schedule
Three-time defending Class 6A state football champion Center Grove will open the 2023 season against a two-time defending champion from Ohio.
Center Grove coach Eric Moore confirmed the Trojans will play St. Edward, the Division I state champions (largest class) in Ohio in 2021 and ’22, in the season-opening game Aug. 19 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon, Ohio. St. Edward is located in Lakewood, Ohio, in suburban Cleveland.
Since being voted out of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, scheduling hasn't been as straightforward for Center Grove. The Trojans will play St. Edward, at Carmel (a fellow MIC defector) and vs. Louisville Trinity the first three weeks of the season, Lawrence Central in Week 6 and close the regular season against Lawrence North and Cathedral. The Trojans are still working to fill the remainder of the 2023 schedule, which currently has open dates for Week 4, 5 and 7 . Former MIC rival Ben Davis is hosting IMG Academy Sept. 8 instead of playing Center Grove.
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Kickoff time and other details for the St. Edward game will be announced later, Moore said.
Center Grove athletic director Joe Bronkella said Cincinnati St. Xavier backed out of a contract last week that would have been a replacement for Ben Davis in Week 4. Bronkella said the schedules for the next two seasons "will be a little different look" than previous seasons, but expects a more traditional schedule by 2025.
Center Grove returns several key players from last year’s 12-2 state championship team, including quarterback Tyler Cherry and top receiver Noah Coy. Five of the team’s top six tacklers also return, including linebacker Owen Bright.
St. Edward was 15-1 each of the past two seasons, losing only in overtime in the regular season to Cincinnati Moeller in 2021 and by three points to Massillon Washington last season.
St. Edward’s top prospects are offensive lineman Ben Roebuck (considering Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State, among others) and defensive lineman Troy Regovich (offers from Kentucky and Toledo). The program has six state championship total.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA football: Center Grove will open season against Ohio champs
