Columbus North quarterback Zac Horn drops back to pass in a sectional championship football game against Center Grove at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Columbus North’s 10th consecutive sectional loss to Center Grove didn’t come without a few positives for the Bull Dogs.
North held the Class 6A No. 4 and two-time defending state champion Trojans to 14 first-half points, a much stronger early defensive showing than the past few meetings between the two schools. And in the 49-14 sectional final loss, the Bull Dogs put up as many points against Center Grove as it has in the past decade.
Individually, it was a record-setting night for a pair of cousins. Zac Horn broke the single-season touchdown passes record with his 25th, and fellow senior Cooper Horn caught seven passes for 181 yards and a score to extend his single-season marks for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
“We did some good things,” North coach Logan Haston said. “It wasn’t all bad. Unfortunately, we just weren’t able to put together complete drives. Too many times, we kind of shot ourselves in the foot and ended drives. It stings, but we showed that we can do some really good things against one of the most elite programs in the state.”
The Trojans (9-2) took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in 10 plays for the game’s first score. Tyler Cherry hit Noah Coy on third-and-goal from the 4.
The Bull Dogs (5-6) managed a pair of first downs on their first possession, but then had to punt. Center Grove then drove 91 yards in nine plays, with Cherry hitting TJ Williams for a 7-yard score and a quick 14-0 lead.
After that, the North defense settled down in the second quarter, forcing a Trojan punt and a turnover on downs and an end-of-half scenario.
In the third quarter, Center Grove recaptured the offense it had in the first quarter. Eli Hohlt ran 10 yards for a score, then Cherry hit Coy for 22 yards to extend the lead to 28-0.
The Bull Dogs then scored on their next offensive play. Zac Horn scrambled to his right and found Cooper Horn behind the defense around midfield, and Cooper took it the rest of the way for an 81-yard touchdown, his 20th of the season.
A long kickoff return set up the Trojans for a score on their next offensive play. Micah Coyle ran 11 yards for the game’s third touchdown in 41 seconds.
Center Grove made it 42-7 when Jack Browning ran 28 yards for a score in the first play of the fourth quarter, triggering a running clock. The Trojans’ final score came on a 2-yard run by Austin Hennessey.
North then drove for a last-minute touchdown, a 16-yard run by Tyler Blythe.
“When we went in the locker room at halftime, we felt really good about where we were,” Haston said. “We played an unbelievable first half. We just didn’t punch it in a couple times, but we had some nice drives there. Defense played their hearts out. Even when things started to tip there in the second half, the effort didn’t change. The guys kept playing. I’m so proud of the effort.”
Blythe finished with 104 yards on 20 carries. Zac Horn completed 15 of 26 passes for 214 yards.
The loss wraps up the first year as a head coach for Haston, who took over the program in June.
“I’m very optimistic for the future,” Haston said. “Obviously, coming in at the time I did and trying to make changes, it’s difficult. But we learned a lot in that process. I’m very thankful to have a great staff that is bought in. We’re going to grow. We’re going to get better, and we’re going to improve from this. I’m excited to have an offseason to develop our guys.”
Center Grove 49, Columbus North 14
Center Grove;14;0;21;14;—;49
Columbus North;0;0;7;7;—;14
CG—Noah Coy 4 pass from Tyler Cherry (Nolan Foley kick), 8:24.
CG—TJ Williams 7 pass from Cherry (Foley kick), 1:14.
CG—Eli Hohlt 10 run (Foley kick), 7:17.
CG—Coy 22 pass from Cherry (Foley kick), 3:19.
CN—Cooper Horn 81 pass from Zac Horn (Osian Guest kick), 2:55.
CG—Micah Coyle 11 run (Foley kick), 2:38.
CG—Jack Browning 28 run (Foley kick), 11:52.
CG—Austin Hennessy 2 run (Foley kick), 6:37.
CN—Tyler Bythe 16 run (Guest kick), :15.
Individual statistics
RUSHING — Center Grove: Coyle 22-145, Jalen Thomeson 7-52, Jack Browning 2-33, Hohlt 1-10, Rylan Cook 4-3, Grant Baldwin 1-1, Cherry 3-0. Columbus North: Blythe 20-104, Z. Horn 4-11, Sam Mormino 5-5.
PASSING — Center Grove: Cherry 8 for 13, 119 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, Gabe McWilliams 1-1-20-0-0. Columbus North: Z. Horn 15-26-214-1-0, Blythe 0-1-0-0-0, C. Horn 1-1-(-3)-0-0.
RECEIVING — Center Grove: Coy 4-47, Williams 2-47, Dennon Hale 1-20, Hohlt 1-17, Owen Wright 1-8. Columbus North: C. Horn 7-81, Nathan Palmer 3-24, Blake Wilson 1-5, Blythe 5-1.
