The Center Grove Trojans remain the best team in Indiana’s 6A classification. Friday night, at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, the Trojans won their third straight high school football title with a 35-9 win over Fort Wayne Carroll High School. CG has played in four straight 6A championship games.
Center Grove, ranked No. 72 in the latest High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football, used its usual solid ground game in the victory. The Trojans picked-up 302 yards on the ground while only tossing nine passes.
Micah Coyle finished with 132 yards rushing. Jalen Thomeson added 128 yards.
Carroll, ranked No. 282 in the HSFA national rankings, were playing in their first-ever state championship.
Eric Moore sharing hugs one by one with his team pic.twitter.com/cAo3599cN1
— Kyle Neddenriep (@KyleNeddenriep) November 26, 2022
Next year, Center Grove will try to tie a state record with four straight state titles. Warren Central won four straight in Class 5A (2003-06), Fort Wayne Bishop Luers did it in 2A (2009-12) and Lafayette Central Catholic accomplished four straight in 1A (also 2009-12).
Congratulations to Carroll’s Jorge Valdez, the recipient of the 2022 Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award for Class 6A Football, presented by the Indianapolis Colts! @carrollchargers @ColtsYouthFB @Colts pic.twitter.com/q1CktVTuJi
— IHSAA (@IHSAA1) November 26, 2022
Carroll High School’s Jorge Valdes earns the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award
During the awards ceremony, Jorge Valdes of Carroll High School in Fort Wayne 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, Valdes excels in the classroom with a 3.8 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Valdes was named First Team All-Conference and team captain his senior year. Along with his excellence on the football field, Jorge also participates in Track & Field where he competed in the 4×100 at the State Finals.
Jorge is the son of Jorge Valdes & Cedilia Eguiliz of Fort Wayne, IN. He is undecided on his college decision but plans to study Engineering and continue his football career.
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 Carroll High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Jorge Valdes.
