Staff Report
North Central Rallies Past Pike in Class 6A Playoff Battle
INDIANAPOLIS — Forget the records. When North Central and Pike met for the second time in three weeks Friday night, it looked much more like a neighborhood playoff fight than a matchup between teams that had combined for only two regular-season victories.
North Central ultimately had too much firepower. Quarterback Chase Grove threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns, while Tuajohn Averitte accounted for 238 total yards including 207 rushing and three scores as the Panthers rallied for a 38-28 victory in the Class 6A state tournament. Grove connected with Tuajohn Averitte, Demetrius Averitte, Jeremiah Gillespie and Markell Bailey.
The Panthers appeared to be establishing control when they built a 19-14 advantage, but Pike had an answer. The Red Devils responded with a touchdown to move in front 21-19 during the second quarter, suddenly putting North Central in the position of having to chase the game.
It was an impressive response from a Pike team that entered the postseason 0-9. North Central had defeated the Red Devils 28-20 during the regular season on Oct. 9, but the playoff rematch quickly developed into another back-and-forth battle.
Trailing 21-19, North Central began to regain momentum behind its explosive offense. Grove repeatedly found openings in the Pike secondary, while Averitte gave the Panthers a big-play threat that the Red Devils struggled to contain.
Averitte’s night included a 69-yard run, one of the plays that helped change the complexion of the game. Instead of allowing Pike to build on its second-quarter lead, North Central responded and eventually moved back in front.
Pike refused to go away. The Red Devils had scored only 82 points during the regular season and had been shut out twice, yet they continued answering well enough to keep the outcome in doubt.
The difference came as North Central began turning its explosive plays into separation. What had been a 21-19 Pike lead became a Panthers advantage, and North Central eventually stretched the margin enough that Pike was forced to play from behind.
The Red Devils managed to reach 28 points, their second-highest output of the season, but they could not completely close the gap. North Central finished with 38, its highest-scoring performance of the year.
The progression told the story. North Central moved ahead 19-14, Pike countered to take a 21-19 lead, and the Panthers responded by outscoring the Red Devils 19-7 the rest of the way to secure the 38-28 victory.
For a North Central team that entered the postseason with only two victories, it was the response that mattered most. The Panthers absorbed Pike’s best punch, erased a second-quarter deficit and found enough offense down the stretch to survive.
North Central improved to 3-7 and advanced to face Lawrence North at 7 p.m. Friday.
Pike’s season ends at 0-10, but the Red Devils went down with one of their strongest offensive performances of the year. They turned what could have been a routine North Central victory into a genuine playoff battle before the Panthers finally pulled away.
