First-year North Central High School football coach Keith Shelton has repeatedly said this season’s success should be measured by the program’s ability to establish a foundation of success, not its wins and losses. He admitted, however, a victory doesn’t hurt …especially against the defending state champions.

“It was nice on several levels,” Shelton said of last week’s 13-7 overtime victory over No. 7 Center Grove. “It was a quality opponent that’s well coached. It was validation for the work we’ve put in. (But) our major goal is to change the culture (of North Central football). Our greatest satisfaction is in what’s gone on behind the scenes with the level of commitment.”

Perhaps most fulfilling was that following a 19-14 loss to Terre Haute South, Shelton challenged his players to spend a week doing exactly what the coaching staff was telling them to do in terms of reading keys and completing their assignments and the result was, perhaps, the biggest upset of the high school football season.

Shelton praised the improved play of quarterback Derek Thiems, who scored on a 10-yard run for the team’s first touchdown. Tiandre Edwards also flashed his ability to be a complement to starting tailback Miles Clark and scored the winning touchdown from 8 yards out. Michael Raby has also provided another weapon at fullback and tight end, converting a fourth-and-15 against Center Grove, and receiver Justin Boone has played well consistently.

Defensively, safety Jimmy Graves has stepped up his play, Colin Alexander has performed well since moving to linebacker from defensive back and the defensive line of Kygh Murff, Andrew East and Jules Williams has developed into a cohesive unit.

Among the key plays in Friday’s victory was North Central converting a fake punt on fourth-and-1 from its own 10-yard line with three minutes remaining to keep Center Grove off the field. The defense then held on fourth-and-goal from the 1 in overtime after the Panthers’ extra point attempt was blocked. Linebacker David Posey, Graves and Murph led the stop.

“It was hairy,” Shelton said. “(The Center Grove linemen) got in (the end zone) but the back didn’t. It was the longest four seconds of my life. The biggest thing is we told them their our only goal (all week) was to do everything exactly as they were coached and they saw a victory in doing what they were told.”

NORTH CENTRAL (2-6) at TERRE HAUTE NORTH (3-5)
When: 7 p.m., Friday.
Last year: North Central, 36-28.
Last 10 years: North Central leads, 8-2.
North Central’s key players: QB Derek Thiems (63-of-110, 718 yards, 2 TDs, 4 INTs; 2 rushing TDs), RB Miles Clark (493 rushing yards, 5 TDs), WR Keenan Evans (209 receiving yards), WR Justin Boone (240 receiving yards, 1 TD), LB Nathan Geist (36 tackles), DE Andrew East (29 tackles), DB Jimmy Graves (27 tackles), LB Deven Rampersaud (33 tackles), LB David Posey (45 tackles), DL Jules Williams (32 tackles).
Terre Haute North’s key players: QB Chris O’Leary (117-of-216, 1,473 yards, 11 TDs, 9 INTs; 442 rushing yards, 9 TDs), RB Daniel Gabbard (394 rushing yards, 5 TDs; 280 receiving yards, 3 TDs), RB Ben King (251 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 224 receiving yards, 2 TDs; 70 tackles; 1 INT), WR Sidney Moore (369 receiving yards, 4 TDs), WR Aaron Allen (470 receiving yards, 2 TDs), Thomas King (93 tackles, 2 sacks), Lee Davis (71 tackles), Michael Mace (59 tackles, 2 sacks).
What to watch for: Needless to say, North Central’s 13-7 overtime victory against Center Grove last week was a huge boost to the program. Now it gets a Terre Haute North team surrendering 45.8 points per game, which should provide a confidence boost to the sagging offense. With Southport in the first round of sectionals and Lawrence North or Lawrence Central in the semifinals, a run to the title game is not out of the question for the Panthers.