Football Game Recap: Pike Red Devils vs. North Central Panthers

Bobby Thomas

Rushing Yards

10/10/25 vs North Central	127
10/03/25 vs Guerin Catholic	145
09/26/25 @ Warren Central	112
09/19/25 vs Lawrence Central	111

Pike hasn't had much luck at home recently (they'd lost five straight dating back to last season) but thanks in part to Bobby Thomas that streak is no more. The Red Devils enjoyed a cozy 46-28 victory over the North Central Panthers on Friday for which the team can thank Thomas, who rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns on only seven carries. His rushing production has been exceptional recently as that marked his fourth straight game with at least 111 rushing yards.

Chase Grove and Tuajohn Averitte certainly did their best on Friday to avoid the loss. Grove threw for 183 yards and four TDs, while Averitte gained 106 total yards and a touchdown. Grove is becoming a predictor of North Central's success: when he posts at least three passing touchdowns the team is 2-1 (and 0-5 when he doesn't).

Pike's win was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-3 and their overall record up to 3-5. As for North Central, they are on a three-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 2-6.

Pike wasted no time getting back out on the field and has already played their next matchup, a 42-7 defeat against Lawrence North on the 17th. As for North Central, they also didn't take long to hit the field again: they've already played their next contest, a 69-35 loss against Ben Davis on the 17th.