Page 7 - 2008-09 Football State Finals Program

Tournament Preview

Saturday, November 29, 2008
Class 3A Championship • Dwenger defeated two undefeated teams the last two
weeks in No. 5 Delta, 49-20, in regional and No. 2
Bellmont Braves (13-1) vs. Lowell, 38-22, in semi-state.
Evansville Memorial Tigers (12-2), Noon (ET) • The Irish eliminated two top-10 teams this postseason in
No. 4 Whiteland, 24-0, and No. 1 Columbus East, 41-10.
For both schools, today’s championship game marks their • Cathedral is the state’s winningest team with 635 victo-
respective football teams’ first state finals appearance. The ries in program history.
Braves have won nine straight games to reach Lucas Oil • In 14 years at Cathedral, Irish head coach Rick Streiff is
Stadium while the Tigers are riding a 10-game win streak, 133-29 and 154-72 overall.
including a 27-14 win over defending state champion
Bishop Chatard at semi-state. Breakdown: (Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger) – The Saints
can score, sporting a 34.9 points per game average, but
Fast Facts their defense is stifling, ranked first in Class 4A (9.6 ppg)
• Bellmont’s only loss this season came against Class 5A thanks to LB Matt Tippmann, SS Brian Fogler and DE Tony
Homestead in Northeast Hoosier Conference matchup Springman. (Indianapolis Cathedral) – Defense has been
on Sept. 19, 2008. the key for the Irish this postseason. The past five weeks,
• The Braves sectional, regional and semi-state crowns Cathedral has held the opposition to 11 points or fewer. DB
marked the program’s first in school history. Jake Zupancic and LB Kakpindi Jamiru lead the charge.
• Bellmont is seeking the school’s fifth state championship
all-time: Wrestling 1986-88, 1993-94, Volleyball 2007-08 Class 5A Championship
(3A).
• The Tigers’ semi-state ended Bishop Chatard’s 15-game Carmel Greyhounds (13-1) vs.
tournament win streak Center Grove Trojans (13-1), 7:05 p.m. (ET)
• Evansville Memorial had fallen in each of its previous
five semi-state championship games The first time these two Metropolitan Interscholastic Confer-
• The Tigers’ semi-state victory tied the program’s single- ence foes met this season, the game was settled in the
season wins record set in 1988. final minute with defending state champion Carmel winning,
33-32. The matchup marks the second time in tournament
Breakdown: (Bellmont) – The Braves rank 10th in history that a state championship game will be played
defense in Class 2A, holding opponents to 1.436 points on between two teams from the same conference. The last
average. DT Billy Baker and LB Elliot Conrad work as a tan- time was Carmel vs. Warren Central in 2006.
dem while RB Trent Busse powers the offense. (Evansville
Memorial) – RB Ryan Black and QB Grant Gribbins are on Fast Facts
the verge of school records. Black needs 143 yards rushing Carmel is playing in its third consecutive state champion-
to set a new single-season rushing record. Gribbins needs ship game and seeking its seventh title all-time and fourth
102 passing yards and one more passing touchdown to Class 5A crown overall.
establish new marks. • Both Carmel and Center Grove finished the regular
season as co-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference
Class 4A Championship champions.
• This marks Carmel coach Mo Moriarity’s sixth champi-
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger Saints (14-0) vs. onship game appearance, counting three with Bloomington
Indianapolis Cathedral Fighting Irish (11-2), South in 1993, 1997 and 1998.
3:30 p.m. (ET) • The Trojans are playing in their first state championship
game since 2000 and second overall.
Today’s game between the Saints and the Fighting Irish • Center Grove won its fifth sectional and regional title in
marks the second time these two programs have locked up school history this year.
for the state championship. Cathedral is seeking its second • The Trojans have won 11 straight games since losing to
title in three years and seventh overall. In 1991, Dwenger, Carmel on Sept. 5, 2008.
then coached by athletic director Andy Johns, defeated
Cathedral 34-27 for the state title. Saints’ head coach Chris Breakdown: (Carmel) – Guided by QB Morgan Newton,
Svarczkopf is a 1973 Cathedral alum. the Greyhounds have outscored five tournament opponents
by a margin of 29.4 points. Newton leads the team in both
Fast Facts passing and rushing yards. (Center Grove) – With versatility
• At 14-0, Dwenger is one of two undefeated teams play- serving as their weapon of choice, the Trojans have scored
ing in the state finals. 41 points or more in 13 of 14 games and have breached the
• The Saints are vying for their first title in Class 4A and 50-point plateau five times. QB Jordan Luallen, RB Luke
fourth overall (1983, 1990 and 1991 in Class 3A). Swift, RB Tanner Riley anchor the attack.
IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport! 5

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