Page 37 - 2009-10 Football State Finals Program

Last Year’s State Finals in Review

BELLMONT COMPLETES JOURNEY WITH FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Bellmont completed a magical season capping it off with its own three play drive when quarterback Joel Bone
with the 3A state championship following a 28-14 victory found Hall wide open deep over the middle for a 61 yard
over Evansville Memorial at score to make it 21-7.
Lucas Oil Stadium in India- After a Memorial punt, Hall finished the next Bellmont
napolis. drive with a one yard run on fourth and goal for a 28-7
Three weeks after advantage with 2:56 to go in the third.
capturing the first sectional Evansville Memorial (12-3), which was also appearing
championship in school in its first state championship game a week after knocking
history, the Braves (14-1) off two-time defending state champion and top-ranked In-
rode the wave of momentum dianapolis Bishop Chatard, pulled within 28-14 with 7:25 to
pocketing the school’s first go when Gribbins found Jon Wandling for a 35 yard scoring
football title. pass.
Junior running back Memorial recovered the on-side kick but gave it back
Nick Hall scored all four to Bellmont four plays later on downs at midfield. Following
touchdowns for Bellmont a Bellmont punt, Memorial was poised to pull within a one
including two in the first half. score with a first and goal at the Bellmont seven yard line.
He scored from 27 yards out in the first quarter to give But Bellmont’s Conner Emenhiser forced Wandling into a
the Braves a 7-0 lead and then added a five yard score just fumble after a four yard catch and Caleb Meyer recovered
:13 seconds before the half for a 14-0 advantage. at the two yard line with 3:31 left to snuff out any chance of
Memorial (12-3) wasted no time after the break racing a rally.
downfield in three plays on its first possession ending with Gribbins set a 3A game record with 241 passing yards
an 18 yard touchdown pass from Grant Gribbins to Bryce and Wandling caught a game record nine passes.
Lueken to make it 14-7. Bellmont was coached by Toney Bergman and John
But Bellmont answered on the very next possession Hurley was in his first year as Memorial’s coach.
CATHEDRAL HANGS ON FOR SECOND CROWN IN THREE SEASONS
In a defensive tussle, Indianapolis Cathedral emerged Dwenger came in averaging 327 yards of offense but
the winner holding on for a 10-7 victory over previously un- was held to just 179 for the game. Cathedral had been
beaten Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger in the Class 4A state averaging 284 but was
championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. held to just 131.
It was the second state championship in three seasons Cathedral opened the
and seventh overall for the Irish (12-2) who ended on an scoring with a 32 yard field
11-game win streak. Bishop Dwenger (14-1) was seeking goal with 6:33 left in the
its first 4A title to go along with 3A titles it won in 1983, 1990 first quarter but Dwenger
and 1991. took a 7-3 lead just before
It was also the second meeting between the two halftime when Yerrick con-
schools for the state championship. Dwenger claimed a 34- nected with Robby Kimes
27 victory in the 1991 when both teams were in Class 3A. on a 14 yard pass with :47
The Cathedral defense came up big in the final quarter seconds left.
when it was most needed. After halftime, Yerrick
Trailing 10-7, Dwenger moved the ball to the Cathedral was intercepted on the
24 yard line but its 18-play drive that drained 8:51 off the second play from scrim-
clock went for naught when Emerson Ueber’s 41 yard field mage by Cathedral’s Kevin
goal attempt was blocked by Cathedral’s Allen Richardson Foley who returned it five yards to the Dwenger 28 yard
with 3:16 to go. line. The Irish regained the lead six plays later on fourth
The Irish punted on their next possession giving and two at the 10 yard line when Nick Najem carried it past
Dwenger one last chance starting at their own 22 with just several would-be tacklers to the endzone.
1:33 left. Ranked fifth in final regular season coaches poll, Ca-
Quarterback Trevor Yerrick’s first two passes fell incom- thedral topped its third top five team in the last four weeks
plete. He connected with Joe Colone for 17 yards on third with the win over third-ranked Dwenger. It was the fifth state
down but the play was called back on an illegal block and championship in 14 seasons for the Irish under coach Rick
Yerrick’s next two passes fell incomplete under pressure Streiff, who’s in his second stint as leader after rejoining the
giving the ball back to Cathedral to end the game. program this year.
IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport. PURE INDIANA! 37