Page 6 - 2010-11 Football State Finals Program

Tournament Preview

By RICH TORRES
VYPE High School Sports Magazine, Central Indiana
History is destined to be made inside Lucas Oil Stadium this weekend. When
the 38th Annual IHSAA State Football State Finals presented by the Indianapo-
lis Colts concludes we will have a first-time Class 5A state champion.
But that’s just one storyline to follow.
In Class A and Class 2A, we could see repeat feats by Lafayette Central Catholic and Fort
Wayne Bishop Luers, respectively. Or perhaps, Class A Fountain Central will snap its 27-year
championship drought. Will this be the year Class 2A North Putnam wins its first state title?
How will round three between Class 4A Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger and Cathedral turn out?
Will Class 3A Bishop Chatard become the most prolific football program in state history?
By Saturday night, we’ll know the answers as history is rewritten.
Class A Championship Fast Facts
• Bishop Luers is attempting to win a record-tying ninth
Lafayette Central Catholic (14-0) vs. state title (Indpls. Bishop Chatard, 9; Sheridan, 9).
Fountain Central (13-1), 3:30 p.m. (ET) • Luers is playing in a state-record 13th state
For a second consecutive year, Lafayette Central Catholic championship game and sixth overall since 2000.
and Fountain Central will meet to decide the Class A state • A state championship for Bishop Luers coach Matt
championship. For a second straight year, the defending Lindsay would give him eight overall and tie him with
Dick Dullaghan for second all time in state history.
state champion Central Catholic Knights are ranked No. • North Putnam, which set a school record for victories
1 in the Associated Press poll and lead the state in points in a single season, is playing for the school’s first
allowed (4.7). Ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in points per game state championship in any sport.
in Class A, Central Catholic (48.9) and Fountain Central • Bishop Luers cornerback Kenny Mullen has
(41.6) have poured it on. Where do they differ? Central committed to Indiana University. Safety Quyuan
Catholic has posted six shutouts this season. Fountain Mattox has committed to Ball State University.
Central has two. Last year, the Knights blanked nine teams
to win their third title overall. Class 3A Championship
Fast Facts South Bend St. Joseph’s (9-5) vs.
• Lafayette Central Catholic has won 29 consecutive Indpls. Bishop Chatard (10-4), Noon (ET)
games and is attempting to record back-to-back 15-0 It has taken both programs three years to return to the
seasons (sixth in Class A state tournament history). Class 3A state championship. Oddly enough, the last time
• With a victory this weekend, Central Catholic will they trekked to Downtown Indiananpolis, they played each
become the fifth consecutive unbeaten Class A other with Bishop Chatard capturing its ninth state title
champion and third repeat winner (Sheridan twice).
• Last year, Central Catholic defeated Fountain Central and fifth this decade with a 31-7 victory. The secret behind
52-0 for the Class A championship, marking the sixth their prolific success this season has been their respective
shutout in Class A state finals history. ground attacks where Chatard’s Ryan Kleinschmidt and St.
• In two previous Class A title game rematches, the Joseph’s Peter Gillis lead the charge.
team that lost the first year returned to win the next
year (Tri-West Hendricks beat Carroll (Flora) 1996-97; Fast Facts
Seeger beat Cardinal Ritter in 2004-05). • Unranked South Bend St. Joseph’s is riding a seven-
game winning streak after opening the season 0-3
Class 2A Championship and owning a 2-5 record before winning its eighth
sectional title, fifth regional and first semi-state crown
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (13-1) vs. since 1995.
North Putnam (14-0), 7 p.m. (ET) • St. Joseph’s head coach Ben Downey was a senior
This time last year, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers had a 9-5 wide receiver/outside linebacker on the Indians’ 1995
record and was unranked entering the state championship. Class 3A state championship team.
How times have changed. No. 1 in the Coaches poll and • Bishop Chatard is seeking a state-record 10th football
No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, coach Matt Lindsay’s state championship overall, breaking a tie with
Knights are looking to post their second championship Sheridan (9). Chatard is 9-1 in state championship
repeat in 10 years (2001-02, 2002-03) and become the 16th games.
unbeaten state champion in Class 2A. There have been • Bishop Chatard senior offensive tackle Nick Martin
eight repeat champions in Class 2A since 1973. Standing has committed to the University of Kentucky. His
in their way is third-ranked North Putnam, which captured it brother Zach Martin is a starting offensive tackle at the
first semi-state title in program history this fall. University of Notre Dame.

6 38th Annual IHSAA State Football Tournament is proudly presented by the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS.