Page 40 - 2014-15 Football State Finals Program

Last Year’s State Finals in Review

Tri-Central defense rises up in Class A victory over Eastern Hancock

Tri-Central’s defense, solid all season, amped up its play The second half came with more of the same from
even more in holding the state’s No. 1 offense in check and Tri-Central, which never trailed. The Trojans relied on an
capturing the Class A state championship in the school’s impressive offensive effort, too, opening a 20-3 lead with a
first appearance in the finals. nice mix of rushing (191 yards) and passing
Coach George Gilbert’s (167).
Trojans recorded a stunning Kelley led Tri-Central with 78
20-10 victory over previously rushing yards. Howell passed for 167
unbeaten Eastern Hancock yards on 7-of-10 completions. Jade Pickett
and its high-powered offense. caught four passes for 89 yards.
Eastern Hancock led the state For Eastern Hancock, Gilbert
with an average of 56 points Spencer ran for 145 yards and a
a game. The Royals had touchdown. Logan Splater completed 7-of-
averaged 52.6 points in five 11 passes for 55 yards
playoff games before the final. Tri-Central, ranked No. 7 in
Tri-Central got on the the state coaches poll and No. 8 by the
scoreboard first, taking a Associated Press, completed the year with
6-0 lead when Garrett Kelley a 14-1 record. The Trojans’ only defeat
busted in from the 1-yard line came at the hands of Eastern Hancock
with 4:59 left in the first quarter. (47-35) in the season opener.
The Trojans padded their lead Coach Pat Echeverria’s Eastern
to 12-0 with 43 seconds left Hancock team, ranked fourth in the state
before halftime when Cody coaches poll and by the Associated Press,
Howell lofted a 23-yard scoring finished 14-1. The Royals were going for
pass to Seth Blunck. the program’s second state title after winning in 1985.

Purichia’s Big Game Powers Cardinal Ritter past Tipton in Class 2A

Jake Purichia, the state’s leading passer, displayed his Purichia completed 21-of-31 passes for 273 yards and
considerable skills in numerous facets of the game as his two touchdowns in the Raiders’ 56-6 victory over the Tipton
Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter team captured the Class 2A Blue Devils. Purichia rushed for a pair of TDs. He scored
state championship. another touchdown on a 10-yard return of a blocked punt.
He also recorded two tackles and a quarterback hurry as a
defensive back.
Cardinal Ritter, with three Class A state titles on its
resume, won its first in 2A after finishing as runner-up to
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers last season. The high-powered
Raiders scored 35 or more points in five of their six tourna-
ment victories this season.
Cardinal Ritter produced a number of stars in the title
game. Logan Beman rushed 13 times for 95 yards and a
TD. Kyree Hollis and Jake Hagan each caught five passes,
with Hollis recording a pair of scores. On special teams,
Tommy Waites contributed an 89-yard kickoff return for a
TD. Defensively, Waites led his team with nine tackles.
For Tipton, quarterback Austin Hooker netted 75 yards
on 16 rushing attempts. Josh Snider led the Blue Devils
with 11 stops on defense.
Coach Ty Hunt’s Raiders, ranked No. 2 in the state
coaches poll and No. 3 by the Associated Press, finished
13-2. The Raiders are 76-26 in state tournament games
since 1973.
Coach Aaron Tolle’s Blue Devils, ranked No. 7 by the
Associated Press and No. 9 by the coaches, completed
their season at 11-4.

40 42nd Annual IHSAA State Football Tournament is proudly presented by the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS.