Page 39 - 2016-17 Football State Finals Program

Last Year’s State Finals in Review

Chatard Claims Record 13th State Championship

It was fitting that on a day when Bishop Chatard became Caleb Kobets’ 31-yard field goal for a 24-7 lead with 3:49
Indiana’s all-time leader in high school football state titles, left in the game.
a staunch defense and a grinding, relentless running attack Following Chatard’s third interception of the game,
– two trademarks of the Trojans during many of those titles tailback Gabe Coleman got free on a 30-yard touchdown
– led to the win. run. Coleman finished with 118 yards on the ground, while
The fifth-ranked Trojans downed No. 3 West Lafayette Stiver added 108 and John Chavis 77 – including a 42-yard
31-7, giving Chatard its 13th state crown – one better than TD early in the third quarter that broke a 7-7 tie.
rival Cathedral. The Trojans turned Both teams scored on their first
two second-half defensive stops possession of the game, but defense
into 10 points, breaking open a tight took over the rest of the half. Neither
game and giving Head Coach Vince team was able to mount a serious
Lorenzano his seventh state title at drive until the Trojans’ marched from
the school. their own 28 to the Red Devil 20 late
Leading 14-7 in the third quarter, in the half. But with time expiring,
the Trojans (12-3) stopped the Red Kobets was short on a 37-yard field
Devils on downs at the Chatard goal attempt.
14. Four plays later, Trojan tailback West Lafayette entered Friday
Jarrod Stiver broke off a 65-yard averaging 468 yards per game but
touchdown run. was held to 286 by the Trojans. Travis
West Lafayette (13-2) drove to Rolle ran 32 times for 146 yards for
the Chatard 32 on its next posses- the Red Devils.
sion but failed to convert again on
fourth down. The Trojans then used
up more than six minutes of clock,
driving 54 yards in 14 plays to set up

Second Half Lifts FW Bishop Dwenger to 4A State Championship

It took awhile for Fort Wayne Dwenger to get going. But setting up Clark’s 11-yard score less than three minutes later.
once the Saints did, they were impossible to stop. Another interception led to Podschlne’s 1-yard touchdown
Trailing 3-0 at halftime, the No. 3 Saints rallied for four run with 3:41 remaining.
scores over the final two quarters – three coming on Amaun While the Dwenger offense started clicking the second
Clark runs – to down No. 9 East Central. It’s Fort Wayne half, its defense took over, holding East Central (12-3) to
Dwenger’s fourth state title and first 64 yards over the final two quarters.
since 1991. The Trojans finished the game with
The Saints did it without, but 172 yards – 215 below their average.
inspired by, longtime Dwenger coach Dwenger’s defense also forced four
Chris Svarczkopf, who was battling turnovers.
cancer. Ernie Bojrab stepped in as Dwenger drove 55 yards on its first
interim coach for the season and led possession but couldn’t convert on
the Saints to a 14-1 record. fourth down at the Trojan 25. That was
Clark finished with 138 yards the only significant drive of the first
rushing, gaining 94 of those after half until East Central drove 85 yards –
halftime. His 24-yard score gave the keyed by a third-down unsportsmanlike
Saints their first lead of the game with penalty on the Saints and a 43-yard
7:29 left in the third quarter. Doug Rosemeyer run – to set up Nick
Clark added a 4-yarder early in Stidham’s 20-yard field goal with 6:07
the fourth quarter, capping a 91-yard left in the half.
drive keyed by quarterback Blake East Central was making its first
Podschlne’s 49-yard pass to Zach appearance in the state finals since
Norton. making back-to-back 4A appearances
An interception by Austin Burns in 1993 and 1994 and winning the title
was returned to the East Central 23, in 1994.

IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport. PURE INDIANA! 39