Page 39 - 2017-18 Football State Finals Program

Last Year’s State Finals in Review

Morrison’s Record-Setting Passing Day Powers Concordia

A record-setting performance by quarterback Peter Mor- A 70-yard touchdown to Andrew Borden early in the second
rison led Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran to its first-ever quarter extended the lead to 28-0, and Morrison then tied
football state title. the overall finals record with a 38-yarder to Mark Mallers,
giving the Cadets a 35-0 lead at halftime.
Morrison threw for a finals-record six touchdowns, and also
smashed the Class 3A passing yardage record in the first Morrison hit Mallers on a 10-yard TD pass with 10:57 left in
half, finishing the game with 376 yards. His effort led the the game, giving the quarterback the overall finals record
No. 7 Cadets (13-2) past Lawrence- for TD passes. Kerlegrand added 199
burg 56-14. Morrison finished the yards rushing and scored twice, help-
season with 3,980 yards passing, ing the Cadets rack up a 3A-record
third-best in state history, and 52 614 yards of total offense and tie the
touchdowns. record for the most points in a 3A
game.
Coached by Tim Mannigel, Concor-
dia entered the finals having won 11 Lawrenceburg, coached by Ryan
straight games. And any doubts the Knigga, was making its first appear-
Cadets would extend that streak to ance in the state finals since 1985.
12 ended in the first quarter when The Tigers (13-2) got 154 rushing
they built a 21-0 lead. Morrison con- yards from Austin Bowling, who
nected with Kamari Anderson-Drew finished the season with 3,157 yards
on TD passes of 62 and 32 yards, rushing and 52 touchdowns. The
and then found Peterson Kerlegrand rushing total is the sixth-best single-
on an 18-yard score just before the season effort in state history.
quarter ended.

O’Connor Directs Roncalli to 9th Football State Title
A huge defensive stop in the fourth quarter turned the tide for directed scoring drives of 13 and 11 plays, using up more than
top-ranked Roncalli, and Rebels quarterback Derek O’Connor five minutes of clock each time, to put the Rebels in control early.
took it from there.
But after being held to 30 yards of total offense in the first 18:21
With his team leading No. 2 NorthWood 28-22, Roncalli’s Dylan of the game, NorthWood’s high-powered offense finally started
Williams picked off Panthers quarter- clicking. Bilinski connected with Bronson
back Trey Bilinski at the Rebel 8 yard Yoder on completions of 33 and 21 yards,
line and returned the ball 42 yards. Five setting up his own 2-yard scoring run with
plays later O’Connor broke off a 22-yard 1:33 left in the half the drew the Panthers
touchdown run – his third of the day – to within 14-6.
clinch Roncalli’s 34-22 win. It was the
ninth overall football state title for the A back-and-forth third quarter saw four
Rebels, tying them with Sheridan for the scoring plays of 31 yards or more. For
fourth most in state history, and was the Roncalli, Luke Smock had a 34-yard run,
seventh championship for Head Coach while teammate Jacob Luedeman caught
Bruce Scifres. a pass from O’Connor near midfield,
briefly stumbled but then regained his
O’Connor hurt the Panthers with both balance and raced into the end zone to
his legs and arm. He completed 11-18 give the Rebels a 28-14 lead.
passes for 159 yards and a score, and
ran for a game-high 154 yards. He NorthWood’s Brayton Yoder scored on
helped the Rebels rack up 417 yards of 36- and 31-yard runs, the latter bringing
total offense and nearly 32 minutes of the Panthers (14-1) within 28-22 with
possession. 1:48 left in the third. The Panthers, the
2005 3A state champs, finished second
Roncalli (15-0) built a 14-0 lead late in for the first time under Head Coach Nate
the first half on O’Connor’s 2nd short Andrews and for the sixth time overall.
touchdown run of the game. O’Connor
IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport. PURE INDIANA! 39