Page 39 - 2021-22 Football State Finas Program

Last Year’s State Finals in Review Last Year’s State Finals in Review

Covenant Christian holds off South Adams for first state title in any sport Bishop Chatard rolls to state record-extending 15th championship
Gage Coffey’s 34-yard touchdown run and subsequent The Starfires, however, fought back in the second half and took The most-successful program in state history added to its
extra-point kick by Jackson Brough provided the difference advantage of a pair of costly CC interceptions to get back in the cache of championship trophies as Chatard rolled to a
for Covenant Christian in a frantic, 41-40 triumph over South contest and set up the thrilling finish. 42-14 win over Danville in the Class 3A title game.
Adams in the Class A title game.
Coach Grant Moser’s Starfires finished 13-1. Using a balanced offense and a smothering defense,
Coffey’s score with 3:02 left in the contest hardly ended the coach Rob Doyle’s Trojans claimed the school’s 15th state
drama in a record-setting contest between the only two schools championship – two more than anyone else – in their 16th
making their first appearances in the state finals, the only appearance all-time. The appearance total matches three
matchup of two schools over the weekend that had no state other schools for the best in state history.
titles in any sport and the only meeting of the weekend featuring
two unbeaten teams. Running back Tommy Hannon rushed for three touchdowns
and 112 yards, while quarterback Carter St. John had an
The teams combined for 1,019 yards of offense, including a efficient day, completing 16-of-19 passes for 174 yards and
record 480 yards passing for South Adams quarterback James three touchdowns. Both players were replaced in the fourth
Arnold. quarter.
With CC leading, 41-34, Arnold drove his team 78 yards in six The Chatard defense, meanwhile, was equally impressive
plays, including a daring toss to Trey Schoch that gained 72 as it held Danville to 199 yards and only one score before a
yards to the CC 2-yard line. After tailback Christian Sommersett late Warriors score.
banged it in on the next play, South Adams boldly tried for a
two-point conversion, but Sommersett was stopped short. The Trojans finish 13-1, losing only to Indianapolis Cathedral
-- which won its 13th state title in the 5A contest.
The Warriors of coach Shawn Lyons then recovered the onside
kick and ran out the clock. Coach Jayme Comer’s Warriors, who were making their
second appearance in the state finals and first since 1999,
The ending seemed unlikely after CC (15-0) took a 27-6 lead at suffered their first loss in 12 starts. Quarterback Kale
halftime and appeared in control behind the running of tailback Payne completed a 36-yard TD pass to Luke Wooten in the
Micah Wilson, who gained 236 yards and scored once in the second quarter before junior running back Matt McGovern
contest. scored on an 8-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Western Boone’s late 38 yard FG lifts Stars to third consecutive state championship Leffler’s record-tying 5 TD passes leads Roncalli to rout of Hobart
Josiah Smith booted a 38-yard field goal with :07 left to lift Western Taylor finished with 210 yards and two scores, while Clark Roncalli quarterback Aidan Leffler threw five touchdown The title is the 10th (in 13 appearances) for Roncalli, while
Boone to a thrilling, 36-35 win over Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in the completed 17-of-21 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns. passes on his team’s first six drives to lead his team to a 49-7 Hobart was making its 12th appearance in the finals, but
Class 2A championship game. Glenn Brody caught six of those passes for 171 yards and a win over Hobart in the Class 4A championship game. the first since 1996 – a game Brickies coach Craig Osika
78-yard touchdown. played in.
The Stars (11-4) scored 10 points in the final 1:36 of the contest to Leffler tossed scoring passes of 4 and 17 yards in the first
overcome a 35-26 deficit and claim their third-straight state title and Coach Kyle Lindsay’s Knights were making their first state finals quarter, then added tosses of 50 and 15 yards to build a 28-0
18th consecutive tournament victory. appearance since 2012 and 16th overall. lead at halftime. On the first play of the second half, Leffler
hit Kyle Lockhard on a 51-yard TD pass (Lockhard’s third TD
The back-and-forth contest featured plenty of offense as the teams catch of the game) and the rout was on.
combined for 795 yards and 43 first downs in addition to the 71
points. Leffler finished 12-of-16 passing for 200 yards and the five
scores - which tied a 4A championship game record - without
Luers (8-7) held a 21-13 lead at halftime. Behind the passing of being intercepted.
quarterback Carson Clark, the Knights were able to take advantage
of two Webo turnovers to build the nine-point lead after Clark con- Coach John Rodenburg’s Roncalli squad dominated the
nected for his second touchdown pass to Krashaun Menson Brickies (11-3) in every phase. Roncalli (13-1) ran up 399
(a 7-yarder) with 3:38 left. yards in offense – 200 passing and 199 rushing. Baron
Huebler led the ground attack with 155 yards rushing and one
Coach Justin Pelley’s Stars used a ball-control rushing attack to touchdown run.
sustain their offense. Fullback Robby Taylor, who had a state-record
43 carries in the game, scored on a 1-yard run with 1:36 left to pull The Roncalli defense, meanwhile, shutout the Brickies until
Webo within 35-33. the final minute and held Hobart to less than 200 yards in
offense.
A failed onside kick seemed to spell doom for the Stars, but the
defense came up with a three-and-out and forced a punt. Western The final Roncalli touchdown came on a 91-yard kickoff return
Boone benefitted from a kick-catch interference penalty to give it a by Dominic Brown after Hobart broke through with its only
first down at its 46 with :39 left. Five plays later, Luers was flagged score, a 1-yard run by Tyler Turley. Turley led the Hobart
for pass interference giving the Stars a first down at the Knights’ 21. offense with 138 yards rushing on 26 carries.
Smith, the son of former Colts punter Hunter Smith, came on to boot
the game-winner.

38 49th Annual IHSAA State Football Tournament is proudly presented by the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS. IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport. PURE INDIANA! 39