NEWS AND NUGGETS
Brownsburg's John Hart is the first coach to lead three different programs to a state championship. In addition to the Bulldogs, he also won crowns at Evansville Reitz (2007-4A) and Warren Central (2009-5A). He also becomes the third leader to take three teams to the title game, joining Russ Radtke (North Judson, Griffith, and New Prairie) and Craig Buzea (Portage, Homewood-Flossmoor (IL), and Crown Point).
Decatur Central's Kyle Enright became part of the fifth father-son duo to win a state title. His father, Dave Enright, led Hamilton Southeastern to the 1981 Class 1A crown. The other father-son combinations are Matt Lindsay (Fort Wayne Bishop Luers) and Kyle Lindsay (Fort Wayne Bishop Luers). John Lidy (Castle) and Vince Lidy (Mount Vernon Fortville). Larry (Bud) Wright (Sheridan) and Kevin Wright (Carmel and Warren Central). John Hart (Evansville Reitz, Warren Central, and Brownsburg) and Nick Hart (Gibson Southern).
Attendance for Friday's Class 2A, 4A, and 6A state championship contests was 25,480, while Saturday's Class 1A, 3A, and 5A games was 15,201. The two-day total of 40,681 was the most since 2019 (41,876).
These teams will move up or down one class for the 2025 campaign because of the IHSAA's Tournament Success Factor. Decatur Central (Class 5A to Class 6A), Heritage Hills (Class 3A to Class 4A), Indianapolis Cathedral (Class 6A to Class 5A), New Palestine (Class 4A to Class 5A).
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RECAPS
CLASS 6A: Brownsburg 22, Westfield 17: Drew Bostic's interception near the goal line on the final play of regulation preserved the No. 4 Bulldogs' first state title since 1985. Jamere Pendleton's 11-yard return of a blocked punt early in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference as Brownsburg (13-1) claimed its third crown overall. Oscar Frye completed 7-of-9 for 161 yards with a touchdown, while Kavon Sumpter-Bey caught two passes for 77 yards with a touchdown and ran 18 times for 76 yards for the Bulldogs. Carsen Melvin went 14-of-26 for 167 yards and Deacon King carried the ball 20 times for 72 yards with two touchdowns for the No. 3 Shamrocks (12-2). Brownsburg's Iosua Stephens claimed the Phil N. Eskew mental attitude award.
CLASS 5A: Decatur Central 38, Warsaw 24: Fa'Rel Carter registered 16 carries for 170 yards with three touchdowns and caught three passes for 29 yards, helping the No. 4 Hawks earn their first state title. Bo Polston completed 12-of-17 for 147 yards with two touchdowns and ran five times for 29 yards, while Kasmir Hicks caught six passes for 91 yards with two scores for Decatur Central (12-2), which was state runner-up a year ago. Brody Duncan tallied 12 rushes for 101 yards with a score and Tucker Reed added six carries for 99 yards and two receptions for 42 yards for the No. 9 Tigers (10-4), who were making their first appearance in the state finals. Warsaw's Drew Sullivan was awarded the Phil N. Askew mental attitude award.
CLASS 4A: New Palestine 56, East Noble 26: Josh Ranes rambled 24 times for 166 yards and tied a state championship game record with four touchdowns, leading the top-ranked Dragons past No. 2 East Noble. Caden Jacobia added 17 carries for 163 yards with two scores, while Jacob Davis went 11-of-12 for 127 yards with a touchdown and ran 11 times for 50 yards with a score as the Dragons (14-0) racked up 511 yards on their way to their fourth title overall and first since 2019. Rylee Biddle was 7-of-27 for 201 yards with three touchdowns and Landon Swogger hauled in three receptions for 82 yards with a score for the Knights (13-2). Dylan Krehl of East Noble was the winner of the Phil N. Eskew mental attitude award.
CLASS 3A: Heritage Hills 38, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 15: Jett Goldsberry and Hunter Meredith both surpassed the 100-yard mark on the ground, lifting the No. 3 Patriots over defending Class 2A state champion Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. Goldsberry tallied 18 carries for 177 yards with three touchdowns and went 2-of-7 for 71 yards, while Meredith added 141 yards and two scores on 19 attempts and one catch for 30 to lead Heritage Hills (14-1) to its first title since 2000 and second overall. Daryea Williams paced the Knights (10-5) with 26 carries for 139 yards. Parker Hart of Heritage Hill earned the Blake Ress mental attitude award.
CLASS 2A: Adams Central 46, Linton-Stockton 6: Jamison Roach scampered 16 times for 142 yards with three touchdowns, helping the No. 4 Flying Jets roll past No. 7 Linton-Stockton. After finishing as Class 1A state runner-up (to Indianapolis Lutheran) the past three seasons, Adams Central (14-1) took advantage of four interceptions to claim its first crown since 2000. Matt Heiser added 94 yards and two scores on 22 carries for the Flying Jets, who tallied 351 yards on the ground to earn their 14th straight win. Braylon McBride's six-yard touchdown pass to Paul Oliver accounted for the Miners' (12-3) lone tally in the third quarter. Linton-Stockton's Hayden Feltner was the recipient of the Blake Ress mental attitude award.
CLASS 1A: Providence 35, North Judson 20: Preston Kempf carried the ball 23 times for 200 yards with four touchdowns to guide the No. 3 Pioneers to the upset over top-ranked North Judson. Kempf also completed 3-of-7 for 48 yards with a two-yard scoring toss to Kalen Sipes for Providence (14-0), which claimed its first crown after finishing state runner-up in 1973 and 1993. Jesiah McDaniel ran 16 times for 78 yards with a touchdown and was 3-of-7 for 59 yards, while Kole Wilcox added 62 yards and a score on 13 attempts for the Bluejays (14-1), who finished runner-up for the fourth time. Brock Benson of North Judson was named the winner of the Blake Ress mental attitude award.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RECORDS
CLASS 6A
Team: Most Punt Return Yards: 42 by Brownsburg vs. Westfield, 2024. Old Record: 37 by Center Grove vs. Carroll (Fort Wayne), 2022.
Individual: Most Interceptions (Tied): 1 by Drew Bostic, Brownsburg vs. Westfield, 2024.
CLASS 5A
Team: Fumbles Lost (Tied): 3 by Warsaw Community vs. Decatur Central.
CLASS 4A
Team: Most Rushing Touchdowns: 7 by New Palestine vs. East Noble, 2024. OLD RECORD: 6 by New Palestine vs. New Prairie, 2014; 6 by New Prairie vs. New Palestine, 2014.
Individual: Most Points (Tied): 24 by Josh Ranes, New Palestine vs. East Noble, 2024. Most Touchdowns (Tied): 4 by Josh Ranes, New Palestine vs. East Noble, 2024. Most Rushing Touchdowns (Tied): 4 by Josh Ranes, New Palestine vs. East Noble, 2024. Longest Touchdown Pass: 80 by Riley Biddle to Logan Hatton, East Noble vs. New Palestine, 2024.
CLASS 3A
Team: Most Rushing TDs (Tied): 5 by Heritage Hills vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, 2024
CLASS 2A
Team: Most Rushing Touchdowns (Tied) 7 by Adams Central vs. Linton-Stockton, 2024; 7 by Jimtown vs. Clarksville, 1997.
CLASS 1A
Team: Highest Punting Average: 51.0 by Providence vs. North Judson-San Pierre, 2024. (Old Record: 46.0 by Indianapolis Scecina vs. Lafayette Central Catholic, 2011)
Individual: Highest Punting Average: 51.0 by Nick Stoner, Providence vs. North Judson-San Pierre, 2024. (Old Record: 46.0 Ryan Frain, Indianapolis Scecina vs. Lafayette Central Catholic, 2011)
POST-SEASON SUCCESS
Adams Central, Heritage Hills, New Palestine, and Providence have six straight victories.
Brownsburg and Decatur Central are on a five-game winning streak.
ALL-TIME STATE CHAMPIONS: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard 17, Indianapolis Cathedral 14, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 12, Indianapolis Roncalli 10, Indianapolis Ben Davis 10, Sheridan 9, Warren Central 9, Carmel 9, Lafayette Central Catholic 8, Center Grove 5. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 5, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter 5, Penn 5, East Central 4, Franklin Central 4, Hobart 4, Tri-West 4, Jimtown 4, Western Boone 4, New Palestine 4, Brownsburg 3, Columbus East 3, Fort Wayne Snider 3, Indianapolis Lutheran 3, Mishawaka Marian 3, Lawrenceburg 3, Pioneer 3, Andrean 3, Adams Central 2, Blackford 2, Bloomington South 2, Bremen 2, Castle 2, Evansville Mater Dei 2, Evansville Memorial 2, Evansville Reitz 2, Goshen 2, Heritage Hills 2, Indianapolis Scecina 2, North Montgomery 2, Valparaiso 2, West Lafayette 2, Zionsville 2.
ALL-TIME LEADERS IN PLAYOFF WINS: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard – 155-28 (.847), Fort Wayne Bishop Luers – 154-30 (.837), Indianapolis Cathedral – 138-29 (.826), Carmel – 133-39 (.773), Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger – 126-39(.764), Indianapolis Roncalli – 125-34 (.786), Penn – 124-41 (.752), Ben Davis – 120-31 (.795), Fort Wayne Snider – 116-40 (.744), Evansville Mater Dei – 115-40 (.742), Jimtown – 111-39 (.740), Adams Central 111-40 (.735), Hobart – 109-42 (.722), Sheridan – 109-36 (.752), NorthWood – 106-42 (.716), East Central 103-37 (.736), Andrean 102-37 (.734), Warren Central – 100-32 (.758), Lafayette Central Catholic 98-33 (.748), Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter 93-36(.721).
Here is the last time these teams went unbeaten.
New Palestine (14-0-2019) and Providence (14-0-first time).
LONGEST CURRENT WINNING STREAKS
Adams Central, New Palestine, and Providence are on a 14-game winning streak.
Heritage Hills has claimed 13 straight wins.
Decatur Central is on a nine-game winning streak.
Brownsburg is on a five-game winning streak.
WINNINGEST ACTIVE COACHES
Larry "Bud" Wright (Sheridan) 464, Russ Radtke (Knox) 413, Mike Gillin (Mooresville) 368, John Hart (Brownsburg) 349, Jeff Adamson (Eastbrook) 319, Reed May (Brownstown Central) 312, Eric Moore (Center Grove) 303, Mike Goebel (Evansville Mater Dei) 270, Mike Johnson (Logansport) 259, Bart Curtis (Warsaw) 259, Craig Buzea (Crown Point) 256, Kevin O'Shea (Twin Lakes) 249, Tim Able (Triton Central) 235, Dave Pasch (Indianapolis Lutheran) 228,Sherwood Haydock (Fort Wayne Wayne) 212, Kirk Kennedy (Kankakee Valley) 206, Herb King (Fountain Central) 203, Darrin Fisher (Whiteland) 202, Chris Meeks (Rensselaer Central) 195, John Hochstetler (Monroe Central) 184, Steve Stirn (North Decatur) 171, Phil Mason (Griffith) 170, Chad Zolman (Homestead) 167, Bud Ozmun (Oak Hill) 165, Steve Cooley (New Albany) 158, Andy Dorrel John Hurley (Evansville Memorial) 148, Roy Richards (Portage) 145, Aaron Tolle (Tipton) 143, Doug Hurt (Castle) 143, (Culver Academy) 158. Kurt Tippmann (Fort Wayne Snider) 158, Chris DePew (Garrett) 157, Michael Mosser (Adams Central) 155, Andy Thomas (Angola) 151, Ton Dilley (Guerin Catholic) 150, Kyle Ralph (New Palestine) 141, Bill Peebles (Indianapolis Cathedral) 140,Jayson West (Franklin Central) 140, Nick Hart (Gibson Southern) 133, Nate Andrews (NorthWood) 131, Ryan Knigga (Lawrenceburg) 130, Darin Ward (Boonville) 129, Brian Glesing (Salem) 128, ,Monte Mawhorter (West Noble) 127, Brian Oliver (Linton-Stockton) 126, Jason Hawkins (Charlestown) 126, Shane Fry (West Lafayette) 124, Scott Buening (Southridge) 123, Doug Dinan (Carroll Fort Wayne) 119, Ryan Langferman (Milan) 119, Chris Coll (Franklin) 113, Mike Wilhelm (Yorktown) 112, Josh Edwards (Eastern Greentown) 112, Brandon Baker (Northfield) 110, Greg Barrett (South Vermillion) 110, Todd Wilkerson (Heritage Hills) 110, Justin Pelley (Western Boone) 108, Curt Funk (Fishers) 107, Mark Raetz (Northview) 105, Travis Nolting (Greenfield-Central) 96, Brad Seiss (Merrillville) 96, Kyle Lindsay (Fort Wayne Bishop Luers) 95,Mark Peterson (Chesterton) 93, Bret Szabo (Tecumseh) 91, Pete Gast (Alexandria) 91.
