[
](http://www.embarque.com/)
THE INDIANA FOOTBALL DIGEST'S INSIDER – 2014 PLAYOFFS WEEK FIVE
BY PAUL CONDRY AND MATT KOPSEA
TOP HEADLINES
Spencer Corey's 25-yard field goal on the final play lifted New Palestine (14-0) to a 30-28 upset of top-ranked and defending state champion Columbus East (13-1) in the Class 4A southern semistate. The loss ended Columbus East's 28-game and 10-game tournament winning streak and helped the Dragons reach the title game for the first time since 1990 with the help of a 16-point fourth quarter.
Columbus East running back Markell Jones ran for 154 yards and one touchdown in his final game. He finished as the single-season rushing leader with 3,536 yards and 360 points for the Olympians.
Jacob Earl ran for 179 yards and one touchdown, helping North Vermillion (14-0) claim its first semistate title with a 37-19 win over Indianapolis Lutheran (10-4) in the Class 1A southern finale.
Chase Dawson's 33-yard field goal with 1:05 left led top-ranked and defending state champion Andrean (14-0) to a 17-15 win over Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (11-3) in the Class 3A northern semistate final.
Kurtis Wilderman threw for 219 yards and one touchdown and also ran for two scores, leading Evansville Mater Dei (14-0) to a 42-18 win over Monrovia (11-3) in the Class 2A southern semistate final.
Evan Christopher's four-yard scoring run in overtime helped defending state champion Indianapolis Cathedral (8-5) post a 27-24 win over Bloomington South (11-2) for the Class 5A southern semistate crown. It marks the fifth straight trip to the title game for the Irish.
Justin Mersch tallied three touchdowns as Pioneer (13-1) racked up over 500 yards rushing on its way to a 62-7 win over South Adams (7-7) in the Class 1A northern semistate title game. It is the first trip to the final game for the Panthers since they won the crown in 1997.
Jake Hendershot accumulated over 250 yards of offense and a touchdown pass, guiding Tri-West (12-1) to a 14-6 win over Heritage Hills (12-2) for the Class 3A southern semistate crown.
Eric Mazany passed for two touchdowns, and Charles Salary ran for 178 yards and two scores as LaPorte (8-5) rolled to a 35-7 win over Fort Wayne Snider in the Class 5A northern semistate final. The Slicers are making their first visit to the state championship game.
Tyler Weller ran for two touchdowns and passed for a third tally, leading New Prairie (13-1) to its first semistate title with a 28-10 win over Northridge (11-3) in the Class 4A northern final.
Dylan Wright exploded for 196 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, helping Rensselaer Central (14-0) down Lafayette Central Catholic, 17-14, for the Class 2A northern semistate championship. It will mark the first state title game appearance for the Bombers.
Carmel (13-0) earned their second straight Class 6A northern semistate crown with a 14-13 win over Penn (12-1) on November 15.
Ben Davis (11-2) rallied for a 49-45 win over Center Grove (10-3) on November 15 in the Class 6A southern semistate final to clinch its first title game appearance since 2002.
A quartet of coaches recently tendered their resignation. Chris McGowen has stepped down after three seasons at Knox. Rob Hansen is done after one season at River Forest. Shawn Wines has called it quits after nine years at Clinton Prairie. Bill Roggeman has ended his three-year stint at Elkhart Memorial
LONGEST CURRENT WINNING STREAKS
Indianapolis Cathedral has won 29 consecutive tournament contests.
Andrean has won 11 tournament games in a row.
Andrean has won 29 straight games.
Evansville Mater Dei, New Palestine, North Vermillion, and Rensselaer Central have won 14 consecutive games.
Tri-West, Carmel, and New Prairie have won 13 games in a row.
Pioneer has 12 straight victories.
Ben Davis has won six consecutive games.
IHSAA TRADITION FACTOR
With the IHSAA doing reclassification this spring for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years, here are some of the teams that will or could move up a class based on their performance in this year's tournament. Bolded teams have already earned the necessary six points to advance.
Class 5A: Indianapolis Cathedral.
Class 4A: Columbus East, New Palestine.
Class 3A: Andrean.
Class 2A: Rensselaer Central.
Based on new enrollment numbers, these teams that moved up in 2013 could move back down next year.
Class 4A: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard
Class 3A: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers
Class 2A: Lafayette Central Catholic, Indianapolis Scecina
STILL DREAMING OF PERFECTION
Here is the last time these teams were 14-0.
Andrean (2013), Carmel (13-0 - 1986), Evansville Mater Dei (2001), New Palestine (first time), North Vermillion (first time), Rensselaer Central (first time).
LOOKING AHEAD
Here are the matchups for the state finals.
November 28
Class 2A: Rensselaer Central (14-0) vs. Evansville Mater Dei (14-0), Noon
Class 4A: New Prairie (13-1) vs. New Palestine (14-0), 3:30 p.m.
Class 6A: Carmel (13-0) vs. Ben Davis (11-2), 7:05 p.m.
November 29
Class 1A: Pioneer (13-1) vs. North Vermillion (14-0), Noon
Class 3A: Andrean (14-0) vs. Tri-West (13-1), 3:30 p.m.
Class 5A: LaPorte (8-5) vs. Indianapolis Cathedral (8-5), 7:05 p.m.
SEEKING REVENGE
Here are rematches from earlier this season.
Carmel (13-0) vs. Ben Davis (11-2): Carmel won 37-14 on October 3.
LEADERS OF THE PACK
Here are the top 10 leaders in passing, rushing, receiving, and scoring in the state (through 11/23/14). Bolded players still active in tournament.
Passing: Kyle Castner (Ben Davis) 3,271, Luke Johnston (Southport) 3,228, Timmy* *Herrin (Terre Haute South) 2,985, Chase Andries (Beech Grove) 2,906, Riley Neal (Yorktown) 2,888, Noah Wezensky (Fort Wayne Bishop Luers) 2,879, Josh LaRue (Martinsville) 2,569, Chris Mundy (Indianapolis Howe) 2,549, Preston Kelly (Indiana Deaf) 2,531, Logan Ormsby (Homestead) 2,491.
Rushing: Markell Jones (Columbus East) 3,536, Kiante Enis (Winchester) 3,189, Charles Salary (LaPorte) 2,866, Ike James (Lowell) 2,410, Blake Elming (McCutcheon) 2,289, Blake Dailey (Mississinewa) 2,271, Jonah* *Thacker (Triton Central) 2,235, Mason Wine (Union City) 2,148, Jordan Meurer (North Knox) 2,128, Jaden Rhea (Monrovia) 2,120.
Receiving: Riley Miller (Yorktown) 1,348, Dante Paulone (Indiana Deaf) 1,335, Jamal Brumfield (Beech Grove) 1,245, Justin Jenkins (Terre Haute South) 1,187, Cameron Cook (Silver Creek) 1,181, Dontea Henderson (Indianapolis Howe) 1,133, Brian Mathews (Guerin Catholic) 1,090, Austin Mack (Fort Wayne Bishop Luers) 1,062, Jerron McGaw (Indianapolis Howe) 1,002, Keenan Franz (Bloomington South) 977.
Scoring: Markell Jones (Columbus East) 360, Kiante Enis (Winchester) 312, Jacob Earl (North Vermillion) 264, Rylan Arihood (Rensselaer Central) 250, Trevor Ellis (Monrovia) 234, Ike James (Lowell) 228, Cooper Henderson (Eastern Hancock) 225, Ethan Young (Whiting) 210, Malik Higgins (Evansville Reitz) 210, Jonah Thacker (Triton Central) 210.
DANDY DOZEN
Here are the all-time leaders in playoff wins (records through 11/23/14).
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers - 120-21 (.851)
Indianapolis Bishop Chatard – 111-23 (.828)
Carmel – 110-30 (.786)
Indianapolis Cathedral – 108-21 (.837)
Penn – 106-31 (.774)
Jimtown – 97-29 (.770)
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 97-31 (758)
Indianapolis Roncalli - 96-26 (.787)
Ben Davis - 95-23 (.805)
Sheridan – 94-26 (.783)
Fort Wayne Snider – 94-32 (.746)
Hobart - 92-22 (.807)
ALL-TIME STATE CHAMPIONS (updated 11/22/14)
Indianapolis Bishop Chatard12, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 11, Indianapolis Cathedral 11, Sheridan 9, Indianapolis Roncalli 8, Warren Central 8, Ben Davis 7, Carmel 7, Lafayette Central Catholic 6, Penn 5, Franklin Central 4, Hobart 4, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter 4, Jimtown 4, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 3, Mishawaka Marian 3, Tri-West 3, Andrean 2, Blackford 2, Bloomington South 2, Bremen 2, Brownsburg 2, Castle 2, Columbus East 2, Evansville Reitz 2, Goshen 2, Indianapolis Scecina 2, Lawrenceburg 2, North Montgomery 2, West Lafayette 2, Zionsville 2.
ALL-TIME SEMISTATE CHAMPIONS (updated 11/23/14)
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 15, Indianapolis Bishop. Chatard 13, Indianapolis Cathedral 13, Indianapolis Roncalli 11, Penn 10, Sheridan 10, Ben Davis 10, Carmel 10, Hobart 9, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter 9, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 8, Warren Central 8, Fort Wayne Snider 6, Franklin Central 6, Jimtown 6, Andrean 6, Tri-West 6, Lafayette Central Catholic 5, NorthWood 5, Evansville Mater Dei 5, Bremen 4, Indianapolis Scecina 4, South Bend St. Joseph 4, Bloomington South 3, Concord 3, Fountain Central 3, Goshen 3, Hamilton Southeastern 3, Jasper 3, Lowell 3, Southridge 3, Tipton 3, West Lafayette 3, Zionsville 3.
HALL OF CHAMPIONS
Here is the last time these teams won a state title.
Class 6A: Carmel (2011), Ben Davis (2002).
Class 5A: LaPorte (none), Indianapolis Cathedral (2013).
Class 4A: New Prairie (none), New Palestine (none).
Class 3A: Andrean (2013), Tri-West (2004).
Class 2A: Rensselaer Central (none), Evansville Mater Dei (2000).
Class 1A: Pioneer (1997), North Vermillion (none).
Prior to 2014, here is the last time these teams won a semistate title.
Class 6A: Carmel (2013), Ben Davis (2002).
Class 5A: LaPorte (none), Indianapolis Cathedral (2013).
Class 4A: New Prairie (none), New Palestine (1990).
Class 3A: Andrean (2013), Tri-West (2004).
Class 2A: Rensselaer Central (none), Evansville Mater Dei (2011).
Class 1A: Pioneer (1997), North Vermillion (none).
