It has been a couple of years since Warren Central has made it to the state finals. The last time that the Warriors played in the 5A title game, they won their fourth conseccutive championship.
By virtue of a dominating 28-10 win over Center Grove, Warren Central earned a trip to Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, where they will face off against Carmel, a team that has now reached the finals four straight times.
The crowd of about 6,000 was loud from the outset as the Warriors stepped on their home field against the defending state champion Trojans. Despite having to survive some tough games earlier in the postseason, Warren Central put it all together on both sides of the ball. Having transitioned from a triple-option to a spread offense, it has taken some time for Warren Central to adjust.
The defense put together perhaps its most inspired performance of the year, holding Center Grove to just 110 yards of total offense. The offense, meanwhile, put up 353 yards and outscored the Trojans 21-3 in the second and third quarters.
Running back Shakir Bell struck first for the Warriors, scoring his first of three touchdowns on a 10-yard run in the first quarter. Bell continued his outstanding year and sealed himself as a Mr. Football candidate by scoring twice more and posting 233 yards rushing in the first half. The Trojans scored a field goal in the second quarter, but the Warriors put the game away with a 3-yard plunge from Delonte Buckley in the third quarter.
Running back Jimmy Daggett had Center Grove’s only big play of the night, a 38-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The Trojans amassed just 78 more yards in the game, with Daggett accounting for half of Center Grove’s offense.
Warren Central (12-2) will play Carmel (13-1) on Saturday. The teams met in Week 7, with the Greyhounds eeking out a 24-22 win at home.
First-half fireworks push Carmel to shutout win
The Carmel Greyhounds have been seriously challenged twice this postseason. At a time when state finalist Warren Central seems to be playing its best football, it was imperative for Carmel to have a strong showing in semi-state.
The Greyhounds (13-1) no longer have to worry about momentum going into the state title game, as they went on the road and trounced No. 8 Merrillville 42-0 to earn a fourth championship appearance.
Quarterback Adam Shaffer threw a 9-yard strike to Jon Schmidt on the Greyhounds’ first possession of the game. After forcing them to punt, Carmel snagged a pair of interceptions on Merrillville’s second and third possessions. The Greyhounds got into the end zone after each turnover and put up two more scores before halftime for a 35-0 lead. The quick, strong start has been in direct contrast with Carmel’s previous road games, in which they started slowly and had to scramble to make a comeback.
Shaffer went 16-of-22 passing for 150 yards and three touchdowns while adding 43 yards on the ground. Jesse Hollander tallied 42 yards and two scores on the ground, while Devin Brinson added 63 yards and one touchdown. The Carmel defense held Merrillville to just 95 yards of total offense.
Hughes succumbs to injury as Cathedral gets bounced
4A No. 1 Cathedral had accomplished a lot prior to Friday’s semi-state matchup with Evansville Reitz. The Irish had already topped the two participants in the 5A title game and had crushed the 3A No. 1 team. Evansville Reitz, a team that Cathedral is familiar with after suffering a 35-34 loss in the 2007 semi-state, put its foot down against the Irish, denying them a second straight state title with a 31-10 beatdown.
Junior cornerback Cody Dimmett picked off the Irish on each of their first two drives, both of which resulted in Reitz touchdowns. The Panthers went up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter when quarterback Matt McIntosh, younger brother of 2007 Mr. Football Paul McIntosh, threw a 30-yard touchdown on fourth-and-26.
Cathedral managed a 40-yard field goal in the second quarter, but the wheels came off after that. Already down 21-3, quarterback Kofi Hughes, a Mr. Football candidate himself, suffered a shoulder injury and did not return as a signal-caller. Morgan Jones caught his second touchdown of the game, an 82-yard score, and the Irish could not come close again.
Reitz picked off four Irish passes, but did not commit a turnover the entire game. Hughes, who re-entered the game as a reciever, caught a 12-yard pass late in the game, but Reitz still ougained Cathedral 400-298.
McIntosh was 9-of-12 passing for 249 yards and three scores while adding 39 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Jones tallied 158 yards on five catches. Hughes accounted for 212 yards of offense despite the injury. Reitz (14-0) will take on Lowell (13-1) in the 4A state title game. Lowell topped Fourt Wayne Dwenger 24-21 on Saturday.
Friday’
s State Championship games
Class A features a battle of the unbeatens, as No. 1 Lafayette Central Catholic (14-0) will take on No. 3 Fountain Central (14-0). Lafayette Central Catholic has posted eight shoutouts this season, including a 47-13 win at Southern Wells, which was their closest contest of the season. Countain Central won 42-14 at Clinton Central on Friday.
Class 2A features undefeated No. 2 Monrovia, fresh off a five-point win over No. 1 Ritter and a 30-13 pasting of Paoli on Friday, and a surprise team in Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. The Knights have been up and down this postseason, following a 63-0 win over Winchester with a 54-53 double-overtime win against Lewis-Cass in the regional. Luers’ (9-5) losses have all come in conference play, which features only two 3A schools, four 4A schools and three 5A schools. Monrovia has shut out seven teams this season.
Saturday'
s 3A title game
No. 2 West Lafayette (14-0) will host No. 9 Evansville Memorial (11-3) on Saturday. The Red Devils have won 13 of their 14 games by double digits. Memorial earned its trip after beating No. 1 Bishop Chatard for the second straight year. Grant Gribbins threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns and scored another on the ground for the Tigers.
