CLOSING THE BOOK ON 2019
CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Carmel 20, Center Grove 17: Dylan Downing ran 11 times for 102 yards, helping the No. 5 Greyhounds claim their ninth state title and first since 2016. Gabe Quigley was 5-of-8 for 93 yards with a touchdown and ran 11 times for 30 yards and Ty Wise added 13 tackles with an interception for Carmel (11-3). Tayvien Jackson went 13-of-21 for 183 yards with two scores, Trent Veith caught nine passes for 138 yards with a touchdown, and Max Baker tallied 10 tackles for the Trojans (8-6). Center Grove’s Jalen Goines was selected as the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award recipient
CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: New Palestine 27, Valparaiso 20: Charlie Spegal closed out his brilliant high school career by running 23 times for 160 yards and a touchdown as the top-ranked Dragons defended their state crown. Ryker Large had a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown and Maxen Hook racked up 12 tackles for New Palestine (14-0). C.J. Opperman completed 13-of-31 for 291 yards with a touchdown, Antonio Osorio added five receptions for 130 yards with a score, Luke Patterson had five catches for 126 yards, and Tommy Burbee ran 20 times for 108 yards with a touchdown for the No. 2 Vikings (13-1). Valparaiso’s Josh Fedorchak was named the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award recipient
CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Evansville Memorial 21, East Noble 3: Brock Combs exploded for 15 rushes for 148 yards and two touchdowns as the No. 3 Tigers captured their second championship in three seasons and first in Class 4A. Will Brackett added 12 tackles, while Logan Lively and Alan Stepto came up with two interceptions apiece for Evansville Memorial (13-1), which finished Class 3A state runner-up in 2018. Bailey Parker was 7-of-23 for 99 yards and ran nine times for 41 yards, while Jacob Van Gorder racked up 13 tackles for the No. 2 Knights (14-1). Parker was also chosen as the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award recipient
CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard 34, Heritage Hills 3: Daylen Taylor rambled 22 times for 172 yards and three scores as the top-ranked Trojans cruised to their state-best 14th state title and first since 2015. Wyatt Schrader registered 14 tackles and Joe Calvert added 12 stops for Bishop Chatard (14-1). Phoenix Rodger had 11 rushes 68 yards and recorded 10 tackles for the No. 2 Patriots (14-1). Heritage Hills’ Cole Sigler was named the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award recipient
CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Western Boone 44, Eastbrook 7: Spencer Wright went 14-of-18 for 254 yards with two scores and also ran 10 times for 54 yards as the No. 2 Stars made it back-to-back Class 2A state titles. Brett Wethington, Cortez Soudemire added five receptions for 130 yards, and Robby Taylor chipped in 19 carries for 81 yards and three scores for Western Boone (14-1). Jason Hale and Logan Collins came up with 11 tackles apiece for the No. 8 Panthers (12-3), who finished state runner-up for the second straight year and third time in the last four seasons. Eastbrook’s Wyatt Stephenson earned the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award
CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Lafayette Central Catholic 29, Indianapolis Lutheran 28: Ky Schrader’s one-yard touchdown run and Reece Buche’s two-point reception catch with 10 seconds left allowed the No. 8 Knights to rally for their eighth state title and first since 2015. Clark Barrett was 23-of-45 for 298 yards with three touchdowns, Dan Roach recorded 11 catches for 111 yards, and Buche chipped in nine receptions for 164 yards and three scores for Lafayette Central Catholic (12-3), which is now 8-0 in state final contrsts. Marcus McFadden raced 30 times for 161 yards with two scores, while Blake White went 14-of-26 for 216 yards and two touchdowns for the No. 1 Saints (13-1). Lafayette Central Catholic’s Kyle Onken earned the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award
TURN THE PAGE TO 2020
Here are the members of the 2020 Indiana Football Digest’s Prime Time 25.
Bobby Babcock, Hobart: The 6-foot, 200-pound all-state and all-conference linebacker played a big role in helping the Class 4A sectional and regional champion Brickies (11-3) reach the semistate round with 84 tackles, including 38 for loss, and 15 quarterback sacks.
Holden Bowsman, West Washington: This 6-foot-2, 165-pound all-conference and all-state quarterback completed 67 percent of his attempts for 2,143 yards with 25 touchdowns and also ran for 590 yards and 12 scores for the Class 1A sectional and regional champion Senators (12-2)
Daylan Carnell, Indianapolis Ben Davis: In addition to hauling in 23 receptions for 199 yards with a score, the 6-foot-2, 192-pound all-state wide receiver and defensive back also registered 33 tackles and five interceptions for the Class 6A sectional and regional champion Giants (8-5).
Rylan Cole, Mount Vernon (Fortville): The 6-foot, 185-pound all-state and all-conference running back-defensive back guided the Marauders (11-3) to their first (Class 4A) regional championship by scampering 142 times for 950 yards with 14 touchdowns to go along with 73 tackles and eight interceptions.
Luke Collinsworth, East Central: This 6-foot-6, 300-pound all-state and two-time all-conference lineman paved the way for the 2017 Class 4A state champion Trojans (11-1) to accumulate nearly 4,000 yards of offense.
Blake Fisher, Avon: A two-time all-state choice, the 6-foot-6.5, 340-pound lineman graded out at 87 percent upfront and played a key role in helping the Orioles (9-1) rack up over 3,000 total yards.
JoJo Johnson, Merrillville: In addition to coming up 1,264 all-purpose yards with 20 touchdowns, the 5-foot-11, 176-pound all-area and all-state wide receiver and defensive back also came up with six interceptions, three defensive scores, and a punt return for another tally for the Class 6A sectional and regional champion Pirates (11-2).
Theran Johnson, North Central (Indianapolis): This 6-foot, 170-pound all-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, AP all-state honorable mention, and IFCA junior all-state defensive back recorded 62 tackles, four interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery for the Panthers. He also hauled in six receptions for 147 yards with two touchdowns.
Cooper Jones, Valparaiso: This 6-foot-5, 245-pound all-state, all-area, and all-conference lineman was instrumental in helping the Class 5A sectional and regional champion Vikings (12-1) reach the Final Four for the second straight season with 49 tackles, including 10.5 for loss, seven quarterback sacks, and two fumble recoveries.
Yanni Karlaftis, West Lafayette: A two-time, all-state, all-conference, and all-area selection for the 2018 Class 3A state champion Red Devils (9-3), the 6-foot-4, 210-pound linebacker tallied 79 tackles, including eight for loss, and two interceptions. He also hauled in 29 passes for 356 yards and five scores.
Donaven McCulley, Lawrence North: This all-conference, all-state, and all-area quarterback was 130-of-200 for 1,831 yards with 17 touchdowns and rushed 98 times for 550 yards and two scores for the Wildcats (4-7).
Rodney McGraw, Elkhart: The all-state and two-time all-conference and all-are lineman came up with 73 tackles, including 21.5 for loss, and nine quarterback sacks for the Elkhart Central Blazers (9-3).
Nick Miller, South Adams: In addition to being the career leader with 55 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback sacks, this 6-foot-4, 225-pound three-time all-state tight end and defensive lineman also has a team-best 1,709 career receiving yards for the Class 1A sectional champion Starfires (12-1).
Kyran Montgomery, Indianapolis Pike: This 6-foot-5, 240-pounder all-state lineman recorded 109 tackles, including 17 for loss, and five quarterback sacks for the Red Devils (1-9).
Nate Newcomer, NorthWood: The 5-foot-11, 175-pound all-area, all-Northern Lakes Conference, and IFCA junior all-state signal caller has thrown for 1,188 career yards with 13 touchdowns and rushed for 1,838 career yards and 23 scores for the Panthers. In addition, he had 138 career tackles and five career interceptions.
Dominic Padjen, Carmel: An all-conference and all-state selection, the 5-foot-11, 220-pound linebacker had a major role in the Greyhounds’ (11-3) run to the Class 6A state championship with a team-high 102 tackles and four quarterback sacks,
Colton Pence, Evansville Memorial: The 6-foot-2, 170-pound quarterback earned all-conference and all-state accolades by completing 172-of-289 passes for 2,137 yards with 24 touchdowns and running 78 times for 247 yards for the Class 4A state champion Tigers (13-1).
Zach Richards, Mooresville: A two-time all-state member, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound lineman played a major part in the Pioneers’ (10-3) run to a second straight Class 4A sectional crown by anchoring a group which totaled almost 4,000 total yards.
Aaron Roberts, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter: The 6-foot-4, 285-pound all-city and all-state two-way lineman came up with 33 tackles and helped the Raiders’ (7-5) offense roll up over 3,500 total yards.
Carson Steele, Center Grove: After earning all-state and all-conference accolades and accounting for over 4,500 all-purpose yards and 56 touchdowns his first two seasons, this 6-foot-3, 225-pound running back was limited to 64 carries for 275 yards and two scores because of injuries for the Class 6A state runner-up Trojans (8-6).
Aaron Steinfeldt, Bloomington North: Limited to eight games because of an injury, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound all-state, all-area, and all-conference wide receiver still came up with 38 catches for 547 yards with five touchdowns for the Cougars (7-3).
Preston Terrell, Brownsburg: An all-conference and all-state selection, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound wide out had 52 receptions for 823 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Bulldogs (7-4).
Devon Tippmann, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger: Along with running 89 times for 431 yards and 12 touchdowns, this 6-foot-1, 195-pound all-conference and all-state running back and linebacker also tallied 106 tackles, including 13 for loss, for the Class 5A sectional and regional champion Saints (11-2).
Jonah VanDer Kamp, Fishers: A four-year starter for the Tigers (7-3), the 6-foot-6, 300-pound lineman registered 16 pancake blocks and helped a unit record more than 3,000 yards of offense.
Wenkers Wright, Floyd Central: The 6-foot-2, 175-pound all-state and two-time all-area running back rambled 231 times for 2,056 yards with 26 touchdowns and has a career total of 346 carries for 2,847 yards with 32 scores for the Class 5A sectional champion Highlanders (9-3).
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