#BeyondTheKeystone – Indiana (GALLERY)

Tagged under: Beyond The Keystone, Game Photos

Sykotyk | December 3, 2019

This past weekend, Indiana crowned six champions of the Hoosier State. The IHSAA finals are held at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis over a two-day stretch. Three games on Friday and Saturday, kicking off at 12pm, 3:30pm, and 7pm. One $15 ticket covers the entire day’s slate of games.

Indiana has recently instituted a ‘success factor’, similar to what PA is rolling out next season, that adjusts teams classification based on past success. This makes the titles a little bit more interesting. Of the 12 teams participating, four were private schools.

Attendance for the six games was 41,876. Over 6,000 more than last year. Saturday featured the largest classification and only one school making a very long trip (Evansville Reitz Memorial), and had 22,638 total at the stadium. The dome came in handy, as Saturday was a rainy, dreary day outside. But an even playing field inside that saw a lot more field goals than you might expect at the high school level.

1A — Lafayette Central Catholic 29, Indianapolis Lutheran 28

The best game of the weekend was also the first. LCC jumped out to a 14-0 lead, before Indianapolis Lutheran would storm back, tying it at 14-14. After giving up another score, Lutheran would again rattle off two straight to take a 28-21 lead into the waning moments of the fourth quarter. LCC would drive the field, and with ten seconds remaining, scored on a 1-yard TD run. Not content for overtime with an inconsistent defense, LCC connect on a two-point pass play to take a 29-28 lead and the game. It was their 8th state title in 8 appearances.

3A — Indianapolis Bishop Chatard 34, Heritage Hills 3

Bishop Chatard had an easy time dispatching Heritage Hills. The Bishop Chatard Trojans won their state record 14th state title.

5A — New Palestine 27, Valparaiso 20

The Friday nightcap was the second largest class final between the Valparaiso Vikings and New Palestine Dragons. New Pal and Valpo were evenly matched through the first half. Trading touchdowns in the first quarter, and trading field goals in the second.

But the third quarter belonged to New Palestine. An 80-yard TD run, a 20-yard field goal, and 34 yard interception return gave the Dragons a huge lead. But the fourth quarter saw the Vikings make it interesting with a 1-yard run late in the 4th, and on the ensuing possession stalled and settled for a 38-yard field goal. But that was as close as the Vikings would get.

2A — Western Boone 44, Eastbrook 7

Saturday morning opened with the defending 2A champs, the Western Boone Stars taking on the Eastbrook Panthers for the second straight year in the finals. After winning 34-20 last season, the Patriots jumped all over Eastbrook, running out to a 41-0 lead just 4 seconds into the fourth quarter. Adding on a short field goal after Eastbrook finally cracked the scoreboard. But, WeBo Nation would easily hang on to win their second straight title.

4A — Evansville Reitz Memorial 21, East Noble 3

Reitz Memorial jumped up a classification in this cycle after two straight appearance and one title. East Noble struggled to consistently mount an offensive push. Reitz Memorial’s defense took advantage of them and earned a workmanlike 21-3 victory.

6A — Carmel 20, Center Grove 17

Another game where it looked like one team would only score a field goal. Carmel and Center Grove traded field goals in the first quarter, before Carmel broke out in the second stanza with another field goal and a TD. But after trailing 20-3 going into the fourth quarter, Center Grove put together a couple drives and made it interesting. Down 20-17, an onside kick wasn’t successful. Carmel would then drain the remaining 3:21 left on the clock to hang on to the win and a state title.

For more, and larger photos, from this weekend, click HERE.

For photos from previous weeks and seasons, visit http://www.flickr.com/sykotyk/sets/

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