Ten semi-state games will be played this weekend with winners advancing to their respective state championship game in the 40th Annual IHSAA Football State Tournament presented by the Indianapolis Colts.

Nine of the games are scheduled for Friday night while the Class 3A game involving Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (11-2) at Gibson Southern (11-2) is the lone contest set for Saturday at 5:30 pm ET/4:30 CT.

Five undefeated teams remain in this weekend’s field and four defending state champions are still alive attempting to get back for an encore appearance at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Columbus East, Fort Wayne Snider Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Lawrence Central and Linton-Stockton, all 13-0 this season, will put those unblemished records on the line.

Columbus East will host defending 4A state champion Indianapolis Cathedral (8-5) in one semi-state game. Fort Wayne Snider will host Merrillville (11-2) at Wayne High School in Class 5A while Lawrence Central travels to Center Grove (12-1) in the other 5A game. In 2A, Cardinal Ritter heads to Evansville Mater Dei (11-2), last year’s state runner-up and, in Class A, Linton-Stockton will host 2011 runner-up Indianapolis Scecina (10-3).

In addition to Cathedral, other defending state champions include aforementioned Bishop Chatard, the two-time defending 3A champion, which will play at Gibson Southern, which won its first sectional and regional titles the last two weeks; three-time defending 2A champ Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (9-4) takes on home-standing Andrean (11-2), and fellow three-time winner Lafayette Central Catholic (12-1) plays at Sheridan (9-4) in Class A.

Both Bishop Luers and Central Catholic have won 22 consecutive state tournament games to rank tied for fourth longest string in state history. Victories on Friday would tie them for second place on that list. Both also have the opportunity to tie five other teams for the state record with four straight semi-state crowns. Luers leads the state with 14 semi-state championships overall.

Also, in Class 4A, Mishawaka (10-3) heads to Concord (11-2) and Mishawaka Marian (10-3) plays at Hamilton Heights (12-1).

Columbus East, Gibson Southern, Hamilton Heights, Linton-Stockton, Merrillville, Mishawaka and Mishawaka Marian will each be playing for their first semi-state titles.

Visit www.ihsaa.org this weekend as scores from each game become available as well as information for next weekend’s five state championship games at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Semi-States

Date: November 16-17, 2012.

Times: 7 pm local time or as determined by host school.

Admission: $8 per person.

Class 5A

Merrillville (11-2) at Fort Wayne Snider (13-0). 8 pm ET/7 CT at Wayne HS

Lawrence Central (13-0) at Center Grove (12-1). 7 pm ET

Class 4A

Mishawaka (10-3) at Concord (11-2). 7 pm ET

Indianapolis Cathedral (8-5) at Columbus East (13-0). 8 pm ET

Class 3A

Mishawaka Marian (10-3) at Hamilton Heights (12-1). 7:30 pm ET

Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (11-2) at Gibson Southern (11-2). Saturday, 5:30 pm ET/4:30 CT

Class 2A

Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (9-4) at Andrean (11-2). 7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT

Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter (13-0) at Evansville Mater Dei (11-2). 8 pm ET/7 pm CT

Class A

Lafayette Central Catholic (12-1) at Sheridan (9-4). 7 pm ET

Indianapolis Scecina (10-3) at Linton-Stockton (13-0). 7:30 pm ET

State Finals

Dates: November 23-24, 2012.

Site: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis | Website

Tickets: $15.00 per day. Order Online All seats are general admission. Pre-school children admitted at no charge. Single day tickets may be purchased at participating schools the week of the state finals. Contact schools for ticket distribution hours. Tickets also will be available game day at the Lucas Oil Stadium Ticket Office located on the southeast side of the venue at street level nearest Capitol Avenue.

Gates Open: Lucas Oil Stadium will open its gates to fans beginning one hour prior to kickoff of the first game each day. On Friday, gates will open at 2:30 pm ET and on Saturday at 11 am ET.

Television: All five state championship games will air live on the IHSAA Champions Network.

Notables

Teams Alive by Conference

Duneland Athletic: Merrillville (5A).

Conference Indiana: Lawrence Central (5A).

Hoosier: Lafayette Central Catholic (A).

Hoosier Heartland: Sheridan (A).

Hoosier Hills: Columbus East (4A).

Independent: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (3A), Indianapolis Cathedral (4A).

Indiana Crossroads: Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter (2A), Indianapolis Scecina (A).

Metropolitan Interscholastic: Center Grove (5A).

Mid-Indiana: Hamilton Heights (3A).

Northern Indiana: Mishawaka (4A), Mishawaka Marian (3A).

Northern Lakes: Concord (4A).

Northwest Crossroads: Andrean (2A).

Pocket Athletic: Gibson Southern (3A).

Southern Indiana Athletic: Evansville Mater Dei (2A).

Southwest Seven: Linton-Stockton (A).

Summit Athletic: Fort Wayne Snider (5A), Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (2A).

All-Time Consecutive Tournament Victories

26: Warren Central, 2003-07.

23: Roncalli, 2002-05; Sheridan, 2005-08.

22: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, 2009-current; Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, 2001-04; Lafayette Central Catholic, 2009-current; Penn, 1995-98.

Active Consecutive Tournament Win Streaks

22: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Lafayette Central Catholic.

16: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Indianapolis Cathedral.

Active Overall Win Streaks

13: Columbus East, Fort Wayne Snider, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Lawrence Central, Linton-Stockton.

12: Hamilton Heights.

10: Center Grove.

9: Lafayette Central Catholic.

8: Andrean, Mishawaka.

7: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard.

6: Concord.

5: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Indianapolis Scecina, Mishawaka Marian, Sheridan.

4: Evansville Mater Dei, Indianapolis Cathedral, Gibson Southern, Merrillville.

Defending Semi-State Champions Still Alive

5A: None.

4A: Indianapolis Cathedral.

3A: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard.

2A: Evansville Mater Dei, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.

A: Lafayette Central Catholic, Indianapolis Scecina.

Most Consecutive Semi-State Championships

4 by Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, 1999-2002; 4 by Roncalli, 2002-05; 4 by Warren Central, 2003-06; 4 by Sheridan, 2005-08; 4 by Carmel, 2006-09.

Active Semi-State Championship Streaks

3: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Lafayette Central Catholic.

2: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Indianapolis Cathedral.

Seeking First Semi-State Championship

5A: Merrillville.

4A: Columbus East, Mishawaka.

3A: Gibson Southern, Hamilton Heights, Mishawaka Marian.

2A: None.

A: Linton-Stockton.

Drought-Breakers? (Five or more years since last semi-state championship)

8: Andrean, Fort Wayne Snider (2004).

6: Concord (2006).

Top 10 All-Time Semi-State Championships

14: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.

12: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard.

11: Roncalli.

10: Indianapolis Cathedral, Penn, Sheridan.

9: Ben Davis, Hobart.

8: Carmel.

7: Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Warren Central.

First-Time Regional Champions

3A: Gibson Southern.

Greenfield’s Roger Holder Named Outstanding Football Official

Roger Holder is the recipient of the 2012 Interscholastic Athletic Official Association Award for excellence in the sport of football. Holder will be honored in a special ceremony at this weekend’s state finals.

Each year, the Indiana High School Athletic Association, in cooperation with the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association, recognizes and honors an outstanding official in each of 11 sports during the school year.

Holder has been a football official for 41 years. During his career he has worked every level of the state tournament, including 31 sectionals, 10 regionals, six semi-states and three state finals including last year’s 3A state championship game.

Holder was selected for this honor by a committee representing the officials associations. In Indiana there are 24 associations made up of men and women who assist in providing wholesome, worthwhile, and healthy activities for the student-athletes. Statewide, there are more than 8,000 officials licensed by the IHSAA in 11 sports.

A member of the Indiana Officials Association since 1972, Holder served as a board member, a rules chairman and the association president during his career. He has also been a licensed official in basketball and softball and has officiated numerous state finals contests in those sports as well as serving as a rules interpreter, clinician and rules chairman.

A 1967 graduate of Indianapolis Arsenal Technical High School, Holder attended Ball State earning a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree in elementary education, eductional administration and school superintendency. He coached the 1985 Warren Central softball state championship team and now serves as the Director of New Member Assimilation and Parish Visitation for the New Palestine United Methodist Church. He resides in Greenfield with his wife of 41 years, Anita.