Indianapolis Lutheran capped a perfect season by overcoming a 14-point, first-half deficit to beat Adams Central, 34-28, in the Class 1A championship game.
Lutheran quarterback Montasi Clay scored on a 12-yard run with 1:13 left to break a 28-28 tie and give coach Dave Pasch’s squad its first-ever state title. The Saints (15-0) had won six of the last eight regional championships and reached the title game in 2019, but lost to Lafayette Central Catholic in overtime.
Adams Central (13-2) raced out to a 21-7 lead in the second quarter, including a Class A game-record 59-yard punt return by Nick Neuenschwander.
The Saints cut the lead to 21-14 at halftime on a 6-yard run by Jake Pasch, then tied it early in the third quarter when Pasch took in a 30-yard pass from Clay. Lutheran grabbed the lead for the first time with 3:06 left in the third when Clay hit Micah McKay on a 71-yard TD pass. Lutheran held that seven-point lead until 3:26 remained in the game when Blake Heyerly blasted in from 3 yards to tie the score at 28-28.
Lutheran took the ensuing kickoff and, on third-and-17 from its 37, Clay found Brandon Brooks for a 50-yard gain to the AC 13. Two plays later, Clay weaved through the Flying Jets defense, breaking two tackles on his way to the end zone.
Clay finished with 239 yards passing on 14-of-21 completions and three scores.
Coach Michael Mosser’s Flying Jets, who were seeking their second state championship (2000), finished 13-2.
Class 1A Records
Longest Punt Return for a Touchdown: 59 yards by Nick Neuenschwander, Adams Central.
Adams Central’s Blake Heyerly earns the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award
During the awards ceremony, Blake Heyerly of Adams Central High School was announced by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award in Class A Football.
The award is annually presented to a senior who is nominated by his principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability during his four years of high school.
Heyerly, a two-time All-State and three-time All-Conference selection, wass the Jets’ leading scorer, rusher and tackler this season. And besides playing football all four years, he’ll participate in his fourth year of wrestling this winter and his fourth year of baseball in the spring.
He has been an honor roll and Principal’s List student all four years and a member of his school’s National Honor Society.
He is the son of Brian and Arnita Heyerly of Monroe, IN. He intends to study mortuary science at Vincennes University.
The award is named in honor of Commissioner Emeritus Blake Ress, who served as the IHSAA’s seventh commissioner from 2000-11.
The Indianapolis Colts, a corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Adams Central’s general scholarship fund in the name of Blake Heyerly.
