By Mike Beas, Special to IHSAA.org
INDIANAPOLIS – Regardless of which direction Dayton Mink turned early Friday evening, the scene unfolding in front of him ignited tears.
Watching his Cascade teammate, quarterback Brady Trebley, presented with the Mental Attitude Award did the trick. Turning around to acknowledge the celebrating sea of Columbia Blue at the east end of Lucas Oil Stadium only made it worse.
Mink, the Cadets’ 6-foot-1, 220-pound senior running back/linebacker, was a state champion courtesy of his team’s 29-14 victory over Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in the Class 3A state championship game. The win applied the final touches to a 15-0 season, giving the program its first football title.
Nothing could be finer.
“I mean, I’m still so speechless,” said Mink, who rushed for 119 yards and made what was perhaps the game’s biggest defensive play with a third-down sack of Knights’ quarterback Thomas Reichert on the final play of the third quarter. “This is the best possible way to end my senior season.
“I love all these guys. The stands were filled . . . there’s nothing like it. I’m out of words.”
Guided by sixth-year coach Connor Simmons, the Cadets, averaging an imposing 54.6 points a game coming in, jumped to a 19-0 advantage through one quarter of play, navigated some choppy waters after that, and put the game away with Mink’s 1-yard touchdown run with 3:31 remaining in the final stanza.
Simmons, 32, whose alma mater (New Palestine) would be competing for the 5A crown not long after the conclusion of the history made by his program, is having himself the year of years. In May, he and his wife, Breanna, married this past summer, are expecting their first child.
“I’ll tell you what, this is icing on top of the cake,” Simmons said. “I proposed on New Years’ of this year, got married in June, perfect season with a 15-0 state championship. I’ll be honest, I think it helped with the road that we had in the south.
“You’ve got to go through Tri-West, a strong 3A team. You host Guerin Catholic, another private school. Going into Lawrenceburg, that place was tough, and then playing Gibson Southern at home. That’s a tough road for us. But our kids didn’t back down today, and they haven’t backed down to anybody all year no matter the opponent. They just came out and fought.”
Cascade generated 197 yards of offense in the opening period alone to take its three-score lead before settling in with a 22-7 halftime cushion.
The Cadets no-huddled their way 75 yards in seven plays on the game’s opening drive with Mink burrowing in from the 2 at the 9:41 mark. A shanked punt traveling only 14 yards from Fort Wayne Luers on the ensuing possession set Cascade up at its 43.
This time around, only five plays were required, the capper being Trebley’s 9-yard pass to senior Delton Howrey in the right side of the south end zone for a 13-point lead. Trebley called his own number for a 1-yard plunge with 38 seconds left in the first to finalize an eight-play, 65-yard series.
Fort Wayne Luers began establishing some momentum in the second stanza, going 75 yards in 11 plays with sophomore back TJ Epperson extending his 5-7 frame to get the ball into the end zone from 3 yards out. Both squads squelched potential scoring drives by fumbling the pigskin deep in the opposing team’s side of the field.
First, Knights’ sophomore linebacker Dallas Mata forced a Cadets’ fumble that was smothered by soph Rory Kelly at the Luers’ 16. Cascade returned the favor at 4:59 of the second quarter when senior linebacker Toby Savini pounced on a Knights’ fumble forced by junior Liam Farmer. Propelled by Trebley’s 59-yard pass over the middle to Farmer, the Cadets managed to tack on three more points as junior Brogan Trump nailed a 21-yard field goal 11 seconds before halftime.
With 7:18 remaining in the fourth, the Knights pulled to within 22-14 on Epperson’s 2-yard TD run. Needing a stop, Fort Wayne Luers couldn’t manage one as Cadets’ sophomore TJ Turner, Jr., returned the kickoff 35 yards to the Knights’ 33.
The monster play in Cascade’s clinching offensive series was Trebley rolling right on fourth-and-6 and hitting senior J.T. Roshong for a seven-yard pickup. Four plays later, Mink found the end zone for the second time.
Bishop Luers (9-6), which made its state-leading 19th trip to a state championship game, was led by sophomore backs Brandon Gaither, Jr., and Epperson, rushing for 99 and 94 yards, respectively.
For the most part, Cascade’s defense had the Knights’ moving the chains between the 20-yard lines. Savini made 10 tackles to lead the Cadets, while senior linebacker Braxton Lewis had nine and Farmer, a defensive back, eight. Fort Wayne Luers’ top tacklers were senior linebacker Christian Brell with 12 and senior lineman Jarron Taylor with nine.
“Ever since we were freshmen, we worked hard in the weight room,” Savini said. “We worked our butts off just getting better each year, and it finally paid off when we were seniors. That’s what makes it feel even better.
“We prepared all week. We’ve been preparing since Week 1 for this moment right here. We’ve had a lot of high-scoring games, but what people don’t look at is us stopping every team we’ve played against.”
Class 3A State Championship Records
None
Brady Trebley of Cascade selected Mental Attitude Award recipient
During the awards ceremony, Brady Trebley of Cascade High School was announced by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A 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.
Brady is among the top students in his senior class, ranking 10th out of 135. He will graduate in May with both a Core 40 diploma and Academic Honors. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the IHSAA Leadership Council. Brady also volunteers his time coaching in the Cascade youth league and helps at the Cascade basketball and football camps.
Brady holds school records for career touchdown passes (72), career completion percentage (66.5%), single-season touchdown passes (32), and single-season completion percentage (71.5%). He also participates on the baseball and basketball teams for the Cadets and becomes the first Cascade student to earn an IHSAA mental attitude award in any sport.
He is the son of Kyle and Amanda Trebley of Coatesville, IN. He is currently undecided on where he will attend college but is interested in business or law.
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, the presenting sponsor of the state tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Cascade High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Brady Trebley.
IHSAA’s Champion of Education Award, presented by Ivy Tech Community College
This award recognizes teachers and faculty who go above and beyond to challenge students to reach their full potential. As an organization that emphasizes keeping education at the forefront of high school athletics, the IHSAA is proud to shine a light on two honorees in this year’s class. On behalf of Ivy Tech Community College, presenting sponsors of the IHSAA Champion of Education Award, the IHSAA will award $250 to the classroom of each recipient.
Adam Hanke serves as the Instrumental Music and Band Director, Media Production Director, and Assistant Theater Director at Bishop Luers High School! Mr. Hanke is a constant presence at school events, directing the pep band with energy and enthusiasm at home games and fostering a sense of unity and tradition that resonates throughout the Luers community. His unwavering commitment to students, music, theater, and community outreach makes him a truly deserving recipient of this award!
Allison Paradise is an English teacher at Cascade High School. Mrs. Paradise creates a culture where every student feels valued, supported, and motivated to succeed. She meets kids where they are and makes learning feel exciting and meaningful. Allison brings out the best in both students and staff through her warm personality, willingness to step in and help, and her ability to make everyone feel seen. Cascade High School is a better place because of Allison Paradise!
