BY PAUL CONDRY AND MATT KOPSEA
NEWS AND NUGGETS
Myles McLaughlin of Knox was limited to 78 yards on 24 carries in the Redskins’ 35-0 loss to Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in the Class 3A northern semistate finale. He finished the season with 4,846 yards and 71 touchdowns, which are both new national records. For his career, he closed with 174 scores and 11,839 yards, which ended up 285 yards short of the national record held by Derek Henry of the Baltimore Ravens, who had 12,124 career yards.
Andrean ended defending Class 2A state champion Adams Central’s 27-game winning streak with a 24-19 victory for the Class 2A northern semistate crown.
Indianapolis Roncalli snapped defending Class 3A state champion Heritage Hills’ 10-game post-season winning streak with a 42-14 triumph in the Class 4A southern semistate finale.
Brownstown Central earned its first semistate trophy with a 31-21 decision over Lapel for the Class 2A southern semistate title.
Cascade picked up its first semistate title with a 49-34 triumph against Gibson Southern in the Class 3A southern semistate finale.
Merrillville ended a 10-game semistate round losing streak with a 41-14 win over Concord for the Class 5A northern crown. It was the first semistate championship for the Pirates.
Andrew Dudley is the new head football coach at Frankfort. He takes over for Justin Kinzie and will also continue as the Hot Dogs’ varsity baseball coach.
Russ Mann, who guided Indianapolis Ben Davis to the 2023 Class 6A state tied, submitted his resignation after registering a 21-14 mark in his three seasons with the Giants.
Northridge is in the market for a new leader after Chad Eppley stepped down after going 33-28 over five seasons. He also guided the Raiders to a Class 4A state runner-up finish in 2021.
Mitchell’s Zach See has ended his two-year run with a 2-18 record with the Blue Jackets.
Silver Creek will have a boss on the sidelines with the departure of David Papenhaus, who was 41-30 over his seven seasons with the Dragons.
Josh Burgess and Winamac have parted ways after he posted an 11-28 mark over his four years with the Warriors.
Tri-County’s Scott Luesse has announced his resignation after going 1-9 in lone campaign with the Cavaliers.
After nine seasons, Steve Cooley has announced his resignation at New Albany. He compiled a 36-56 record with the Bulldogs and is 158-171 overall over 31 years.
Southwood is looking for a new head coach after Josh Marley’s departure following a 3-7 campaign with the Knights.
Nick Hall ended his six-year at Bellmont with a 1-57 mark. The Braves currently have the state’s longest losing streak at 42 games.
Tyler DeSpain has left Edinburgh after compiling a 15-50 record over seven seasons. The Lancers were limited to six games (1-5) this past season because of low numbers and injuries.
Brownstown Central and Cascade are 14-0 for the first time in program history.
Here is the last time these teams were unbeaten.
Brownsburg (13-0-1985), Brownstown Central (14-0-first time), Cascade (14-0-first time), New Palestine (13-0-2024).
LONGEST CURRENT WINNING STREAKS
New Palestine is on a 27-game winning streak.
Brownsburg is on an 18-game winning streak.
Brownstown Central and Cascade has claimed 14 straight victories.
Andrean and Pioneer have claimed 12 consecutive victories.
Merrillville is on a 10-game winning streak.
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger has come up with eight wins in a row.
Indianapolis Roncalli, South Putnam, and Westfield have won seven straight contests.
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers is on a five-game winning streak.
POST-SEASON SUCCESS
New Palestine has won 10 straight contests.
Brownsburg has captured nine straight wins.
Brownstown Central, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Cascade, Indianapolis Roncalli, Pioneer, and South Putman have claimed five consecutive wins.
Andrean, Merrillville, and Westfield have run off four wins in a row
SEMISTATE RESULTS
CLASS 6A
Westfield 35, Carroll (Fort Wayne) 14
Brownsburg 31, Warren Central 0
CLASS 5A
Merrillville 41, Concord 14
New Palestine 42, Bloomington South 0
CLASS 4A
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 28, South Bend Saint Joseph 7
Indianapolis Roncalli 42, Heritage Hills 14
CLASS 3A
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 35, Knox 0
Cascade 49, Gibson Southern 34
CLASS 2A
Andrean 24, Adams Central 19
Brownstown Central 31, Lapel 21
CLASS 1A
Pioneer 31, South Adams 14
South Putnam 40, Milan 7
Prior to 2025, here is the last time these teams won semistate championships.
CLASS 6A: Westfield (2024) and Brownsburg (2024).
CLASS 5A: Merrillville (none) and New Palestine (2024).
CLASS 4A: Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (2018) and Indianapolis Roncalli (2020)
CLASS 3A: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (2024) and Cascade (none).
CLASS 2A: Andrean (2022) and Brownstown Central (none).
CLASS 1A: Pioneer (2018) and South Putnam (2002).
ALL-TIME SEMISTATE CHAMPIONS: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 19, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard 18, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 18, Indianapolis Cathedral 15, Indianapolis Roncalli 14, Carmel 13, Penn 12, Ben Davis 12, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 11, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter 10, Sheridan 10, Hobart 10, Warren Central 9, Andrean 9, Center Grove 8, Fort Wayne Snider 8, Evansville Mater Dei 7, Lafayette Central Catholic 7, New Palestine 7, NorthWood 7, Westfield 7, East Central 6, Franklin Central 6, Jimtown 6, Pioneer 6, Tri-West 6, Evansville Memorial 5, Zionsville 5, Heritage Hills 5, West Lafayette 5, Western Boone 5, Adams Central 5, Bremen 4, Brownsburg 4, Eastbrook 4, East Noble 4, Indianapolis Lutheran 4, Indianapolis Scecina 4, Lowell 4, South Bend Saint Joseph 4, Southridge 4, Valparaiso 4, Bloomington South 3, Brebeuf Jesuit 3, Columbus East 3, Concord 3, Decatur Central 3, Fountain Central 3, Goshen 3, Hamilton Southeastern 3, Jasper 3, Lawrenceburg 3, Linton-Stockton 3, North Judson 3, South Putnam 3, Tipton 3.
IHSAA STATE FINALS PAIRINGS
All times EST
Bolded teams are designated home team
Friday, November 28
CLASS 1A: South Putnam (12-2) vs. Pioneer (13-1), 11 a.m.
CLASS 3A: Cascade (14-0) vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (9-5), 3 p.m.
CLASS 5A: New Palestine (13-0) vs. Merrillville (11-2), 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 29
CLASS 2A: Brownstown Central (14-0) vs. Andrean (12-1), 11 a.m.
CLASS 4A: Indianapolis Roncalli (11-3) vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (12-2), 3 p.m.
CLASS 6A: Brownsburg (13-0) vs. Westfield (11-2), 7 p.m.
Here is the last time these teams won a state championship.
CLASS 6A: Westfield (2016) and Brownsburg (2024).
CLASS 5A: Merrillville (1976) and New Palestine (2024).
CLASS 4A: Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (2018) and Indianapolis Roncalli (2020)
CLASS 3A: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (2023) and Cascade (none).
CLASS 2A: Andrean (2021) and Brownstown Central (none).
CLASS 1A: Pioneer (2018) and South Putnam (1986).
ALL-TIME STATE CHAMPIONS: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard 17, Indianapolis Cathedral 14, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 12, Indianapolis Roncalli 10, Indianapolis Ben Davis 10, Sheridan 9, Warren Central 9, Carmel 9, Lafayette Central Catholic 8, Center Grove 5. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 5, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter 5, Penn 5, East Central 4, Franklin Central 4, Hobart 4, Tri-West 4, Jimtown 4, Western Boone 4, New Palestine 4, Brownsburg 3, Columbus East 3, Fort Wayne Snider 3, Indianapolis Lutheran 3, Mishawaka Marian 3, Lawrenceburg 3, Pioneer 3, Andrean 3, Adams Central 2, Blackford 2, Bloomington South 2, Bremen 2, Castle 2, Evansville Mater Dei 2, Evansville Memorial 2, Evansville Reitz 2, Goshen 2, Heritage Hills 2, Indianapolis Scecina 2, North Montgomery 2, Valparaiso 2, West Lafayette 2, Zionsville 2.
WINNINGEST ACTIVE COACHES (Bolded coaches still active)
Russ Radtke (Knox) 426, John Hart (Brownsburg) 362, Jeff Adamson (Eastbrook) 331, Reed May (Brownstown Central) 326, Eric Moore (Center Grove) 313, Craig Buzea (Crown Point) 266, Bart Curtis (Warsaw) 265, Kevin O’Shea (Twin Lakes) 259, Tim Able (Triton Central) 245, Dave Pasch (Indianapolis Lutheran) 239, Darrin Fisher (Whiteland) 211, Herb King (Fountain Central) 209, Kirk Kennedy (Kankakee Valley) 208, Chris Meeks (Rensselaer Central) 204, John Hochstetler (Monroe Central) 189, Phil Mason (Griffith) 179, Steve Stirn (North Decatur) 179, Chad Zolman (Homestead) 173, Bud Ozmun (Oak Hill) 170, Kevin Wright (Carmel) 168, Michael Mosser (Adams Central) 168, Kurt Tippmann (Fort Wayne Snider) 161, Andy Dorrel (Culver Academy) 161, Andy Thomas (Angola) 158, Steve Cooley (New Albany) 158, John Hurley (Evansville Memorial) 157, Tom Dilley (Guerin Catholic) 157, Kyle Ralph (New Palestine) 154, Doug Hurt (Castle) 149, Aaron Tolle (Tipton) 149, Bill Peebles (Indianapolis Cathedral) 147, Jayson West (Franklin Central) 145, Nick Hart (Gibson Southern) 145, Brian Crabtree (North Vermillion) 143, Ryan Knigga (Lawrenceburg) 140, Nate Andrews (NorthWood) 136, Monte Mawhorter (West Noble) 135, Brian Oliver (Linton-Stockton) 135, Jason Hawkins (Clarksville) 131, Doug Dinan (Carroll Fort Wayne) 128, Scott Buening (Southridge) 128, Shane Fry (West Lafayette) 127, Ryan Langferman (Milan) 126, Todd Wilkerson (Heritage Hills) 122, Josh Edwards (Eastern Greentown) 122, Mike Wilhelm (Yorktown) 121, Chris Coll (Franklin) 117, Greg Barrett (Terre Haute South) 117, Curt Funk (Fishers) 115, Justin Pelley (Western Boone) 114, Mark Raetz (Northview) 113, Brandon Baker (Northfield) 112, Justin Bogunia (Bremen) 111, Ron Qualls (Indianapolis Shortridge) 107, Brad Seiss (Merrillville) 107,Travis Nolting (Greenfield-Central) 102, Kyle Lindsay (Fort Wayne Bishop Luers) 104, Adam Berry (Pioneer) 101, Jed Richman (Pendleton Heights) 99, Mark Peterson (Chesterton) 98, Pete Gast (Alexandria) 98, Tim Miller (Lapel) 97, Desson Hannum (Southmont) 97, Rob Doyle (Indianapolis Bishop Chatard) 96, Waylon Schenk (North Posey) 95, Chris Skinner (Andrean) 90, Grant Moser (South Adams) 90, Kyle Enright (Decatur Central) 90, Scott Snodgrass (Hagerstown) 89, Paul Sade (Churubusco) 87, Pat Shanley (Lafayette Jeff) 86, Mike Jones (Winchester) 84, John Hebert (Noblesville) 83, Craig Koehler (Concord) 83, Cory Brunson (Evansville Reitz) 80.
