1997 CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NOTES

Final Score: Pioneer 49, Knightstown 21.

Final Records: Pioneer 15-0; Knightstown 14-1.

 

 

Quarterback Tayt Odom of Pioneer raced 63 yards for a touchdown on the second play from scrimmage and the Panthers went on to a 49-21 triumph over Knightstown Nov. 29 in the RCA Dome. It was the first IHSAA team title in any sport for Pioneer, a 35-year-old Cass County consolidation of Royal Center and Lucerne. Both schools were playing in an IHSAA state finals event for the first time. Michael Pugh of Pioneer ran for 201 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries, while Odom finished with 108 rushing yards and two touchdowns along with a 33-yard touchdown toss. Knightstown was led by Ryan Johnson with 106 yards rushing.

 

MOST RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS -- Pioneer's seven rushing touchdowns broke the IHSAA State Finals team record for most in a championship game in any class. The previous mark of six was by Tippecanoe Valley in a 44-14 victory over Hamilton Southeastern in Class A in 1979. 

COMBINED SCORING RECORD -- With the 70 combined points, Pioneer and Knightstown set a Class A championship game record. The previous mark was 59 points set by Sheridan (59) vs. Bremen (0) in 1988, and South Decatur (44) vs. Southwood (15) in 1990. The all-class scoring record is 71, set by North Montgomery and Fort Wayne Luers in Class 2A in 1996. 

FIRST 15-0 TEAM -- With the expansion of the regular season to nine games this season, followed by the six-week tournament, Pioneer became the first Indiana school to post a 15-0 season record.  

PUGH ROLLS ON -- Pioneer's Michael Pugh rushed 25 times for 201 yards and four touchdowns. His season totals include 36 touchdowns for 226 points and a 15.0 points per game average, good for 15th on the 1997 state scoring list. He also improved his 1997 rushing total, which closed at 308 carries for 2,249 yards, 31 touchdowns and a 149.9 yards per game average in 1997. He rates 23rd on the 1997 state rushing chart. 

MIDWEST CONFERENCE ADDS A TITLE -- With its 49-21 victory over Knightstown, Pioneer became the second school from the Midwest Conference to win the IHSAA Class A state football title in the last four years. The Panthers followed in the footprints of rival North White, which defeated Sheridan 34-7 in 1994 while making its only state finals appearance. 

PIONEER'S TAYT ODOM NAMED ESKEW AWARD WINNER -- Tayt Odom of Pioneer High School was named the 1997 recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Award for Mental Attitude in Class A Football by the IHSAA Executive Committee. A four-year starting quarterback for the Panthers, he is the first student in Pioneer High School history to receive an IHSAA mental attitude award in any sport. Odom completed his high school career by running for 108 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw for 33 yards on 1-for-4 passing. Besides football, Odom has competed in basketball, baseball and track at Pioneer. Academically, he ranks No. l in Pioneer's senior class of 80 students. He serves as president of the school's chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as vice president of the school's student council, and was president of his sophomore class. Odom also is a member of the National Honor Society. His college plans are undecided. Farm Bureau Insurance, corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship in Odom's name to Pioneer High School.

 

 

Scoring Summary

Pioneer

14

14

14

7

--

49

Knightstown

0

7

14

0

--

21

 

Officials -- Dan Hahn (Referee), Don Spall (Umpire), Steve Todd (Linesman), John Hurlock (Line Judge), Mark Geary (Back Judge)

 

1st Quarter

Pioneer -- Tayt Odom 63 yard run (kick failed), 11:07

Pioneer -- Tayt Odom 9 yard run (Odom pass to David Russell), 6:09

 

2nd Quarter

Knightstown -- Ian Hayes 9 yard pass from Eric Scheumann (Aaron Plank kick), 7:55

Pioneer -- Michael Pugh 6 yard run (Josh Collins kick), 2:11

Pioneer -- David Russell 10 yard run (Collins kick), 0:08

 

3rd Quarter

Knightstown -- Drew Crawford 6 yard run (Plank kick), 8:40

Pioneer -- Michael Pugh 8 yard run (Collins kick), 6:35

Knightstown -- Ryan Johnson 14 yard run (Plank kick), 3:52

Pioneer -- Michael Pugh 5 yard run (Collins kick), 0:34

 

4th Quarter

Pioneer -- Michael Pugh 43 yard run (Collins kick), 11:41

 

 

Pioneer

Knightstown

First Downs

17

14

Rushes/Yards

42-360

48-234

Passing Yards

33

27

Passing Comp./Att./Int.

1-4-1

3-9-2

Plays/Total Net Yards

46-393

57-261

Return Yards

47

162

Punts/Avg.

1-31.0

2-15.0

Penalties/Yards

2-10

2-27

Fumbles/Lost

1-0

2-1

Time of Possession

20:16

27:44

 

 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

 

Rushing

Pioneer: Pugh 25-201; Odom 9-108; Russell 3-36; Whallon 4-14; Campbell 1-1.

Knightstown: Johnson 24-106; Crawford 19-84; Richey 2-10; Hayes 1-4; Scheumann 2-minus 1.

 

Passing

Pioneer:Odom 1-4-33.

Knightstown: Scheumann 3-9-27.

 

Receiving

Pioneer: Russell 1-33.

Knightstown: Richey 1-11; Hayes 1-9; Crawford 1-7.