1999 IHSAA FOOTBALL STATE FINALS

Class 4A

November 27, 1999

RCA Dome, Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL REPEATS

Otis Shannon's 2-yard plunge with 52 seconds left and Mathias Kiwanuka's interception on Goshen's final drive gave Indianapolis Cathedral a 24-21 come-from-behind victory a second straight Class 4A state championship.

Shannon, the state's leading rusher at nearly 227 yards per game, was held to just 81 yards, but his 39-yard halfback option pass to Ronald Hayes set up his touchdown run that gave the Irish their only lead of the game.

After the kickoff, Goshen drove to the Indianapolis Cathedral 47-yard line with 28 seconds left, but its last-ditch effort was spoiled when Kiwanuka picked off Andy Yoder at the Irish 13-yard line.

Indianapolis Cathedral completed its season at 13-2, while Goshen closed 12-3.

Eighth-ranked Goshen maintained control for most of the game as the Redskins' defense stymied third-ranked Indianapolis Cathedral in the first half. The Irish were limited to 27 yards on offense and no first downs. Goshen turned two Irish fumbles into a 14-0 lead just 5:29 into the game.

On Goshen's first two possessions, Tom Mikel ran in from one yard out, and Dan Yoder caught a 6-yard pass from Andy Yoder. Cathedral's only score of the half came on a 30-yard interception return by Justin Tillis off an errant Yoder pass with 1:55 left in the first quarter. It cut Goshen's lead to 14-7.

The momentum swung in the Irish's favor in the third quarter when Tillis picked off another Yoder pass. On the ensuing play, Otis Shannon took it in from 26 yards out to cut the Goshen lead to 21-14 at 10:15. Mike Huntington added a 34-yard field goal on Cathedral's next possession to make it 21-17.

It was Indianapolis Cathedral's fifth state championship and fourth under 11th-year head coach Rick Streiff. The Fighting Irish also won championships in 1986 (3A), 1992 (3A), 1996 (4A) and 1998 (4A). Indianapolis Cathedral joins Roncalli and Carmel for second place on the IHSAA football state championships list. Sheridan's six titles leads the state.

Goshen, coached by Brad Park, was making its first appearance in the state finals since 1988.

Matthew Hasbrook, a senior lineman for Indianapolis Cathedral, was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the 1999 recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A Football. Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of all IHSAA tournaments, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Indianapolis Cathedral High School in the name of Hasbrook.

 

Goshen (12-3)

14

7

0

0

--

21

Indpls. Cathedral (13-2)

7

0

10

7

--

24

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

Goshen -- Mikel 1 run (Mejia kick), 8:29.

Scoring Drive -- 7 plays, 34 yards, 3:24.

Goshen -- D. Yoder 6 pass from A. Yoder (Mejia kick), 6:31.

Scoring Drive -- 5 plays, 37 yards, 1:55.

Indianapolis Cathedral -- Tillis 31 Interception Return (Huntington Kick), 3:15.

2nd Quarter

Goshen -- Mikel 2 run (Mejia kick), 9:51.

Scoring Drive -- 11 plays, 65 yards, 5:24.

3rd Quarter

Indianapolis Cathedral -- Shannon 26 run (Huntington kick), 10:15.

Scoring Drive -- 1 play, 26 yards, 0:08.

Indianapolis Cathedral -- Huntington 34 field goal, 6:06.

Scoring Drive -- 6 plays, 43 yards, 1:59.

4th Quarter

Indianapolis Cathedral -- Shannon 2 run (Huntington kick), 0:52.

Scoring Drive -- 9 plays, 71 yards, 2:20.

 

Team Statistics

Goshen

 

Indpls. Cathedral

13

First Downs

7

45/144

Rushes/Yards

26/111

73

Passing Yards

127

7/19/3

Passing Comp./Att./Int.

8/16/0

64/217

Plays/Total Net Yards

42/238

99

Return Yards

72

7/32.6

Punts/Avg.

7/36.4

2/10

Penalties/Yards

9/65

1/0

Fumbles/Lost

2/2

29:16

Time of Possession

18:44

Individual Statistics

Rushing

Goshen -- Mikel 22-82; D. Yoder 13-42; A. Yoder 8-18; Schrock 2-2.

Indpls. Cathedral -- O. Shannon 15-81; McGrath 5-15; Birdsong 4-9; Tillis 1-5; Larkins 1-1.

Passing

Goshen -- A. Yoder 7-19-73-1-3.

Indpls. Cathedral -- McGrath 7-15-88-0-0; O. Shannon 1-1-39-0-0.

Receiving

Goshen -- Judd 2-23; Bushong 1-17; Park 1-10; Fredrickson 1-9; Mikel 1-8; D. Yoder 1-6.

Indpls. Cathedral -- Hayes 2-48; O. Shannon 1-45; Larkins 2-14; Kiwanuka 1-12; Birdsong 1-6; Rice 1-2.

Tackles

Goshen -- Barton 8; Swank 4; Bushong 3; Wiese 3; Lovely 2; Pries 2; Stickler 2; Wolfe 2; Barkes 1; Hooley 1; Schrock 1; Co. Yoder 1.

Indpls. Cathedral -- Beaty 6; Hasbrook 6; Summers 6; Thompson 6; Kiwanuka 5; Newson 4; O. Shannon 4; Larkins 3; Sanders 3; Byrne 2; Givens 2; Tillis 2.

Sacks

Goshen -- None.

Indpls. Cathedral -- Tillis 1.

Interceptions

Goshen -- None.

Indpls. Cathedral -- Tillis 2; Kiwanuka 1.

Fumble Recoveries

Goshen -- Hooley 1; Wolfe 1.

Indpls. Cathedral -- None.

 

CLASS 4A GAME NOTES

CATHEDRAL JOINS RONCALLI WITH FIVE STATE TITLES

It was Indianapolis Cathedral's fifth state championship and fourth under 11th year head coach Rick Streiff. Previously, the Fighting Irish won championships in 1986 (3A), 1992 (3A), 1996 (4A) and 1998 (4A). Indianapolis Cathedral joins Roncalli and Carmel for second place on the most state championships list. Sheridan's six titles leads the state.

IRISH BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS

Indianapolis Cathedral is one of 14 schools to win back to back championships in football. The feat was most recently accomplished in 1998 when Indianapolis Chatard and Jimtown won their second straight titles in Class 3A and 2A, respectively.

TILLIS TIES INTERCEPTION RECORD

Indianapolis Cathedral's Justin Tillis picked off a pair of Goshen passes to tie the Class 4A championship game record. He returned the first one 31 yards for a touchdown to pull Cathedral within 14-7 in the first quarter. His second interception came in the third quarter and set up the second Cathedral touchdown. Hobart's Ryan Warren (vs. East Central, 1993) is the only other player to intercept two passes in the Class 4A title contest.

MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD TO INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL'S HASBROOK

Matthew Hasbrook, a senior lineman for Indianapolis Cathedral, was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the 1999 recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A Football. Hasbrook, a co-captain and three-year starter for the Fighting Irish, has excelled in the classroom and on the athletic field.

Athletically, he has been named to the 1999 Indianapolis All-City and All-Metro teams, and has set a school record for tackles for loss. He has been a part of Indianapolis Cathedral's last two state finalist football teams. Serving as team captain last year, he also wrestled in the heavyweight class in helping the Cathedral wrestling team to the 1999 team state finals. Academically, Hasbrook has been selected to the 1999 Academic All-State team with a 3.77 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society. He is undecided on a major, but plans to study next fall at Stanford University. Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of all IHSAA tournaments, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Indianapolis Cathedral High School in Hasbrook's name.

 

CLASS 4A QUOTES

Indianapolis Cathedral Coach Rick Streiff

"Quite honestly, we feel very fortunate to be here with a win. Goshen is a fine ballclub and we had to work very hard to come out on top."

"In the second half, we played better than the first half. We were able to take advantage of some turnovers and make some big plays."

(On halfback pass) "We've run it three times and this is the first time we've completed it. It wasn't completed to the person it was intended."

(On winning touchdown run) "I wanted to throw it. The coaches upstairs wanted to run it. Then we had to decide which play we were going to run. And we knew Otis (Shannon) would run it in."

"At the beginning of the game, we hung in there because they came up with some big plays on special teams. Offensively, Goshen got off the ball, trapped us and had us back on our heels."

Cathedral's Otis Shannon

"They had an extra guy that made the tackles in the first half. We found some seams in the second half."

(On winning touchdown) "I knew we were going to get it in when we broke the huddle."

(On halfback pass) "I'm usually running the ball, but I just looked for the man that was open."

 

Goshen Coach Brad Park

"(Cathedral) made the big plays when they needed to. At halftime, we talked about playing 24 minutes. We played well for about 22 and a half."

"Defensively, we played our hearts out. We didn't do what we needed to offensively. When we lost seven or eight yards on our first possession of the second half, that set the tone."

"We showed a lot of poise, especially after their interception (Cathedral touchdown). We turned that into a positive by coming back and scoring."

"Defensively, we were in great position, but they just made some great plays. Our whole defensive unit did an outstanding job."

Goshen's Kevin Park

"We played the best we could. We had a couple of miscues on some plays, but we gave it our all."