1999 IHSAA FOOTBALL STATE FINALS

Class A

November 26, 1999

RCA Dome, Indianapolis

LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC WINS CLASS A TITLE

Lafayette Central Catholic senior Mitchell Clayton caught two touchdown passes and returned another for a score in the first half to spark the Knights to a 59-7 victory over Perry Central in the Class A state championship game.

Clayton was on the receiving end of two Eric Anthrop touchdown passes -- one for 14 yards in the first quarter and the other a 36-yarder as time expired in the first half -- as Lafayette Central Catholic built a 31-0 halftime lead. Clayton, who doubled as a running back and strong safety for the second-ranked Knights, also returned an 88-yard interception for a touchdown in the first quarter, which was a Class A state finals record.

Clayton also finished with 164 yards on 14 carries and a rushing touchdown, while teammate Torrey Vogel carried 13 times for 115 yards and two scores. Eric Anthrop passed for three touchdowns in the game for Lafayette Central Catholic.

Perry Central's Josh Etienne completed 14 of 30 passes for 169 yards, with 92 of those to D.J. Krieg.

It was the second state championship in football for the Knights, who also took home the 1976 Class A title. Scott Muncy coached Lafayette Central Catholic to a 14-0 record, while Terry Wagner coached unranked Perry Central to a 12-3 season mark.

Perry Central's Zac Wagner was the Class A recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award as selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee. Wagner led the Commodores in scoring and rushing this season and scored on a 18-yard run in the third quarter. Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA's corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Perry Central High School in the name of Wagner.

 

 

Laf. Central Catholic

(14-0)

14

17

21

7

--

59

Perry Central (12-3)

0

0

7

0

--

7

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

Lafayette Central Catholic -- Vogel 3 run (Vogel kick), 6:04.

Scoring Drive -- 8 plays, 49 yards, 3:15.

Lafayette Central Catholic -- Clayton 88 interception return (Vogel kick), 3:52.

2nd Quarter

Lafayette Central Catholic -- Clayton 14 pass from Anthrop (Vogel kick), 11:20.

Scoring Drive -- 5 plays, 67 yards, 1:54.

Lafayette Central Catholic -- Vogel 36 field goal, 6:10.

Scoring Drive -- 6 plays, 14 yards, 2:07.

Lafayette Central Catholic -- Clayton 36 pass from Anthrop (Vogel kick), 0:00.

Scoring Drive -- 5 plays, 48 yards, 0:31.

3rd Quarter

Lafayette Central Catholic -- Suter 60 pass from Anthrop (Vogel kick), 7:39.

Scoring Drive -- 3 plays, 64 yards, 1:30.

Perry Central -- Wagner 18 run (Cronin kick), 4:05.

Scoring Drive -- 8 plays, 77 yards, 3:34.

Lafayette Central Catholic -- Clayton 61 run (Vogel kick), 3:52.

Scoring Drive -- 1 play, 61 yards, 0:13.

Lafayette Central Catholic -- Gilman 40 run (Vogel kick), 0:32.

Scoring Drive -- 4 plays, 62 yards, 1:48.

4th Quarter

Lafayette Central Catholic -- Vogel 3 run (Vogel kick), 6:32.

Scoring Drive -- 4 plays, 18 yards, 1:49.

 

Team Statistics

Laf. Central Catholic

 

Perry Central

21

First Downs

14

37/333

Rushes/Yards

39/44

110

Passing Yards

179

3/11/0

Passing Comp./Att./Int.

15/31/4

48/443

Plays/Total Net Yards

70/223

201

Return Yards

126

2/31.0

Punts/Avg.

5/36.2

5/58

Penalties/Yards

3/23

3/2

Fumbles/Lost

4/2

17:43

Time of Possession

30:17

Individual Statistics

Rushing

Laf. Central Catholic -- Clayton 14-164; Vogel 13-115; Ry. Gilman 1-40; J. Redinbo 1-7; Laszynski 1-4; Anthrop 5-3; Fruits 2-0.

Perry Central -- Z. Wagner 19-54; N. Wagner 5-3; G. Hubert 1-0; Peter 1- minus 1; James 10-minus 5; Etienne 3-minus 7.

Passing

Laf. Central Catholic -- Anthrop 3-11-110-3-0.

Perry Central -- Etienne 14-30-169-0-4; Peter 1-1-10-0-0.

Receiving

Laf. Central Catholic -- Suter 1-60; Clayton 2-50.

Perry Central -- Krieg 5-92; Buckler 3-49; Peter 2-19; N. Wagner 2-14; Z. Wagner 2-3; James 1-2.

Tackles

Laf. Central Catholic -- Suter 7; Ri. Gilman 6; Laszynski 5, Lidd 5; Wykoff 5.

Perry Central -- Aders 10; Etienne 5; James 5; Baugh 5; E. Cronin 4.

Sacks

Laf. Central Catholic -- Wykoff 1.

Perry Central -- None.

Interceptions

Laf. Central Catholic -- Ry. Gilman 2; Clayton 2.

Perry Central -- None.

Fumble Recoveries

Laf. Central Catholic -- Clayton 1; Mecklenburg 1; Wykoff 1.

Perry Central -- Peter 1; Z. Wagner 1; Gayer 1.

CLASS A GAME NOTES

SECOND FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC

Lafayette Central Catholic collected its second football state championship and its first since an 8-6 victory over Lawrenceburg in 1976. The Knights finished 14-0 this season under Scott Muncy. They went 11-2 under Paul LaRocca in 1976.

RECORD INTERCEPTION RETURN

Lafayette Central Catholic's Mitchell Clayton returned an interception 88 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, breaking a 20-year old Class A championship game record. His score put the Knights up 13-0 with 3:52 remaining in the first quarter. The previous record of 60 yards was set by Bill Jamison of Tippecanoe Valley in the 1979 game against Hamilton Southeastern.

CLAYTON MOVES UP SINGLE SEASON SCORING LIST

Mitchell Clayton scored 24 points in the Class A game to finish with 298 points for the 1999 season, good for fifth on the all-time single season scoring list. He passed three players in the top 10 during the course of the game. The top four are: Brett Law of Sheridan, 1988, 453 points; Travis Hollingsworth of Western Boone, 1990, 343 points; Tim Alspaugh of Tippecanoe Valley, 1979, 326 points; and Billy Morton of South Spencer, 1988, 302 points.

CLAYTON RANKS SECOND IN STATE SCORING AVERAGE

Mitchell Clayton of Lafayette Central Catholic finished with a total of 298 points and ranks second in state scoring average at 21.1 per game over 14 games. Chris Spillman of Owen Valley finished with a 22.0 average over 11 games and holds first place.

KNIGHTS TIE CLASS A SCORING RECORD

Lafayette Central Catholic's 59 points equaled the record output by the 1988 Sheridan team in a Class A championship game. Sheridan was a 59-0 winner over Bremen that year.

PERRY CENTRAL'S WAGNER NAMED CLASS A MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD RECIPIENT

Zac Wagner, a senior at Perry Central High School, was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the 1999 recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Award for Mental Attitude in Class A football.

Going into the state finals, the senior running back had rushed for 1,394 yards and scored 25 touchdowns in 14 games. He rushed for 54 yards on 19 carries against Lafayette Central Catholic, including an 18-yard run for a touchdown in the third quarter. Wagner, the son of Perry Central coach Terry Wagner, holds school career records for touchdowns, rushing touchdowns, points, punt return yards and punt return average.

In addition to football, Wagner also has participated in basketball and track for the Commodores. Academically, he ranks in the top third of his senior class. He also is involved in a number of extracurricular activities, including three years on Perry Central's student council.

Wagner has yet to make a college choice, but he intends to major in secondary education.

Farm Bureau Insurance, corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship in Wagner's name to Perry Central High School.

 

 

CLASS A QUOTES

Lafayette Central Catholic Coach Scott Muncy

"It feels great to be state champions. This was one of our goals at the beginning of the season."

"These guys have done everything it takes to get here. It takes more to be a state champion to work from August to November. They for the most part have worked hard in the weight room. We thought that last year and this year that we had a group to win the state championship."

"Our first offensive and defensive series' really set the tone. We put together a nice offensive drive to score the first time. On defense we were able to use our speed and quickness. That was a big time interception by Mitch (Clayton). That score right before halftime was huge."

"They started a lot of freshmen and sophomores against a seasoned senior team. That helped tip the scales in our favor."

Central Catholic's Mitch Clayton

"When people focus on somebody, it opens it up for someone else. Torrey (Vogel) had a great game."

Central Catholic's Torrey Vogel

"I wanted to go out with a bang and really do my best today. I didn't think I would do as good because of their 5-3 defense but our line did a great job."

Perry Central Coach Terry Wagner

"Obviously the best team won today. Their line dominated us. We thought we could pass against them but they have some good defensive backs."

"We were tickled to death to be in the dome. I knew this would be my last season. Our dream was to win the conference, but we got to the state."

"They were a lot quicker than we thought on defense. When a team is quicker and stronger, they're hard to play against. We've come back on teams this year but they were to good to come back on."

(On retirement) "The football program is established now. I think a lot of people in the state now know where Perry Central is. I've enjoyed coaching all these years but it is time to get out."

Perry Central's Zac Wagner

(On winning Mental Attitude Award) "Scoring a touchdown today was a better feeling, but I'm very proud to win the award. It felt bad (losing), but we accomplished a lot by getting here."

Perry Central's Ed Cronin

"They were physically stronger than our guys. We were able to match their quickness but not their strength."