2001 IHSAA CLASS 4A FOOTBALL STATE FINALS

November 24, 2001

RCA Dome, Indianapolis

 

 

Delta (13-2)

0

7

6

7

--

20

Jasper (13-1)

7

14

0

14

--

35

 

Officials: Gary Slunaker, LaRue, Mark Cruse, Jack Harmon, Steven McGlothlin.

 

 

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

Jasper – Brian Lewis 3 run (Justin Mehringer kick), 2:34.

 

2nd Quarter

Delta – Antwaun Amerson 20 pass from Joey Lynch (Kyle Bland kick), 10:11.

Jasper – Brian Lewis 4 run (Justin Mehringer kick), 6:12.

Jasper – Chris Schmidt 6 pass from Ben Schmidt (Justin Mehringer kick), :18.

 

3rd Quarter

Delta – Aaron Kerkhof 1 run (kick blocked), 3:08.

 

4th Quarter

Jasper – Brian Lewis 1 run (Justin Mehringer kick), 5:34.

Delta – Chris Jackson 9 pass from Joey Lynch (Kyle Bland kick), 4:35.

Jasper – Brian Lewis 4 run (Justin Mehringer kick), 2:21.

 

Time of Game – 2:32.

 

 

Team Statistics

Delta

 

Jasper

19

First Downs

19

25/136

Rushes/Yards

47/269

201

Passing Yards

87

12/21/1

Passing Comp./Att./Int.

6/7/0

46/337

Plays/Total Net Yards

54/356

40

Return Yards

39

1/30

Punts/Avg.

1/38

5/37

Penalties/Yards

6/33

0/0

Fumbles/Lost

1/0

20:04

Time of Possession

27:56

 

 

Individual Statistics

Rushing

Delta – Joey Lynch 10-53; Aaron Kerkhof 11-49; Antwaun Amerson 2-31; Jake Miller 2-3.

Jasper – Brian Lewis 35-211; Ben Schmidt 10-58; Matt Messmer 1-2; Team 1-minus 2.

 

Passing

Delta – Joey Lynch 12-21-1-201.

Jasper – Ben Schmidt 6-7-0-87.

 

Receiving

Delta – Chris Jackson 5-83; Jake Miller 5-79; Antwaun Amerson 1-20; Aaron Kerkhof 1-19.

Jasper – Chris Schmidt 4-65; Zach Mitchell 1-14; Andy Meyer 1-8.

 

Tackles

Delta – Antwaun Amerson 11; Steve Otterbein 8; Brad Wilson 6; Chris Jerles 6; Larry Burns 6; Aaron Kerkhof 6; Keith Overholt 5; Marc Sue 5; Ryan Rhoades 3; Chris Clouse 3; Nathan Gluff 1; Clay Kimbrell 1; Kyle Bland 1.

Jasper – Zach Mitchell 8; Jace Himsel 6; Nathan Miller 6; Phil Krodel 6; Chris Schmidt 5; Justin Mehringer 3; Andy Schroeder 3; Cade Knies 3; Jameson Russell 3; Nick Gerber 3; Cale Knies 2; Andy Meyer 1; Blake Vogler 1; Shane Voegerl 1; Shane O’Connor 1; Matt Messmer 1.

 

Sacks

Delta – Brad Wilson 1-6.

Jasper – Zach Mitchell 1-6; Andy Schroeder 1-2; Nick Gerber 1-4.

 

Interceptions

Delta – None.

Jasper – Cade Knies 1-0.

 

Fumble Recoveries

Delta – None.

Jasper – None.

 

 

Class 4A Game Notes

 

Alex Hensley Named Class 4A Mental Attitude Award Recipient

Alex Hensley of Jasper High School was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the 2001 recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Award for Mental Attitude in Class 4A Football.

 

The offensive lineman served as team captain for the state champion Wildcats. He was a four-year varsity performer and three-year starter for Jasper, earning an all-Big Eight Conference selection. Hensley also has participated in wrestling and track.

 

Academically, he ranks in the top 20 percent of his senior class of 237 students with a 3.47 grade point average. Hensley has accepted an appointment to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. He has been an active participant in numerous extracurricular activities, and served as president of the school’s Key Club and his junior class. Outside of school, he was selected to attend Boys Nation and the Hugh O’Brian Leadership Seminar.

 

Farm Bureau Insurance, corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Jasper High School in the name of Hensley.

 

Jasper’s First Football Title

With its victory, Jasper claimed its first state championship in football. It was the school’s seventh title overall and the sixth in the last seven years. Jasper claimed baseball titles in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2000 and won the boys tennis state championship in 1999.

 

First Title For State’s Winningest Coach Jerry Brewer

Jasper’s state title was the first for legendary coach Jerry Brewer. Brewer, in his 43rd season at Jasper and the state’s all-time winningest coach with 357 victories, was making his fifth appearance at this level of the tournament. Previously, Brewer had guided the Wildcats to the state finals in 1976 (2A), 1977 (2A), 1987 (4A) and 1995 (3A).

 

Championship Game Records

Most PAT Kicks (Team) – 5 by Jasper (Tied Class 4A record)

Most Points – 24 by Brian Lewis, Jasper (Class 4A record)

Most Touchdowns – 4 by Brian Lewis, Jasper (Class 4A record)

Most PAT Kicks – 5 by Justin Mehringer, Jasper (Class 4A record)

Most Rushing Yards – 211 by Brian Lewis, Jasper (Class 4A record)

Most Rushing Touchdowns – 4 by Brian Lewis, Jasper (Class 4A record)

 

 

 Class 4A Game Quotes

 

Delta Coach Grant Zgunda

“In the second half we felt like we just couldn’t get the ball. It turned into a track meet and unfortunately we just couldn’t keep up.”

 

“It’s been a great season and it’s just been a great accomplishment to be the first football team from Delta to be here.”

 

“Our senior class has done an excellent job for us. In all honesty, I could sit here and talk for hours and hours about them and not say enough.”

 

“The second half was the key. We only had the ball once and there were six minutes left to go in the game. We scored quickly and then we went for the on-side kick hoping to get the ball but we weren’t able to stop them.”

 

“We weren’t able to do much early and if we scored to match their scores it might have made a difference. Their score right before the half and the third quarter drive that put them up two scores made it difficult for us to come back.”

 

Delta senior Brad Wilson

“It was a simple game. You stop the toss, you win. You don’t stop the toss, you lose.”

 

Jasper Coach Jerry Brewer

“This is just a great feeling. This whole state tournament run has been a tribute to our kids. There is no doubt that Brian (Lewis) is one of the reasons that we are here, but we’ve some other great kids on this team. It just feels terrific to come out and play this way after our come-from-behind win in the semi-state.”

 

“We only punted one time in the entire game, but honestly it was still a battle. Fortunately, for our sake, we were still able to move the ball and sustain some long drives. This is about our young people and hopefully they are able to reap all the benefits of what they’ve accomplished.”

 

“After the loss to Heritage Hills, I think I may have changed our offense a little. As a football team, it opened our eyes a little that we needed to improve to get to the state championship. We needed to start using all our skill players on offense.”

 

“Down the stretch, I knew that they were out of timeouts, but we wanted to make sure it was in the bag before we started to relax. It’s my fifth time to be here, but every time I’ve been stopped short of the goal, but today we are champions. My staff has worked all season long and they deserve the credit. I was just  along for the ride.”

 

Jasper senior Brian Lewis

“It’s a great feeling. I want to give all of the credit to my teammates. I don’t know if there is a better way to go out as a senior class. This offensive line has been improving and improving all season long. I just knew that if they were going to keep plugging away, so was I.”

 

“Tonight, we played Jerry Brewer football and it goes to show you that he’s a great coach and that that type of football isn’t outdated.”