Indiana High School Athletic Association

9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601    Fax: 317-575-4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

November 25, 2006

 

INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL WINS SIXTH STATE FOOTBALL CROWN

Indianapolis Cathedral (13-2) defeated Concord (14-1), 38-14, to capture its sixth state championship in school history Saturday at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

 

The Fighting Irish defense controlled the tempo by holding the Minutemen’s rushing attack to 17 yards on 20 carries including six sacks that totaled 34 negative yards for Concord.  The Cathedral offense took care of the rest, scoring three unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game away. The Irish posted 234 yards on the ground with two touchdowns and a quarterback Bobby Powers threw for 156 yards and three touchdowns. 

 

Midway through the third quarter, Concord’s Monty Marion scored from one yard out and quarterback Bob Cira connected with receiver Mike Meade for the two-point conversion to close within 17-14 at the 5:24 mark.

 

Cathedral then scored on three consecutive possessions. First, Powers hit Jonathan Horn from 14 yards out with 10:58 remaining. William Stubbs scored on a 44 yard run at the 8:17 mark and then Brandon Jones caught a 28 yard strike from Powers with 5:21 remaining.

 

Cathedral’s rushing attack was led by Stubbs’ with 182 yards in 22 carries and two touchdowns.

 

The Fighting Irish defensive front was led by junior defensive back Justin Cureton with eight tackles.  Sophomore defensive end Kakpindi Jamiru recorded four sacks.

 

Concord’s offense was led by Cira who completed 18 of 35 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted twice. Meade pulled in six passes for 81 yards and one touchdown. 

 

The victory marked head coach Jim O’Hara’s first state championship in his five year career at Cathedral. Tim Dawson coached Concord to its third state runner-up season.  

 

CATHEDRAL’S BOBBY POWERS HONORED WITH ESKEW MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD

Following the game, Cathedral High School’s Bobby Powers was named the recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award for Class 4A Football by the IHSAA Executive Committee.

 

The award is presented to a senior nominated by his principal and coach who excels in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. The award is named in honor of Mr. Eskew, who served as the IHSAA’s third commissioner from 1962-76.  Under Eskew’s leadership, the IHSAA football state tournament was initiated in 1973.

 

Athletically, Powers has participated all four years in football, playing varsity the last two seasons and is currently the starting quarterback and team captain. He also has participated in CYO Basketball and the track team.

 

Academically, Powers carries a 4.468 GPA on a 4.0 scale taking classes in Cathedral’s Honors curriculum. He is currently undecided on his college choice. Additionally, he is an officer for the school’s National Honor Society and a National Merit Semifinalist and also in one of the school’s Senior Peer Mentors and the Treasurer of the Habitat for Humanity organization.

 

A long-time teacher at Cathedral said of Powers: “Anyone who knows Bobby knows that he will do ‘the right thing in the right place at the right time with the right people’. He is definitely a role model of whom our school can be proud.”

 

He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. William Powers of Indianapolis.

 

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a scholarship for $1,000 to Cathedral High School in the name of Powers.

 

VSN MEANS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY

Visit our friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA’s official photographer for all state championship events and one of the leading action photographers in the Midwest. VSN, which was on site on Friday, has captured hundreds of images from this year’s State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase beginning Sunday.

 

STATE FINALS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

Couldn’t be in there for the state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official souvenir program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in person at the IHSAA Office (9150 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis) or $5.00 by mail (postage included). To order, have your Visa or MasterCard ready and call us at 317-846-6601 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. EST).

 

 

Class 4A Championship Game Records

 

Tied

Most PAT Kicks, 4A: 5 by Indpls. Cathedral vs. Concord, 2006

Most Passing Touchdowns, 4A: 3 by Indpls. Cathedral vs. Concord, 2006

Most Touchdown Receptions, 4A: 3 by Indpls. Cathedral vs. Concord, 2006

Most PAT Kicks, 4A: 5 by Vince Evans, Indpls. Cathedral vs. Concord, 2006

Most Passing Touchdowns, 4A: 3 by Bobby Powers, Indpls. Cathedral vs. Concord, 2006

Most Receptions, 4A: 6 by Mike Meade, Concord vs. Indpls. Cathedral, 2006

 

Quotes on the Class 4A Game

 

Concord’s head coach Tim Dawson

 

“I thought the game was won in the trenches. Their offensive and defensive lines did a really good job tonight. I was concerned if we were going to be able to protect (quarterback) Bob (Cira). Without a doubt, that’s the best secondary we’ve played against all year. Their playmakers made plays when they had to.”

 

”It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish is what we told the kids at halftime. We just couldn’t make the plays. We had a chance to be in the game and we just didn’t make enough plays.”

 

“When our team gets a week or so to look back at what they did, they’ll certainly enjoy this. We made history at Concord High School this year.”

 

“Our fans have been great all year. That’s the way our community is-they love their sports.”

 

 

Indianapolis Cathedral’s head coach Jim O’Hara

 

“This is a mentally tough group. I think we played a ranked team every week in the tournament. Tonight it was a hard fought game also. Our offensive line did a great job and our backs ran hard.”

 

(on Concord scoring to close to 17-14), “Our players have always responded this year anytime someone has scored against us. We always seem to come right back and score. I was nervous because Concord can score at anytime with their offense.”

 

“Our schedule and our depth helped us win this game tonight. We had no one going both ways and they had a lot of players going both ways.”

 

“On defense, we have a lot of 3 year starters and they are mentally tough. We put pressure on them all night plus our defense is fast and our front line put their hands up to make them aware of our presence and pressure.”

 

“On offense, we used our line size and fast backs. They worked together to stay on their blocks and find some holes.”

 

“I was on the state runner-up team in high school in 1976 (Indianapolis Cathedral). Vince Lorenzano, head coach at Indianapolis Chatard, and I were teammates. We were fortunate to win in ’06, 30 years later. That’s pretty special. For my boys in ’76, this one’s for you.”

 

“We changed our approach this year. We didn’t look at winning state, we just looked at winning the sectional. The expectations at Cathedral are so high that I thought we pressed too much the last 2 years. We got away from all the distractions and our kids and coaches bought into it.”