Griffith struck for two first quarter touchdowns and went on to a 49-7 victory over Hamilton Southeastern in the first Class 4A championship game appearance for either school Nov. 29 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Senior quarterback Shane Radtke directed the wishbone attack and led the way with 161 yards and a touchdown rushing to go with 133 yards in the air and three touchdowns.

A GRIFFITH FIRST -- Griffith collected its first IHSAA team championship in any sport with the triumph. Griffith also became the third IHSAA school to win its first state championship during the 1997-98 school year, joining Fort Wayne Canterbury (boys soccer) and Pioneer (Class A football). Of the 384 current IHSAA-member high schools, 152 have won a state championship.

RUSHING YARDAGE -- By rushing for 340 yards in the state championship game, Griffith broke the state single season team rushing record. The Panthers finished the 1997 season with 5,540 yards. The previous standard was 5,394 by Lake Central in1993 when it finished as the state runner-up in Class 5A.

MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES -- Panther signal-caller Shane Radtke tossed three touchdown passes to tie the team and individual record for most in a title contest. Several others share the individual record, most recently in 1996 by Jon Sparks of North Montgomery (2A), Scott Stanski of Fort Wayne Luers (2A) and Dustin Fleece of Tri-West Hendricks (A).

MOST POINTS IN QUARTER-- Griffith's 28-point third quarter equaled the championship game record for most points in a single quarter set by Jimtown in the 1997 Class 2A championship game.

MOST POINTS IN A CLASS 4A GAME -- The Panthers' 49 points was the most tallied by a Class 4A team in the state championship game. The previous best came in 1994 when East Central defeated DeKalb 35-0.

KICKOFF RETURN RECORD -- Griffith's Dennis Palucki equaled the state finals record for the longest kickoff return with his 94-yard jaunt to open the second half. Woodlan's Barry Ehle made a 94-yard return in the 1981 Class A finals, also against Hamilton Southeastern.

HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN'S CLEMENTS WINS ESKEW AWARD -- Adam Clements of Hamilton Southeastern was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Award for Mental Attitude in Class 4A Football. Clements was the Royals' top rusher this season, carrying the ball 259 times for 1,492 yards and nine touchdowns. Academically, the senior running back ranks in the top 10 percent of his senior class of 326 students and is a member of the National Honor Society. Clements serves as his class president and was elected vice president during his junior year. He is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was a delegate to Hoosier Boys State last summer. Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Hamilton Southeastern High School in Clements' name.

Griffith: S. Radtke 15-161; S. Andriessen 4-90; Palucki 8-37; Grasha 11-31; Medsker 1-13; Newell 1-5; T. Radtke 1-3.

Hamilton Southeastern: Clements 15-36; Belden 6-7; Hibbeln 4-3; Payne 1-3.

Griffith: S. Radtke 9-12-133.

Hamilton Southeastern: Hibbeln 11-36-101.

Griffith: Palucki 3-65; Strayer 3-33; Tinich 1-20; Grasha 2-15.

Hamilton Southeastern: Trotter 2-28; Ehrgott 2-24; Streit 2-17; Payne 2-13; Belden 1-9; White 1-7; Clements 1-3.

Griffith: Rivera 4; Pierson 4; Hill 3; Angel 3.

Hamilton Southeastern: Belden 7; Clements 6; Werner 6; Streit 5.

Griffith: Pierson 1.

Hamilton Southeastern: None.

Griffith: S. Radtke 1.

Hamilton Southeastern: None.

Griffith: Washick 1; Vargo 1.

Hamilton Southeastern: None.