November 29, 2013
Andrean completes 15-0 season topping Brebeuf Jesuit in 3A
The Andrean Fighting 59ers took home their second state football championship -- and first as an undefeated squad -- but the Brebeuf Jesuit Braves made it a difficult task for the winners.
Andrean collected the Class 3A title with a stirring and hard-fought 35-27 victory over Brebeuf. On the final play of the game, Brebeuf Jesuit quarterback Aaron Banks' pass into the end zone was barely out of reach of receiver Chandler Grau.
A number of Class 3A championship game records were set, including most combined yards for the teams (815) and Brebeuf's passing yards (349).
Big plays on offense and defense alike highlighted the game. Andrean charged to a 21-0 lead in the second quarter, using some hard running by Trevor Berg and nice passing by Matt DeSomer.
Brebeuf Jesuit came back for a pair of touchdowns before halftime. An 81-yard pass completion, Jack Roberts to Grau, set up the first score. It marked the longest play from scrimmage in Class 3A title game history. A pass interception by Grant Prather set up another Braves TD in the second quarter.
After Andrean held a 28-14 lead at the break, the explosive performances continued in the second half -- largely from Brebeuf Jesuit. Banks scored on a six-yard run and passed 34 yards for another TD to speedy running back LeVante Bellamy.
Brebeuf Jesuit, trailing 28-27 in the final two minutes, moved the ball to its own 36-yard line. However, that's where the Braves' push ended. Andrean’s Donovan Chandler intercepted a Banks pass and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown.
For Andrean, Berg rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns. DeSomer passed for 137 yards on 11-of-19. Jamie Johnson had 69 receiving yards, including a touchdown.
Brebeuf Jesuit's Grau caught eight passes for 168 yards, which was a Class 3A title game record. Bellamy rushed for 67 yards on 13 carries. Banks completed 21-of-42 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a pair of scores.
Coach Phil Mason's 59ers, ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press and state coaches polls, finished 15-0. Coach Mic Roessler's Braves, ranked seventh by both the state coaches and Associated Press, completed their season 11-4 after winning the school’s first sectional title three weeks ago.
Listen: Andrean coach Phil Mason comments | Brebeuf Jesuit coach Mic Roessler comments
New Class 3A State Finals Records
Most Passes Attempted
44 by Brebeuf Jesuit.
Most Yards Passing
349 by Brebeuf Jesuit.
Total Combined Offensive Yards
815 by Brebeuf Jesuit (415) and Andrean (400).
Most First Downs Passing
14 by Brebeuf Jesuit.
Most Passing Yards
268 by Aaron Banks, Brebeuf Jesuit.
Longest Pass Completion
81 by Jack Roberts to Chandler Grau, Brebeuf Jesuit.
Most Receiving Yards
168 by Chandler Grau, Brebeuf Jesuit.
Longest Play from Scrimmage
81 pass from Jack Roberts to Chandler Grau, Brebeuf Jesuit.
Brebeuf Jesuit’s Eddie Barks selected Eskew Mental Attitude Award winner
At the conclusion of the championship game, the IHSAA Executive Committee named Eddie Barks of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School as the winner of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A football.
Barks ranks second in his senior class of 184 students with a 4.17 GPA through mostly honors and advanced placement courses. He recently scored a perfect 36 out of 36 on the ACT.
Eddie plays center and is a team co-captain and “on-field coach” for the offensive line. He plays offense, defense and special teams for the Braves who were making their first trip to the football championship game. He also serves as captain of the wrestling team and competed in regionals last year.
He was recently lauded by the Indiana Sports Corporation for a successful equipment drive he spearheaded at his school for the ISC’s “Geared for Health” program. He helped amass enough used sporting goods equipment to fill a 24’ box truck.
He is the son of Billy and Mary Barks of Indianapolis and plans to study chemical engineering at Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Purdue or Stanford.
Each year the IHSAA Executive Committee selects a senior player who was nominated by his principal and coach and was determined to have best demonstrated mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. The award is named in honor of the IHSAA’s third commissioner from 1962-76.
The Indianapolis Colts presented a $1,000 scholarship to Brebeuf Jesuit in the name of Barks. The Colts have been the presenting sponsor of the entire football state tournament since 2009 and are sponsoring the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award for the first year.