Four weeks of tournament play have narrowed the field to 20 teams who still have their sights fixed on finishing the 2001 season at the RCA Dome in the 29^th Annual IHSAA Football State Finals.

Ten semi-state games across the state this weekend will decide the state finals contingent. Six games will be played Friday night (Nov. 16) and the remaining four on Saturday (Nov. 17). This week’s winners will advance to the state finals Nov. 23-24 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

Included in the field are six undefeated teams and 11 former state champions, topped by defending state champions Evansville Mater Dei (2A) and Heritage Hills (3A).

The other former champions still alive are: Ben Davis, Fort Wayne Snider and Valparaiso in Class 5A; Indianapolis Cathedral and Plymouth in Class 4A; Indianapolis Bishop Chatard in Class 3A; Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in Class 2A; and Pioneer and South Putnam in Class A. In addition, Jasper is a four-time state runner-up while Evansville Reitz (5A), Andrean (3A) and Perry Central (A) have reached the state championship game once.

To reference all former state champions and runners-up, proceed to the IHSAA website at:

Of the other schools still in the hunt, all five –Delta, Eastbrook, New Haven, Speedway and Southern Wells – are aiming for their first trip to the state finals.

None of the 10 semi-state games involve rematches of 2001 regular-season games or 2000 semi-state games.

First-time regional champions crowned last week were New Haven (3A) and Southern Wells (A). South Putnam celebrated its first regional crown since 1988 by downing Frankton 26-22 in Class A. Valparaiso came from behind on the road to oust defending Class 5A state champion Penn 24-21 and win its first regional crown since 1989. It also ended Penn’s six-year run of regional titles.

Ben Davis, by virtue of its decisive 56-21 victory over Warren Central, ran its streak of regional titles to a record seven. This was the 26^th year of regional competition, and Hobart leads the state with 15 regional titles overall.

The semi-state level of play in the IHSAA football tournament series began in 1981. In the first 20 years of semi-state play, Hobart annexed nine titles to lead the state. The Brickies are followed by Fort Wayne Bishop Luers and Penn with eight titles.

Fort Wayne Snider (12-1) at Valparaiso (12-1), Friday, 7 p.m. CST/8 p.m. EST.

Evansville Reitz (10-3) at Ben Davis (13-0), Saturday, 6 p.m. EST/5 p.m. CST.

Plymouth (6-7) at Delta (12-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST.

Indianapolis Cathedral (10-3) at Jasper (11-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST.

New Haven (10-3) at Andrean (12-1), Friday, 7 p.m. CST/8 p.m. EST.

Heritage Hills (13-0) vs. Indianapolis Chatard (9-4) at Indianapolis Arlington, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EST.

Eastbrook (13-0) at Fort Wayne Luers (12-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST.

Speedway (12-1) vs. Evansville Mater Dei (13-0) at Reitz Bowl, Saturday, 2 p.m. CST, 3 p.m. EST.

Southern Wells (12-1) at Pioneer (10-3), Friday, 8 p.m., EST.

Perry Central (13-0) at South Putnam (10-3), Saturday, 6:30 p.m. EST.

15 -- Hobart.

12 – Ben Davis.

11-- Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.

10 -- Carmel, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger.

9 -- Penn, Roncalli.

8 – Adams Central, Bloomington South, Fort Wayne Snider, Indianapolis Cathedral, Jasper, Jimtown, Sheridan.

7 -- Evansville Mater Dei, Franklin Central, NorthWood.

6 -- Bremen, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard ,Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Tri-West Hendricks.

5 -- Evansville Memorial, Fort Wayne Wayne, South Putnam.

7 -- Ben Davis.

3 – Evansville Mater Dei, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Perry Central.

2 – Delta, Heritage Hills, Plymouth.

7 -- Ben Davis (1995-2001).

6 -- Penn (1995-2000).

5 -- Hobart (1989-93).

4 – Adams Central (1997-2000), Hobart (1982-85).

9 -- Hobart.

8 -- Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Penn.

7 – Ben Davis, Roncalli.

6 -- Franklin Central, Indianapolis Cathedral, Sheridan.

5 -- Jimtown.

4 -- Bremen, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Indianapolis Chatard,

3 -- Bloomington South, Carmel, Fort Wayne Snider, Goshen, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, NorthWood, Tri-West Hendricks, Zionsville.

Class A -- 3:30 p.m. .

Class 2A -- 7 p.m.

Class 3A -- Noon

Class 4A -- 3:30 p.m.

Class 5A -- 7 p.m.

Senior quarterback Jake Schiff of defending Class 2A state champion Evansville Mater Dei reigns as the state’s all-time passing leader as he leads the Wildcats into semi-state action Saturday afternoon against Speedway in the Reitz Bowl at Evansville.

Schiff, a three-year starter, hit 27 of 43 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns in Evansville Mater Dei’s 55-39 regional conquest of host Brownstown Central. In the process, Schiff ran his career total to 11,369 yards. The previous record was 11,110 yards by Earl Haniford of Martinsville, who played from 1992-95.

Before an overflow crowd, Schiff surpassed Haniford in the first quarter when he threw 13 completions for 192 yards.

Schiff, who has connected on 223 of 338 (.659) of his attempts this season, also moved into fifth place on the state’s all-time season yardage list with 3,642. Schiff now occupies three of the top five spots with 3,947 in 1999 and 3,780 in 2000. The state record for season yardage is 3,973 set by Rick Mirer of Goshen in 1988.

His 2001 touchdown total of 39 leaves him six short of the state record of 45 set by Warren Central’s Jeff George as a senior in 1985. Schiff threw 42 TD passes in 1999 and 43 in 2000. His career total of 124 touchdown passes also is a state record formerly held by Haniford with 111.

With Schiff at quarterback, Evansville Mater Dei has compiled a 40-2 record during the past three seasons and rides a 28-game winning streak into the semi-state.

D. J. Krieg, a senior at Perry Central, broke the school record for interceptions in a season when he pilfered his 14^th of 2001 as the Commodores defeated South Decatur 28-0 on Nov. 10. It was the sixth straight shutout authored by the Perry Central defense and the ninth in 13 games this season. In the same game, junior running back A.J. Hubert ran for 165 yards to move his season total to 2,020 and break the Perry County season rushing record. The previous mark of 1,963 was set by Nick Sears of Tell City in 1995.