Sporting an outstanding aggregate record of 129-9 (.934), the 2001 IHSAA Football State Finals includes five former state champions, the second championship game rematch in the 29-year history of the tournament, and two schools that have never traveled this far before on the football tournament trail.

Leading the way are defending Class 2A state champion Evansville Mater Dei (Class 2A) with a 29-game winning streak and five-time state champion Ben Davis (Class 5A). Both entered tournament play ranked No. 1 in their respective classes by the Indiana Football Coaches Association poll, as did Perry Central in Class A.

Evansville Mater Dei is paired with Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in a rematch of the 2000 Class 2A state championship game. In that contest, Mater Dei become the first Evansville school to claim an IHSAA football state championship with a 56-10 triumph. Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, a four-time Class 2A state championship school, also has four runner-up finishes. The only other time two schools met in consecutive years for an IHSAA football state title was 1989 and 1990 when Hobart and Franklin Central split Class 4A crowns.

Indianapolis Bishop Chatard and Valparaiso are the other former state champions. Indianapolis Bishop Chatard is in the hunt for its third Class 3A title in five years, while Valparaiso (5A) is back in the state finals for the first time since 1985 when it finished as the Class 5A state runner-up to Warren Central. Valparaiso claimed the Class 3A state championship over Carmel in 1975 when the tournament format was limited to three classes and state title games were played at school sites.

This is the 18^th year the IHSAA Football State Finals will be hosted by the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

The first-time state finals entrants are Delta in Class 4A and Southern Wells in Class A. For Southern Wells, it’s the first IHSAA state finals appearance for the school in a team sport.

3:30 p.m.

Southern Wells (13-1) vs. Perry Central (14-0).

7 p.m.

Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (13-0) vs. Evansville Mater Dei (14-0).

Noon

Andrean (13-1) vs. Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (10-4).

3:30 p.m.

Delta (13-1) vs. Jasper (12-1).

7 p.m.

Valparaiso (13-1) vs. Ben Davis (14-0).

Runner-up – (2) 1992 (5A), 1996 (5A).

Runner-up – (1) 1985 (5A).

Runner-up – (4) 1976 (2A), 1977 (2A), 1987 (4A), 1995 (3A).

State championships – 0.

Runner-up – 0.

Runner-up – 0.

State championships –1.

Runner-up – (1) – 1997 (3A)

Runner-up – (4) 1983 (2A), 1991 (2A), 1996 (2A), 2000 (2A).

Runner-up – (1) 1994 (2A)

Runner-up -- (1) 1999 (A)

Runner-up – 0.

Perry Central’s seniors make the long drive from Southern Indiana with unfinished business on their minds while Southern Wells is charting new territory.

Perry Central suffered a 59-7 setback to Lafayette Central Catholic in its only other IHSAA football state finals appearance in 1999. Several players from that trip are still on the roster. The Commodores have authored nine shutouts this season, including four in tournament play while outscoring opponents 186-7. In last week’s semi-state, South Putnam became the first team to score on Perry Central in the 2001 tournament.

Among the outstanding performers for the Perry Central defense is senior D.J. Krieg with a state-leading 14 interceptions this season. He’s two short of tying the state record set by Mike Elliott of Culver Community in 1982. Krieg also has caught 35 passes for 755 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Offensively, Perry Central is led by junior running back A.J. Hubert with 2,197 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns.

The Commodores are directed by second-year coach Mike Spencer, who previously led teams at Tell City and Connersville. He’s 23-5 at Perry Central and 108-76 in 16 seasons overall.

Southern Wells, ranked No. 3 in the final coaches poll, will play in the dome after entering tournament play undefeated. The Raiders fell to eventual Class A state champion Adams Central 15-14 in the 2000 sectional finals.

Diminutive senior running back Tucker Benedict has rushed for 2,045 yards and 26 touchdowns to pace Southern Wells offensively. The Raiders average 303 rushing yards a game and 366 overall.

Southern Wells, located 50 miles southwest of Fort Wayne, is a 36-year-old consolidation of Chester Center, Jackson Township, Liberty Center and Petroleum.

Coach Mark Lefebvre is 52-26 in seven seasons at Southern Wells. He’s in his second stint there with a two-year interlude at Maconaquah. Overall, his teams have compiled a 61-38 record.

Two teams who have dominated Class 2A the past three seasons meet in a state title rematch. It’s the third straight Class 2A state championship game for Bishop Luers, the 1999 Class 2A champion.

The two Class 2A finalists won their respective conference titles in leagues primarily composed of Class 4A and 5A schools. Evansville Mater Dei won its second straight Southern Indiana Athletic Conference crown, while Fort Wayne Luers ran the table in the Summit Athletic Conference for a second straight season.

Behind an overpowering passing game, top-ranked Mater Dei has outscored opponents 1,242-418 in 29 games the past two seasons. The Wildcats are led by senior quarterback Jake Schiff, who holds state records for passing yardage in a game (556, vs. Tell City, 2001), season (4,029 in 2001), and career (11,756). Schiff also has thrown the most career touchdown passes (127) in state history and his 2001 season total (42) is three behind the state standard set by Jeff George of Warren Central in 1985.

With Schiff at quarterback, Evansville Mater Dei has compiled a 41-2 record during the past three seasons.

Evansville Mater Dei coach Mike Goebel was an assistant coach in 1994 when the Wildcats finished as the state runner-up to Bremen. He’s 60-9 in five seasons as the head coach. Goebel also is the school’s long-time wrestling coach, guiding the Wildcats to the last seven IHSAA state championships and eight overall. Goebel is one of 19 coaches in state history to win IHSAA titles in two or more sports. But he’s the only coach to achieve the football/wrestling double.

Fort Wayne Bishop Luers entered tournament play ranked No. 2 in the coaches poll and the Knights have put together another impressive tournament run. That drive included victories over No. 3 Jimtown (24-18) in the regional and No. 7 Eastbrook in the semi-state (58-13).

The Knights are the fifth team to reach the state championship game three straight years, and did it despite suffering significant graduation losses. Two of the senior mainstays are quarterback Kyle Lindsay, son of coach Matt Lindsay, and nose tackle/running back Anthony Spencer.

Other teams to play in three straight title games were Ben Davis (1990-91-92), Franklin Central (1980-81-82), Hobart (1990-91-92), and Penn (1995-96-97). The semi-state championship was the ninth for Bishop Luers, tying Hobart for most in the state.

In 14 seasons at his alma mater, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers coach Matt Lindsay has compiled a 135-52 record.

It’s a rematch of sorts from the 1997 Class 3A state championship game won by Bishop Chatard 27-24. The coaches are different and so are of the players from that thriller that saw senior quarterback Andy Sahm call an audible and dive over from one yard out for the winning touchdown. It came on fourth down with 19 seconds left and capped a 21-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 9:11.

Andrean, ranked No. 5 in the final coaches poll, is directed by Jeff Karras, who assisted his brother, Ted Jr., in 1997. Jeff Karras played for Hobart in the 1984 and 1985 state finals. Karras is 26-10 in three seasons at the Andrean helm.

The 59ers have ridden the accurate arm of junior quarterback Brett Goins, who has hit 152 of 245 (.620) passes for 2,304 yards and 27 touchdowns. Goins ranks 19^th in the state (first in Class 3A) with 164.5 yards a game. His favorite target, senior Casey Nowinski, ranks 14^th overall and first in Class 3A with 91.3 yards a game via 72 catches for 1,279 yards. Only two receivers in the state this season have caught more passes.

Andrean has outscored its opponents 484-89, including 136-19 in tournament play.

Indianapolis Bishop Chatard is in the state championship game for the fifth time and seeks its fifth title under three different coaches. Tom Dilley, who moved up to replace two-time state champion coach Craig Barr in 1999, is 19-16 in three seasons.

The unranked Trojans battled their way through an 0-3 start that included an overtime loss and a two-point defeat. Bishop Chatard is ground-oriented, averaging 246 via rushing and 86 through the air. Senior Vincent Mason averages 120 yards a game rushing with 18 touchdowns.

The Trojans have been prolific offensively in five tournament games, averaging 34 points an outing.

First-time state finalist Delta takes on Jasper, who has reached the finals for the fifth time. Both seek their first IHSAA football state finals.

Delta’s prolific passing attack is directed by senior quarterback Joey Lynch who has thrown for 3,055 yards. In the 27-7 semi-state victory over Plymouth, Lynch became the 15^th player in state history and the third in 2001 to throw for 3,000 yards in a season. Lynch is the son of Ball State football coach Bill Lynch. He joins his older brother, Billy Lynch, as a member of an IHSAA state finalist team from Delta. Billy Lynch was a starting guard and the Trester Award recipient on Delta’s 1997 IHSAA state runner-up team in boys basketball.

Delta coach Grant Zgunda has compiled a 43-8 record in four seasons there. In nine seasons at Madison-Grant and Delta, his teams are 80-20.

Delta entered the state tournament series ranked No. 6 in Class 4A with its only loss at Mt. Vernon (Fortville). Jasper is ranked No. 3. The only blemish for the Wildcats came at Heritage Hills, the 2000 Class 3A state champion who reached the semi-state round last week.

Jasper coach Jerry Brewer has been at the helm since 1959 and ranks No. 1 in career victories among Indiana football coaches at 356-102-2.

The 2001 Wildcats sport a balanced offensive attack with senior running back Brian Lewis (1,783 yards) the ground weapon and junior quarterback Ben Schmidt (1,114) yards going through the air. Schmidt’s principal target is his twin brother, Chris Schmidt (35 catches, 13 TD).

Lewis is the son of Jasper athletic director Dennis Lewis and the brother of former Jasper basketball standout Michael Lewis. They are the grandsons of former IHSAA commissioner Gene Cato.

Jasper finished as the state runner-up in 1976 (2A), 1977 (2A), 1987 (4A) and 1995 (3A).

Valparaiso avenged a 35-28 opening game loss to Penn by coming from behind to shock the defending Class 5A champion 24-21 in overtime to claim a regional title. Ben Davis took its second victory of the year over highly regarded Warren Central in an unexpected 56-21 regional blowout.

Ranked No. 3 in the final coaches association poll, Valparaiso shows an offensive attack balanced by senior running back Matt Handlon (1,787 yards, 30 touchdowns) and junior quarterback Jason Renn (2,085 yards, 15 touchdowns). Junior Jeff Samardzija (52 catches, nine touchdowns) is the chief target.

Valparaiso coach Mark Hoffman is in his 25^th season as boss of the Vikings with a 168-113 record.

Ben Davis reached the dome with an impressive roll through its tournament opponents. The Giants have scored at least 50 points in all five tournament games, topped by outputs of 68 in the sectional final and 61 in the semi-state.

Leading the way as he has for the past three seasons is senior James Banks. The senior quarterback, defensive back and punter has helped the Giants to a 41-2 record since moving into the starting lineup as a sophomore. Banks averages 7.9 yards a rush and 8.3 yards for every passing attempt. In 2001, he’s rushed for 12 touchdowns, scored four more as a defender and kick returner, and tossed 16 through the air.

Ben Davis coach Dick Dullaghan will coach in his 10th state championship game. Only the late Don Howell, with 11 appearances from 1979 to 1996 at Hobart, has coached in more IHSAA football state championship games. Dullaghan guided Carmel to a Class 3A state runner-up finish to Valparaiso in 1975 and came back to win the Class 3A title in 1978. He’s won five Class 5A titles at Ben Davis and finished as runner-up twice with the Giants. Dullaghan is 189-36 in 17 seasons at Ben Davis and 288-53 in 29 seasons as a head coach at Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Carmel and Ben Davis.

9 – Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Hobart.

8 – Ben Davis, Penn.

7 – Roncalli.

6 -- Franklin Central, Indianapolis Cathedral, Sheridan.

5 – Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Jimtown.

4 -- Bremen, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger.

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

Cory Jacquay, a senior running back at New Haven, became the state’s all-time season rushing leader Friday in a 35-7 Class 3A semi-state loss to Andrean.

Jacquay, who rushed for 197 yards on 36 carries, finished the season with 3,366 yards and 35 rushing touchdowns on 468 carries. That bettered the previous season standard of 3,252 established by Otis Shannon of Indianapolis Cathedral as a junior in 1999. Shannon, Indiana’s Mr. Football in 2000, still holds the state career record of 7,560.

Through November 17, 2001 as reported to the IHSAA