Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.

9150 North Meridian Street, PO Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240–0650

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

Blake Ress, Commissioner

________________________________________________________________________________

MEDIA INFORMATION

October 9, 2007

Contact: Jason Wille, Sports Information Director                                                                    

E–Mail: jwille@ihsaa.org

 

 

35TH STATE FOOTBALL TOURNEY PAIRINGS UNVEILED

The pairings for the 35th Annual IHSAA Football State Tournament Series were drawn this evening by Commissioner Blake Ress in downtown Indianapolis.

 

Three hundred sixteen schools (316), two more than in 2006 and the most since the IHSAA moved to a five-class system in 1985, have entered this year’s tournament with most beginning sectional play on Friday, October 19. Four sectionals have only seven teams thus allowing one team in each to receive a bye into the second round. Those four schools – New Albany in 5A, Sectional 8; Boonville in 4A, Sectional 16; Hamilton Heights in 3A, Sectional 22 and; North Posey in 2A, Sectional 32 – will begin play on the road on October 26.

 

Forty sectional champions will be crowned on Friday, November 2. Regional games will be played Friday, November 9 and semi-states on Friday, November 16.

 

The 10 teams that earn a berth in the state finals will play on Thanksgiving weekend at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. The Class A and 2A state championship games are slated for Friday, November 23 with the 3A, 4A and 5A games the next day. In all, 311 games will be played around the state over the six-week tournament.

 

Two of the five top-ranked teams in the latest coaches polls are also defending state champions in their respective classes. In 1A, top-ranked Sheridan will begin its quest for a third straight state championship at Eastern (Greentown) in the first round of Sectional 36. The Blackhawks have won 29 straight contests, which is tied for the 15th longest streak in state history, and finish out the regular season this Friday at home against Class 3A No. 2 West Lafayette, also unbeaten at 8-0. And in Class 4A, No. 1 Indianapolis Cathedral hosts arch-rival Roncalli in Sectional 14.

 

Among other current No. 1 teams, 5A Center Grove opens up at Bloomington North in Sectional 7. In 3A, Heritage Hills hosts Salem in Sectional 23. And in 2A, Jimtown travels to Woodlan in Sectional 27.

 

Two schools – Crawford County and Eastern (Pekin) – are entered in the state tournament for the first time. Crawford County will host Corydon Central in Class 3A, Sectional 23 and Eastern (Pekin) will play at Providence in Class 2A, Sectional 31.

 

State Tournament Pairings

 

Sectional Brackets: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | A

 

Oct. 8 State Coaches Poll

 

Sectionals

Dates: Oct. 19, 26; Nov. 2, 2007.

Admission: $5.

Determining Home Team

First Round – The second-named team in the blind draw is host school unless the two teams agree to switch the site.

Semifinals – The team without a home game will host. Exception: The bye team will always be the visitor. If both teams were home or both were visitors, the second-named team in the quarter bracket will host.

Championship – The host team will be the team that has played the most away games. If both teams have played the same number of away games, the bottom bracket team shall host.

 

NOTABLES

 

Total Schools Entered: 316 (most since 1985, the first year for the blind draw when 317 schools entered).

 

New Schools Entered for First Time: Crawford County (3A, Sectional 23), Eastern (Pekin) (2A, Sectional 31). Forest Park will enter as a 2A team in 2008.

 

Most State Championships

8: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Roncalli, Sheridan.

7: Ben Davis.

6: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Indianapolis Cathedral, Warren Central.

 

All-Time Consecutive Tournament Victories

24: Warren Central, 2003-current.

23: Roncalli, 2002-05.

 

Longest Active Winning Streak

29: Sheridan 2005-current.

 

Active Consecutive Tournament Victory Streaks

24: Warren Central, 2003-current.

12: Sheridan, 2005-current.

6: Harding, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Indianapolis Cathedral (2006-current).

 

Defending Sectional Champions

5A: Ben Davis, Carmel, Columbus North, Crown Point, Evansville Reitz, Homestead, LaPorte, Warren Central.

4A: Columbus East, Concord, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Indianapolis Cathedral, Lowell, Muncie Central. Vincennes Lincoln, Whiteland.

3A: Batesville, Evansville Mater Dei, Frankfort, Griffith, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Mount Vernon (Fortville), New Prairie, Norwell.

2A: Brownstown Central, Harding, Jimtown, Madison-Grant, North Putnam, Rensselaer Central, Southridge, Speedway.

A: Adams Central, Eastern Hancock, Fountain Central, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Perry Central, Pioneer, Sheridan, South Newton.

 

Active Sectional Championship Streaks (three or more years)

7: Warren Central.

6: Batesville, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard.

4: Adams Central, Lowell, Speedway.

3: Sheridan.

 

Most Consecutive Sectional Championships

19 by Hobart, 1979-97.

 

Most Sectional Championships Last 10 Years

9: Ben Davis, Penn.

8: Adams Central, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard.

7: Eastbrook, Fort Wayne Snider, Heritage Hills, Jimtown, NorthWood, Warren Central.

6: Andrean, Batesville, Carmel, Evansville Mater Dei, Griffith, Perry Central, Roncalli, Speedway.

 

Top 10 All-Time Sectional Championships

20: Carmel.

19: Hobart.

17: Ben Davis, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Jimtown.

16: Adams Central, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Penn, Roncalli.

 

 

IHSAA 07-08/10