MEDIA
INFORMATION
October 7, 2008
Contact: Jason Wille, Sports Information Director
E–Mail: jwille@ihsaa.org
STATE FOOTBALL TOURNEY PAIRINGS RELEASED
The pairings for the 36th Annual IHSAA Football State
Tournament Series were drawn this evening by Commissioner Blake Ress in
downtown Indianapolis.
Three hundred seventeen schools (317) have entered
this year’s tournament. That’s one more than last year and it also
ties the record number for a five-class tournament set in 1985, the current
format’s first year. Most teams will begin sectional play on Friday,
October 24. Three sectionals have only seven teams thus allowing one team in
each to receive a bye into the second round. Those three schools – New
Albany in 5A, Sectional 8; Evansville Harrison in 4A, Sectional 16 and;
two-time defending 3A champion Indianapolis Bishop Chatard in Sectional 22
– will begin play on the road on October 31.
Forty sectional champions will be crowned on Friday,
November 7. Regional games will be played Friday, November 14 and semi-states
on Friday, November 21.
The 10 teams that earn a berth in the state finals
will play on Thanksgiving weekend in Indianapolis where Lucas Oil Stadium will
serve as the site for the championship games for the first time. The RCA Dome
had hosted the state title games since 1984. The Class A and 2A championship
games are slated for Friday, November 28, with the 3A, 4A and 5A games the next
day. In all, 312 games will be played around the state over the six-week
tournament.
Three of the five top-ranked teams in this
week’s state coaches polls are also defending state champions in their
respective classes. In 1A, top-ranked Sheridan will begin its quest for a
fourth straight state championship by hosting Tri-Central in the first round of
Sectional 36. The Blackhawks have won 43 straight contests, which ranks No. 2
all-time in state history only to Bloomington which won 60 straight from
1967-73. In Class 3A, No. 1 Bishop Chatard will begin its attempt for a third
straight championship in the second week playing at the Greensburg-Batesville
winner. And in 5A, top-ranked Carmel will host Noblesville in Sectional 4
kicking off its journey for a second straight state title.
Among other current No. 1 teams, 2A Heritage
Christian, last year’s state runner-up, opens up at home against Union
County in Sectional 29. And in 4A, top-ranked Columbus East will host Seymour
in Sectional 15.
The only new school in this year’s tournament,
Forest Park, is entered in Class 2A, Sectional 32 where the Rangers will play
host to South Spencer.
NOTABLES
State Championship Games: The five state championship
games will be hosted in Lucas Oil Stadium on Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 28-29).
Previously, the RCA Dome had hosted the two-day event every year since 1984.
Total Schools Entered: 317 (ties the record mark
set in 1985, the first year for the blind draw when 317 schools also entered).
312 games will be played over the six-week tournament.
New Schools Entered for First Time: Forest Park (Class 2A,
Sectional 32).
Most State Championships
9: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Sheridan.
8: Roncalli.
7: Ben Davis, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.
6: Carmel, Indianapolis Cathedral, Warren Central.
5: Penn.
Longest Active Winning Streak
43: Sheridan 2005-current (ranks No. 2 all-time to
Bloomington’s 60 straight from 1967-73).
All-Time Consecutive Tournament Victories
26: Warren Central, 2003-07.
23: Roncalli, 2002-05.
22: Penn, 1995-98; Indianapolis Bishop Chatard,
2001-04.
18: Sheridan, 2005-current.
Active Consecutive Tournament Victory Streaks
18: Sheridan, 2005-current.
12: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, 2006-current.
6: Carmel, Evansville Reitz, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers
(2007-current).
Defending Sectional Champions
5A: Carmel, Columbus North, Fort Wayne Snider, Hamilton
Southeastern, Jeffersonville, Merrillville, Penn, Pike.
4A: Columbus East, Evansville Reitz, Fort Wayne
Bishop Dwenger, Griffith, Indianapolis Cathedral, Jay County, Lowell,
Westfield.
3A: Andrean, Danville, Fort Wayne Concordia
Lutheran, Heritage Hills, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Mount Vernon, South Bend
St. Joseph’s, Western.
2A: Cass, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Heritage
Christian, North Putnam, Northwestern, Providence, Southridge, Wheeler.
A: Churubusco, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter,
Linton-Stockton, Rockville, Sheridan, Tri, Tri-County, Triton.
Active Sectional Championship Streaks (three or more years)
7: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard.
5: Lowell.
4: Sheridan.
3: Evansville Reitz, Griffith.
Most Consecutive Sectional Championships
19
by Hobart, 1979-97.
Most Sectional Championships Last 10 Years
9: Penn.
8: Ben Davis, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard,
7: Adams Central, Carmel, Fort Wayne Snider,
Heritage Hills, Warren Central.
6: Andrean, Batesville, Eastbrook, Evansville Reitz,
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Griffith, Jimtown, Lowell, NorthWood, Perry Central,
Roncalli, Speedway
Top 10 All-Time Sectional Championships
21: Carmel.
19: Hobart.
18: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard.
17: Ben Davis, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Bishop
Luers, Jimtown, Penn.
16: Adams Central, Roncalli,
Sheridan.
IHSAA
08-09/9