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West Lafayette’s Sage Hood bulled in from 3 yards out, with 52 seconds left, to provide the winning margin in a 47-42 victory over Evansville Memorial in the Class 3A state championship game.

The victory, in a thrilling, back-and-forth contest, wasn’t secured until Memorial quarterback Michael Lindauer’s final pass on fourth down at the WL 24-yard line fell incomplete.

The title gives the Red Devils (15-0) their third state title in program history, as they also won in 1993 and 2009—the latter coming with a win over Memorial. The loss keeps the Tigers from their second consecutive title and breaks their 22-game winning streak.

The Red Devils scored the first two touchdowns on passes of 81 and 92 yards from Kyle Adams in the first 2:49 of the game. The Tigers came back behind Lindauer to take a 26-21 lead at halftime.

West Lafayette, coached by Shane Fry, again scored the first two touchdowns of the second half—one on a 1-yard run by Hood and the second on an 88-yard pass from Adams—for a 34-26 lead.

Memorial, however, rallied and eventually took a 42-41 lead on a 3A game record 45-yard field goal by Matthew Clark with 4:10 left. The Red Devils then embarked on a 13-play, 66-yard drive that Hood finished with his third touchdown of the game. He gained 133 yards rushing on 33 carries.

Adams finished with 466 yards passing and four touchdowns, while Lindauer had 340 yards and five scores—three to Branson Combs.

Coach John Hurley’s Tigers (14-1) also finished as runners-up in 2008 and 2009.

West Lafayette’s Kyle Hazell Named Ress Mental Attitude Award Recipient
At the conclusion of the state championship game, the IHSAA Executive Committee named Kyle Hazell of West Lafayette Jr-Sr High School as the winner of the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A football.

Kyle is a two-year starter for the Red Devils and was chosen for the All-Hoosier Conference team. He is among the top ten for career receiving yards and top ten for receiving yards in a season in West Lafayette history. Aside from football, Hazell also excels in track and field. Kyle has been voted the track and field team captain for the upcoming 2019 season. He is the 2018 sectional champion in three events and 2018 Hoosier Conference champion in four events. Kyle qualified for the 2018 track and field state finals in two events, 110m high hurdles and 300m intermediate hurdles.

Kyle has also taken care of business in the classroom, as he has earned a 3.76 GPA thus far. He has also volunteered his time to the West Lafayette Dance Marathon, Boys Organization for Student Services, St. Ann’s Catholic Church and Shrine, West Lafayette’s Soapbox Derby, Habitat for Humanity, Food Finders, Westminster Village, and West Lafayette youth football camps.  

Kyle is the son of Darell Hazell and Annemarie Scaramuccia.  He is undecided on his college choice but plans to study marketing.

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 seventh commissioner from 2000-11.

The Indianapolis Colts presented a $1,000 scholarship to West Lafayette Jr-Sr High School in the name of Kyle Hazell. The Colts have been the presenting sponsor of the entire football state tournament since 2009 and are sponsoring the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award.

Class 3A State Championship Team Records
Most Points Combined: 89 by West Lafayette (47) & Evansville Memorial (42).
Most Passes Attempted (3A & Overall): 55 by Evansville Memorial.
Most Passes Completed: 28 by West Lafayette.
Most Yards Passing: 489 by West Lafayette.
Total Offensive Plays: 83 by Evansville Memorial.
Total Offensive Yards: 631 by West Lafayette.
Total Offensive Yards by Both Teams: 1,126 by West Lafayette (631) & Evansville Memorial (495).
Most First Downs: 24 by Evansville Memorial.

Class 3A State Championship Individual Records
Longest Field Goal: 45 yards by Matthew Clark, Evansville Memorial.
Most Passes Attempted (3A & Overall): 54 by Michael Lindauer, Evansville Memorial.
Most Passes Completed: 27 by Kyle Adams, West Lafayette.
Most Passing Yards: 466 by Kyle Adams, West Lafayette.
Most Receptions: 12 by RJ Erb, West Lafayette.
Most Receiving Yards: 188 by Branson Combs, Evansville Memorial.
Most Touchdowns Receptions: 3 by Branson Combs, Evansville Memorial.
Most Punts (Tie): 8 by Michael Lindauer, Evansville Memorial & 8 by Kyle Adams, West Lafayette.
Longest Touchdown Pass: 92 yards by Kyle Adams to Kyle Hazell, West Lafayette.
Longest Pass Completion: 92 yards by Kyle Adams to Kyle Hazell, West Lafayette
Longest Play from Scrimmage: 92-yard pass by Kyle Adams to Kyle Hazell, West Lafayette.