Brunt and Dragash: IHSAA state football finals picks
By CLIFF BRUNT
and CRAIG DRAGASH
ISL Staff
ISL’s Cliff Brunt and Craig Dragash come to you one final time this season with picks for the IHSAA state football finals. Six championship games will be played — three on Friday, three on Saturday — at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis.
6A: Carmel (10-3) vs. Warren Central (10-3), 7:05 p.m., Saturday
Brunt: Warren Central already has avenged losses to Pike and Center Grove. Is Carmel next?
Warren Central quarterback Jeff George is trying to win a title, just like his father and former Colts quarterback did at the school in 1984 and 1985. Warren’s coach, Jayson West, led Lawrence Central to the 5A title last year, and with a win, would become the first coach to win two straight titles at two different schools. Of course, Carmel coach Kevin Wright won three titles as Warren Central’s coach in 2003, 2004 and 2005. No shortage of storylines here.
All through the postseason, I’ve been waiting for Warren Central’s tendency to self-destruct to happen, and game after game, the Warriors have avoided mistakes. The difference here might be emotion. Carmel running back Shakir Paschall’s father, Eric, passed away the night of the Greyhounds’ semistate victory over Penn. With all other things being equal, that emotional rallying point could carry the Greyhounds.
Dragash: Many wouldn’t have expected these two to reach the state finals early on, but both teams have gotten progressively better as the year has gone on. The death of Carmel running back Shakir Paschall’s father, Eric, is an intangible factor that can’t go unnoticed here. Look for him to have a big game to honor his father. Warren’s defense has proven to be one of the best, however, and its offense is doing enough to get the job done.
Brunt: Carmel 28, Warren Central 21
Dragash: Carmel 21, Warren Central 20
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5A: Westfield (12-1) vs. Cathedral (9-5), 7:05 p.m., Friday
Brunt: Cathedral has faced a slightly tougher schedule; Westfield has put up crazy numbers.
Cathedral has never cared about its regular-season record; the point has always been to be prepared to play this game. The Irish are going for their fourth consecutive title. Westfield hasn’t played in the state finals since 1992. Cathedral receiver Terry McLaurin has a chance to make a push for Mr. Football in this game. Cathedral has been too much for most of its postseason opponents, so McLaurin has given way to running back Caleb Cross as the team’s most influential offensive player. That likely won’t be the case here — we’ll get a chance to see McLaurin, the Ohio State commitment, shine. Westfield’s defense hasn’t faced as versatile and battle tested a team as Cathedral this season. And they haven’t faced anything like McLaurin. Or tight end Zach Saum, a Ball State commitment.
Dragash: This one is tough because Westfield has defeated quality opponents in Hamilton Southeastern and Fort Wayne Snider and took Fishers to three overtimes before losing 48-45. Cathedral has done its usual routine of playing a brutal schedule, taking their lumps, and being ready for the tournament run. Does Westfield have enough magic left to knock off the perennial powerhouse? Not as long as Terry McLaurin is on the field.
Brunt: Cathedral 38, Westfield 28
Dragash: Cathedral 28, Westfield 24
Actual score: Cathedral 42, Westfield 18
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4A: Fort Wayne Dwenger (11-3) vs. Columbus East (14-0), 3:30 p.m., Saturday
Brunt: Markell Jones, just a junior, has rushed for 2,454 yards and 40 touchdowns this season. East’s closest game so far was a 28-point win. Brunt has said Arsenal Tech’s James Gilbert is the most talented running back he’s seen all year. Jones seems capable of changing his mind. East quarterback Alex Cowan has passed for 1,222 yards and rushed for 1,027. The combination should be too much for Dwenger.
Dragash: I got to see Columbus East dismantle New Palestine last week, and the Olympians appear to be a well-oiled machine led by Markell Jones, who ran for 318 yards and four touchdowns against the Dragons in their semistate matchup. Dwenger has outscored their opponents 222-33 in its tournament games to date, but I think this is the year head coach Bob Gaddis gets carried off the field as state champ.
Brunt: Columbus East 35, Dwenger 20
Dragash: Columbus East 42, FW Dwenger 31
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3A: Andrean (14-0) vs. Indianapolis Brebeuf (11-3), 3:30 p.m., Friday
Brunt: Andrean quarterback Matt DeSomer has passed for 2,374 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for 1,545 yards and 18 scores. Andrean’s 52-7 win over a very good West Lafayette squad in semistate play is too impressive to ignore. Brebeuf features the explosive LeVante’ Bellamy. The junior has rushed for 2,273 yards and 35 touchdowns. A strong performance could put him near the head of the 2014 Mr. Football conversation.
Dragash: Brebeuf appears to be a team on a mission, and LeVante’ Bellamy is a home run threat every time he touches the ball. Andrean’s signature win was against Merrillville in Week 2, but the Fighting 59ers likely haven’t faced a back like Bellamy.
Brunt: Andrean 35, Brebeuf 27
Dragash: Brebeuf 31, Andrean 28
Actual score: Andrean 35, Brebeuf 27
Editor’s note: This was absolutely insane. I looked up at the scoreboard the last time Brebeuf had the ball and shook my head.
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2A: Tipton (11-3) vs. Indianapolis Ritter (12-2), noon, Saturday
Brunt: Ritter’s Jake Purichia has produced one of the great careers in Indiana history. He is Indiana’s all-time leader in touchdown passes. This season, he has passed for 3,442 yards and 44 touchdowns. Last week, he threw four touchdown passes in the second quarter of a 49-16 win over Paoli. He has two things missing in his career: A state title and the Mr. Football award. He stands a pretty good shot of winning both. Tipton’s 27-0 win over Rensselaer Central in semistate play was extremely impressive.
Dragash: A pick ‘em game if you go by the Sagarin ratings. Ritter is one of those Indianapolis area schools that has played a tougher schedule to get here. Add the fact that great players rise up in big games, and Jake Purichia is a Mr. Football candidate who should be the deciding factor in this one.
Brunt: Ritter 28, Tipton 21
Dragash: Ritter 35, Tipton 31
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A: Tri-Central (13-1) vs. Eastern Hancock (14-0), noon, Friday
Brunt: With all due respect to Tri-Central, Eastern Hancock is just on a tear. Spencer Gilbert has rushed for 2,769 yards and 38 touchdowns. Eastern scored at least 60 points in seven consecutive games during one stretch. It probably won’t happen again, but the Royals should score more than enough to win.
Dragash: It’s Spencer Gilbert and Eastern Hancock’s high-powered offense versus the stingy defense of Tri-Central. Gilbert proves to be too much to handle.
Brunt: Eastern Hancock 42, Tri-Central 21
Dragash: Eastern Hancock 35, Tri-Central 24
Actual score: Tri-Central 20, Eastern Hancock 10
