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Big second half propels Ben Davis to 10th state crown
INDIANAPOLIS - Ben Davis coach Russ Mann had a specific idea for his team entering the Class 6A state championship game against Crown Point: He wanted the Giants to start fast and put the undefeated Bulldogs on their heels from the start.
Well, it didn’t work out that way. It took Mann’s team until the second half to break open a one-score game at halftime, but the Giants finally took control in the third quarter and rolled to a 38-10 victory.
“We didn’t get off to the start we wanted,” said Mann, referring to having only a 10-3 lead at halftime. “But, if you were in (the locker room) at halftime, you would have thought we were up 14 or 21 points. We were composed and didn’t show any panic.”
It helped the Giants roll to touchdowns on their first four drives of the second half and the outcome wasn’t in doubt from there.
The title is the 10th in school history for Ben Davis and the first since 2017. Ben Davis thus breaks from a four-way tie with Carmel, Sheridan and Warren Central who each have nine. Only three schools in the state now have more state championships than the Giants.
Since that title in 2017, the program has recorded a pedestrian 31-28 record, but in Mann’s first season at the helm, the Giants finish 13-1 with the only loss coming to IMG Academy of Florida. Also, Mann becomes the sixth first-time head coach in state history to win a title in his first season.
Class 6A State Championship
Ben Davis 38, Crown Point 10
Box Score
“We knew what we had from the start of the season,” Mann said. “We had a special group that would be good in all phases. After going through the 6A south (tournament bracket), we were definitely ready and battle-tested.”
Ben Davis did score on its opening possession, marching 75 yards in six plays -- capping it with a 32-yard pass from Thomas Gotkowski to Zane Skibinski and it appeared the Giants would fulfil their coach’s game plan.
But, the Giants were stopped on their next two drives before safety Elijah Hurns picked the first of four interceptions CP quarterback Noah Ehrlich threw in the contest, setting Ben Davis up at the Bulldogs’ 26-yard-line.
That opportunity ended with a Ben Rudolph 27-yard field goal to give BD a 10-0 lead.
Crown Point (13-1) then came alive by driving 77 yards after the kickoff to the Ben Davis 2, setting up a short field goal by Oliver Brewer with just :02 left in the half.
“We were pretty pleased to go into halftime down, 10-3,” Crown Point coach Craig Buzea said. “We were doing some nice things and had a plan coming out of the half to pin them back.”
That worked, at least briefly, as a deep kickoff and a Giants penalty left them with a first down at their own 13. Yet, it only took six plays and barely two minutes for the Giants to extend the lead with Alijah Price going in from 49 yards out.
Four minutes later, Price scored on a 2-yard run. Receiver Mark Zachary then caught a 19-yard pass thrown by receiver Jei-vyair Horton on a gadget play just before the end of the third to give the Giants a 31-3 lead. Price, a junior, finished with 141 yards rushing on only 13 carries.
Ben Davis closed the scoring on its next drive with Skibinski catching his second TD pass from Gotkowski, this one a 14-yarder. Gotkowski threw for 156 yards, completing 15 of 23 throws.
For good measure, Crown Point scored its only touchdown with 2:45 left on a 1-yard run by Ehrlich.
“We knew coming in we were overmatched against Ben Davis,” Buzea said. We play nobody like them, not even remotely close to them. We put together a game plan that we felt could keep us in the game and, hey, we’re only down 10-3 at halftime. Maybe if we get a stop or two to start the second half, who knows.”
Ehrlich finished with 217 yards passing, while Larry Ellison led the Bulldogs with 89 yards rushing on 21 carries.
Game Records
Team
25 rushing attempts by Ben Davis vs. Crown Point, setting a new record for fewest attempts bettering Westfield’s 27 vs. Center Grove in 2020.
4 interceptions by Ben Davis vs. Crown Point, setting a new record (previous: 2 interceptions by 4 others).
Crown Point’s Jeffrey Meschede named Eskew Mental Attitude Award recipient
During the awards ceremony, Jeffrey Meschede of Crown Point High School was announced by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 6A Football.
The award is annually presented to a senior who is nominated by his principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability during his four years of high school.
A four-year member of the Bulldogs football team, Meschede plays on the offensive line and was selected a team captain this season. He’ll participate in his fourth year of track and field next spring and has been a member of Crown Point wrestling team which has won the last two state championships.
Meschede maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA and is also a member of the school orchestra, playing the upright bass and performing multiple concerts throughout the year.
He is the son of Jason and Vanessa Meschede of Crown Point, IN. He is currently undecided on where he plans to attend college but is interested in studying Computer Engineering.
The award is named in honor of Commissioner Phil N. Eskew, who served as the IHSAA’s third commissioner from 1962-76. Under his leadership, the IHSAA football state tournament was initiated in 1973.
The Indianapolis Colts, the presenting sponsor of the state tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Crown Point High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Jeffrey Meschede.
