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East Central completes perfect season, repeats as 4A champ
INDIANAPOLIS – Perfection was the goal, and the top-ranked East Central Trojans were exactly that Saturday night during the Indiana High School Athletic Association Class 4A state finals.
Senior running back Josh Ringer, a Miami (Ohio) recruit, ran for 251 yards on 34 carries and three touchdowns, while the unbeaten Trojans converted on five of seven offensive possessions to beat unranked Northwood, 42-14, inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
The defending 4A state champion Trojans captured their fourth state title in program history and second consecutive. The Trojans finished 15-0 en route to the program’s first undefeated season since 1994. East Central went 12-3 to win the 4A crown in 2017 and had a 13-2 record last season.
“First time in our school history that we’re 15-0. We’ve been 14-0 before. All I can say is these seniors are special. To be able to go 15-0 and have a target on your back each and every week, it’s a testament to them. They continued to show up. They continued to compete and didn’t let the pressure get to them,” East Central head coach Jake Meiners said. “They just went out and tried to win a game each week, and that’s what they were able to do this year.”
The final game offered the closest margin of victory they’ve experienced against an Indiana opponent this season and second closest overall after defeating Cincinnati Moeller (Ohio), 38-28, on Sept. 1.
Class 4A State Championship
East Central 42, NorthWood 14
Box Score
After a tug-of-war first quarter, nothing was certain as both teams traded turnover on downs and East Central forced a NorthWood punt to keep the game scoreless.
East Central’s second drive of the game, which started on its own 16-yard line late in the first quarter, proved the Trojans’ launching point.
The Trojans marched down the field 84 yards on 16 plays to break the stalemate with a 4-yard sneak in the second quarter by quarterback Cole Burton. The drive burnt 6 minutes, 44 seconds off the clock and set in motion four consecutive scoring series for East Central.
“We played a very experienced and disciplined ball club that knows who they are. I think we kind of got a little bit tired emotionally, but we played really hard and physically,” NorthWood head coach Nate Andrews said. “A couple of breaks didn’t go our way, and we kind of let that get the best of us.”
The first of two breaks for the Panthers (12-3) came on their third possession and from one of their two stars.
Responding to East Central’s scoring drive, Panthers’ quarterback Owen Roeder connected with senior NiTareon Tuggle, a Georgia recruit, for a first-down, 65-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 7-all.
Tuggle finished with 160 yards on nine catches and two touchdowns. His second came in the fourth quarter after NorthWood trailed 42-7. Michigan commit JoZiah Edmond had 34 yards on six catches for the Panthers and nine total tackles.
The deadlock lasted for another 1:05 before the Trojans scored 35 unanswered points until the game’s final 35 seconds.
“I feel like we were really wearing them down with the run game, so we just went out and capitalized on it. Punched in the touchdown,” Ringer said.
Senior Ryan Brotherton broke the tie with a 30-yard rushing touchdown that capped a rapid 3-play, 56-yard drive, and then the defense fed the offense.
A fourth-down interception by Brayden Rouse set up East Central’s next scoring drive, which spanned 51 yards on six plays in 2:05, capped by a 12-yard touchdown run from Ringer.
The Trojans logged four interceptions against Roeder, who completed 22 of 32 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns. The Trojans converted on two of Roeder’s four interceptions, including a 33-yard pick-six by Moses Wheat in the fourth quarter.
“We knew they were going to try passing as much as they could to move the ball down the field,” Wheat said. “We did really well with that. I’m so proud of our defensive backs.”
East Central junior Carson Pieczonka had two interceptions and one pass breakup. Senior Conner Kuhn led the Trojans with 10 total tackles, which tied Rouse.
“We knew coming in it was going to be a team effort. We don’t have anyone athletically like Tuggle or Edmond, so defensively, it was going to take a team effort,” Meiners said. “I know they hit us twice over the top, and we knew we weren’t going to be able to stop them, but overall, our defensive effort to be able to limit those guys’ production is what led us to a victory today.”
The combo of Brotherton and Ringer helped pave the way behind an impressive offensive line consisting of senior Noah Schneider, freshman Noah Brown, senior RJ Seig, junior Wyatt Smith, and sophomore Gavin Osterman.
Brotherton, a Western Michigan recruit, rushed for 77 yards on eight carries, while Burton completed 2 of 3 passes for seven yards.
Ringer’s 7.4 yards per carry average made it easy for the Trojans to stay grounded.
East Central opened the second half with a 12-play drive that covered 64 yards and used 6:02 of game clock. Ringer’s 4-yard touchdown run put the game out of reach. NorthWood turned the ball over on downs twice and had four turnovers the rest of the second half.
“What an incredible job by this group, continuing to show up each and every day, continuing to work, continuing to fight. There was a ton of pressure on them this year, and to be able to go unblemished at 15-0 that’s a testament to these guys and their hard work,” Meiners said.
Ringer’s final touchdown marked his longest run of the game, covering 25 yards to end a 54-yard drive in the fourth. Ringer ends his senior season with 2,880 yards rushing and 60 touchdowns (five receiving). In his career, he’s amassed 6,640 yards rushing and 118 total touchdowns.
“He always turns heads every time he steps on the football field. Miami of Ohio is getting a great football player, and he just shows up all the time. He’s one of those guys that gets a lot of accolades and gets a lot of limelight, but he doesn’t need it,” Meiners said. “He just loves to show up to work. He loves playing football, and he loves playing football with this team.”
Game Records
Team
3 passing attempts by East Central vs. NorthWood, ties Roncalli vs. East Noble in 2003 for the fewest passing attempts in 4A
7 passing yards allowed by NorthWood vs. East Central, sets a new record (previous: 10 passing yards allowed by East Noble vs. Roncalli in 2003)
4 interceptions by East Central vs. NorthWood, ties two teams
Individual
9 receptions by NiTareon Tuggle of NorthWood vs. East Central, sets a new record (previous: 8 receptions by two receivers)
2 interceptions by Carson Pieczonka of East Central vs. NorthWood, ties several players.
East Central’s Dylan Maxwell earns Eskew Mental Attitude Award
During the awards ceremony, Dylan Maxwell of East Central High School was announced by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A 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.
Maxwell is a three-year varsity starter with the Trojan football team which won its second straight 4A championship today. Also, a three-year starter for the school’s basketball team, he’s been a two-year captain, received the team’s Most Valuable Player Award, and led last year’s team in rebounds and assists. He also plans to go out for track and field this spring.
Maintaining a 4.2 GPA, he ranks near the top of his senior class, is a member of National Honor Society, was the recipient of his school’s character award and was nominated for the Colts Academic All-Star team.
He is the son of Randy and Robin Maxwell of Guilford, IN. He is currently undecided on where he plans to attend college but is interested in studying Economics or another area of Business.
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 East Central High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Dylan Maxwell.
