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Indianapolis Lutheran three-peats in Class 1A Football
INDIANAPOLIS - Jackson Willis knows what heartbreak looks like at the football state finals.
He witnessed it firsthand when the Class A Lutheran Saints fell short against Lafayette Central Catholic, 29-28, inside Lucas Oil Stadium during the program’s first-ever Indiana High School Athletic Association football state finals appearance in 2019.
On Saturday afternoon, Willis made certain there would be no repeat of that chapter in program history.
Instead, the junior quarterback cemented top-ranked Indianapolis Lutheran’s three-peat championship bid behind a prolific four-touchdown performance, which tied an IHSAA Class A state finals record.
Not only did Willis’ feat highlight the Saints’ third-straight Class A state championship in four appearances overall, but it sparked a third consecutive comeback against No. 2 Adams Central in the state title game.
Marking the first time in IHSAA state finals history that two teams have met for the state championship in three consecutive years, Indianapolis Lutheran (13-0) made it a clean sweep against Adams Central, 35-28, while posting its 43rd straight victory – the fourth longest winning streak in state history.
“It’s amazing to win again. From going from our first state final five years ago that sadly we lost by one point, and me sitting on the sidelines over there seeing that when I was in seventh grade to this; it’s such a great feeling that we could come back and keep our legacy going every year,” Willis said.
Class 1A State Championship
Indianapolis Lutheran 35, Adams Central 28
Box Score
Much like in 2021 and 2022, the Saints trailed against the Flying Jets (14-1) before rallying back.
Three years ago, the Saints overcame a 14-0 deficit in the state championship finals prior to winning 34-28. Last year, Adams Central led 7-3 before the Saints marched on to win 30-13.
This time, Adams Central grabbed a 7-0 lead after scoring on their initial drive. A 1-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Jack Hamilton capped the game’s opening 13-play drive that spanned 85 yards.
However, it would be the last advantage the Flying Jets would hold for the remainder of the game, as Willis and the Saints responded with three touchdowns in 3 minutes, 26 seconds of possession.
“It fires us up. We needed to show what our offense could do, and I think we did that today,” Willis said. “It was firing on all cylinders.”
The Saints’ defense clamped down simultaneously, limiting the Flying Jets to 6 and 4 yards and consecutive three-and-outs during their ensuing possessions. Adams Central converted two of five possessions in the first half. The Saints opened a perfect 4-for-4 to build a 28-14 lead by halftime.
“We were down? Oh, really? I don’t even remember being down because we’re not that type of team that stresses,” Saints junior wide receiver L.J. Ward said. “It’s because we believe in our coaches, and our offense. Jackson Willis, to me, regardless of class or anything, when he gets it going, he’s the best in the state.”
Willis converted three of his four touchdown passes on third down, beginning with a 67-yard strike to junior DeVuan Jones on third-and-3 to tie the game on Lutheran’s first three-play drive.
A 15-yard touchdown pass to Ward capped the Saints’ ensuing 4-play drive that covered 36 yards to put Indianapolis Lutheran ahead 14-7 late in the first quarter.
“It was an entertaining discussion on the sideline because I don’t know for a fact, but I’m not so sure that we’ve been behind all three years at some point early in a game,” Indianapolis Lutheran head coach Dave Pasch said. “Jackson Willis is a pretty good football player.”
Last year, Willis passed for 4,186 yards on 217 completions and 55 touchdowns, as the Saints claimed the Class A state title with a perfect 15-0 record.
This year, Willis finished with 31 touchdowns and 2,540 yards after completing 13 of 18 passes for 226 yards in the state finals.
“Has Jackson lost it? Well, I think a lot of that has to do with the opponents, and that they’ve been dropping into soft coverage all year, giving us the numbers where we’ve had to run the football,” Pasch said. “The offensive line has taken that to heart, and we’ve pounded it on people.
Today, they came out and wanted to play a heavy box and make us throw, and you saw the result.”
Senior running back Braydon Hall kept the Flying Jets’ defense honest, rushing for 145 yards on 30 carries and a 1-yard touchdown that put the Saints in control 21-7 early in the second quarter.
“It really doesn’t bother us. If people score, they score, but we know we’re going to win. Our confidence keeps going up,” Jones said. “Jackson is really confident. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the state, and we have a lot of chemistry, so he doesn’t ever really get worried.”
Willis and Ward connected once more before halftime with a 24-yard touchdown. Willis found Jones for a second time in the third quarter to open the half with a 20-yard score.
Both touchdowns were on back-to-back possessions and increased the Saints’ lead by two and three possessions. Jones finished with 87 yards on two receptions and two touchdowns. Ward added 39 yards on two catches and two scores to go with three tackles and a fourth-quarter interception.
“That was the big thing defensively, we struggled to get them stopped. I was very pleased with the offensive side of the ball. We knew we were going to have to pass in order to move the ball a little bit, but I was just disappointed we couldn’t get them stopped,” Adams Central head coach Michael Mosser said. “They’re just a very good football team. They have a lot of weapons offensively.”
The Flying Jets cut the deficit down to a touchdown twice in the game with senior quarterback Jack Hamilton completing 16 of 24 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns.
Hamilton’s first touchdown pass went to senior Trevor Currie for 13 yards in the second quarter, which narrowed the margin 21-14.
His second was hauled in by Currie for 8 yards late in the third quarter to bring the Flying Jets closer, 35-21. Ryan Tester caught Hamilton’s final touchdown pass for 30 yards with 1:24 left in the game.
Currie had six catches for 126 yards. Tester totaled 81 yards on five receptions.
The Flying Jets attempted an onside kick in the game’s final 1:30, but the Saints recovered and ran out the clock.
“I’m very proud of how our kids came out and fought and didn’t quit. That speaks volumes of our community and the culture that we have that we just fought,” Mosser said. “They’re a good football team, and I feel we’re a good football team. To battle them to this point, I feel good about that. Disappointed with the outcome, but I’m proud of how hard our kids played against such a good program.
“It’s hard to come down here and lose three years in a row, but I’m proud of the fact that we’re here.”
The Saints became the first Class A team to win three straight state titles since Lafayette Central Catholic won its third of four in a row in 2011. Indianapolis Lutheran also joins Lafayette Central Catholic with three straight undefeated Class A state championship seasons.
“We’re going to celebrate it. We’re going to enjoy it, and now we get to reflect. We talked about not looking back, but now we get to look back on the accomplishment and what an awesome thing,” Pasch said. “I know this one’s special. Someday maybe when I retire, I’ll look back and really appreciate three, but right now, I appreciate what this group has done because it’s theirs.”
Game Records
Team
4 passing touchdowns by Indianapolis Lutheran vs. Adam Central (tied 3 others).
Individual
4 passing touchdowns by Jackson Willis, Indianapolis Lutheran vs. Adam Central (tied 3 others).
Lutheran’s Jeremiah King earns Mental Attitude Award
During the awards ceremony, Jeremiah King of Lutheran High School was announced by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award in Class 1A 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.
King is a varsity two-way player and one of the team’s leading receivers. King is also heavily involved with his church and is a Student Ambassador for his school.
King excels in the classroom ranking second in his senior class as well as a member of National Honor Society.
He is the son of Tom and Tami of Fairland, IN. He is undecided on his college of choice at this time but is interested in studying engineering.
The award is named in honor of Commissioner Emeritus Blake Ress, who served as the IHSAA’s seventh commissioner from 2000-11.
The Indianapolis Colts, the presenting sponsor of the state tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Lutheran High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Jeremiah King.
