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Monrovia had a game plan that worked almost to perfection in its first 14 games of the season. Sticking with that plan brought the school its first state championship of any sport.

The No. 3 Bulldogs used a punishing running game and a staunch defense to pull away from No. 5 Whiting 33-6. Monrovia (14-1) ran for 373 yards – approaching its season average of 428.2 – and shut down Whiting’s high-octane offense.

The Oilers (13-2) came into the finals averaging 37.9 points and 407.7 yards per game but managed just 236 yards against the Bulldogs. On five second-half possessions, when Monrovia broke the game open, Whiting gained just 83 yards and turned the ball over three times.

Dalton Smith got the Bulldogs started quickly, taking a handoff on the second offensive play of the game and racing 76 yards for a touchdown. Smith finished with a game-high 167 rushing yards.

Whiting countered with its own 52-yard scoring drive, capped by Thomas Davenport’s 1-yard dive, but the Oilers missed the extra-point try. Monrovia answered, driving 64 yards on 11 plays – all on the ground – and finishing with Jaden Rhea’s 8-yard scamper into the end zone.

With just 1:39 left in the first half, Whiting quarterback Stuart Glasgow drove the Oilers down the field, completing five of six passes for 67 yards. But on fourth down at the Monrovia 24, Glasgow’s pass fell incomplete to end the threat.

On the first offensive play of the third quarter, Monrovia’s Jeremiah Welty forced and then recovered a fumble at the Whiting 41. Eight plays later, Smith dashed into the end zone from 2 yards out to push the lead to 21-6.

Rhea, who rushed for 122 yards, added an 18-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter after the Bulldogs stopped Whiting on downs. Monrovia quarterback John Williams closed out the scoring with a 3-yard run following teammate Clay Starnes’ 51-yard interception return midway through the fourth.

Glasgow threw for 137 yards and ran for 63 for Whiting.

Monrovia finished with 0 passing yards (0-2 attempts) in the game, the eighth time that has happened in a state championship.

Class 2A State Championship Records
Fewest Pass Completions
0 by Monrovia (Tied)
Fewest Passing Yards Allowed
0 by Whiting (Tied)

Monrovia’s John Williams named Ress Mental Attitude Award winner
At the conclusion of the state championship game, the IHSAA Executive Committee named John Williams of Monrovia High School as the winner of the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award in Class 2A Football.

Williams is a two-sport athlete also participating in basketball.  He is a team captain for the Bulldogs and has led a complicated offensive scheme flawlessly over the past two seasons for Monrovia.  He is on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee as well as a member of the National Honor Society at his school.

John is the son of Tony and Susan Williams of Martinsville, IN.  He is undecided on his college choice.

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 who served the organization from 2000-11.

The Indianapolis Colts presented a $1,000 scholarship to Monrovia High School in the name of John Williams. The Colts have been the presenting sponsor of the entire football state tournament since 2009 and are sponsoring the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award.