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In just the second state championship game decided in double overtime, quarterback Derek Hart snuck up the middle for the winning score as No. 3 Warren Central claimed a 42-36 victory over top-ranked Carmel in the 5A state championship game.

It was the seventh state championship for Warren Central (13-2) which has never lost a state title game. It was the school’s first under head coach John Hart who became just the third coach to win state titles at two different schools having led Evansville Reitz to the 2007 4A crown.

The loss marked the second straight year that Carmel (13-2) had given up a fourth quarter lead in the final game. Center Grove topped the Greyhounds 36-33 in 2008.

In double overtime, Carmel went on offense first and threw four straight incomplete passes giving Warren Central a chance to win the game.

Shakir Bell carried three straight plays for Warren Central before quarterback Derek Hart snuck the ball across the goal line from inside the one for the winning score.

Warren Central trailed 28-20 in the fourth quarter before the Warriors marched 81 yards in 16 plays capped by Maurice Magee’s five yard catch from Hart on fourth down with :01 second remaining. Ja’Juan Keyes’ caught the two-point conversion from Hart to tie the game at 28-28. On the touchdown, Magee caught the ball in the air with a defender on him and landed just outside the right edge of the endzone. The official ruled he was forced out of bounds and would have come down in bounds.

The Warriors took the ball first in the first overtime. Bell then rushed two straight plays to the Carmel one yard line before Hart punched the ball over the goal line. Bell then carried on the two-point conversion to give Warren a 36-28 advantage. Carmel answered on its possession when Shaffer completed a 10 yard pass to Nick Logan on third and goal. On the Greyhounds’ two-point play, Warren Central was penalized for 12 men on the field moving the ball to the one and Shaffer found Dylan Mallory all alone on the left side to send the game to double overtime.

For the game, Bell carried 40 times for 236 yards and two touchdowns, including a 74 yard score in the second quarter. Hart finished 15 for 36 for 185 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Shaffer ended 17 of 31 for 248 yards and five touchdowns, which tied a state finals record. Nick Logan caught seven passes for 159 yards and three scores.

The weekend’s attendance saw 14,512 file in for the Friday session and 31,650 more for Saturday for a total of 46,162. It was the third largest crowd in state finals history. The top three crowds have each occurred over the last three years with the 2008 finals drawing a record 56,050.

Carmel’s Adam Shaffer Named Eskew Mental Attitude Award Recipient
Adam Shaffer of Carmel High School was named winner of the 2009 Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award for Class 5A Football by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.

The award is presented annually to a senior in each classification who best demonstrates excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. The award is named in honor of the third commissioner of the IHSAA who guided the Association from 1962 to 1976.

Shaffer is a member of the Student Athletic Board, National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. He is a volunteer with the Carmel Dad’s Club, serving as a referee and demonstrator for young athletes during clinics. Shaffer also assists with Carmel High School’s Community Open House as well as Mohawk Trails Elementary School’s annual fundraiser.

As the starting quarterback, Shaffer is three-time varsity letter winner and a 2009 team captain. He is a three-time Scholar Athlete Award winner, two-time member of the Academic All-Conference team (2007, 2008), and a 2009 All-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference selection.

He ranks in the top 10% of his class and carries a 3.8 GPA. Shaffer is undecided on his college and major of choice, but is considering Penn, Columbia, Harvard, and Indiana University.

He is the son of Mark and Gerri Shaffer.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a scholarship check for $1,000 to Carmel High School in the name of Adam Shaffer. Since 1989, more than $575,000 in college scholarships has been presented by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance to deserving high school students in Indiana.

Warren Central Coach John Hart
“I’m so proud of those guys, they worked so hard. They’ve done all the right things since February 3rd. I’m proud of all Warren Central High School.”

(On which championship is more meaningful) “It was easier for our kids. I think that coach Moriarity is a great coach and great football team.”

(On Shakir Bell) “He’s a great football player in the state of Indiana. I can tell you though, the whole ball club won this game. It was a total team effort. We’ve been preaching that all year long.”

(On Derek Hart) “Tonight I thought he was the best player on the football field because he made the big plays and that’s what you have to do. I’ll never forget what Morgan Newton of Carmel said last year, “My jobs to win football games and we didn’t get it done”. I thought Derek played really well. I’m proud of our kids especially the fact since they fought against so much adversity.”

“I take my hat off to Nick Hart; I think he’s the best offensive coordinator in the state. (On the 2pt conversion) “He believed in what we were doing and we went for the two point conversion because we got them to jump.”

“They’re the best football team that we could have played as far as I’m concerned, in the country.”

(Call in the End zone) “You know we were unfortunate in a lot of other calls and that thing really equals out. That is why we tell our kids to prepare for every play.”

Carmel Coach Mo Moriarity
“Last year was a tough loss. This year feels like when you get something stolen. I think it’s tough on these kids. These things happen in sports. I feel bad for our kids to play that hard to have it taken from them. You cannot make that call in that situation (referring to Warren Central Maurice McGee’s overtime touchdown reception). I’ve got a gutty bunch of kids. We played hard the whole ball game and should have won. And really we were over matched. Our kids played tough all the time.”

(Speaking to his team) “Things like this happen in life and we’re going to walk out of here like men.”