INDIANAPOLIS – In the early part of this century, Bishop Luers and Evansville Mater Dei hooked up in two of the more memorable Class 2A state championship games in state history. A decade later, the two schools will be back at state to challenge each.
The Wildcats beat the Knights 56-10 in 2000 in an offensive display rarely seen on a state championship stage, and then Luers turned around and gained some revenge in a 57-29 win in 2001.
But Luers coach Matt Lindsay insists Friday’s matchup is not a rubber match.
“This is totally different, it’s been 10 years,” Lindsay said at Monday’s state finals news conference at Lucas Oil Stadium. “It’s fun to get another chance to play them. We played in one of the most exciting 2A games ever played, I think. The year before that should have been the same way, but they kind of got on a roll and blew us off the field.”
In 2000, Wildcats quarterback Jake Schiff was 16 of 23 passing for 218 yards and three touchdowns, including 15 of 17 for 206 yards in the first half as the Wildcats led 42-3 at intermission.
The 2000 state finals loss was the only one for the Knights in the four-year period from 1999-2002, which included three of Luers’ nine state championships.
In 2001, the Knights got the revenge behind quarterback Kyle Lindsay (now the team’s offensive coordinator) and running back/defensive tackle Anthony Spencer (now with the Dallas Cowboys). Schiff did set a 2A state record with 439 yards passing, but he threw three interceptions.
Since then, Luers has won state championships in 2007, 2009 and 2010. Mater Dei hasn’t been back to the big game.
“We liked the first one, but not so much the second one,” Mater Dei coach Mike Goebel said of those games. “This is just big for us to get back here 10 years later.”
There’s a lot on the line for Luers as far as the record books are concerned.
Luers’ nine state titles are second-most in state history, and a win means the Knights would tie Indianapolis Chatard with 10. Chatard plays for its 11th title Saturday in the Class 3A game.
Also, Lindsay’s eight state championships as a head coach gives him the second most in the state behind Sheridan coach Larry Wright’s nine.
Lindsay was an assistant coach on Luers’ first state championship in 1985. Luers won state titles in 1989, 1992, 1999, 2001-02, 2007 and 2009-10 with Lindsay at the helm.
Also, a third straight state championship would be a first for the school. Luers won’t be the only team going for three straight on Friday, with Lafayette Central Catholic also on the quest in Class A.
Luers (12-1) has been the state’s top-ranked team all season, while Mater Dei (13-1) is ranked No. 4.
