It sounds simplistic to boil Bishop Dwenger’s Class 4A state championship down to one attribute but
TJ Tippmann 9yd run for a Touchdown, gave the Saints their go-ahead score in the 16-10 win over Evansville Central
sometimes simplistic is also the truth.
The Saints are champions because of toughness.
They beat Evansville Central 16-10 in four overtimes with all the characteristics of toughness you can imagine: Physical play on both sides of the line, dig-down-deep conditioning from a variety of players in an almost endless game and, perhaps most of all, mental toughness from the top to bottom of the roster. It wasn’t easy. There were times it looked like a loss was imminent. They refused to buckle.
“We’re like a big family, spending every day together, hours, they’re like my brothers,” senior linebacker TJ McGarry said. “They are my brothers. That closeness and trusting each other allowed us not to get hung up on who’s out there making plays, who’s out there in a position, but that it takes a team effort to do everything.”
Dwenger’s fifth state championship was a test of mettle, of perseverance, of stamina – all tests requiring the utmost in toughness. They had to shake off setbacks, moments where they hung on the verge of taking a loss, only to push back with the necessary play.
In the fourth OT, Dwenger’s Charlie Howe intercepted Harper to end Central’s drive
The first game in state history to finish 0-0 in regulation went into four overtimes, with Dwenger’s side of the extra time including the near-heartbreak of a missed kick, the frustration of an instance of blown pass coverage that allowed Evansville Central’s only touchdown and the apprehension of possibly losing on a short field goal, only to deliver a second big kick block of the night.
The plays that sealed the deal will go down in Dwenger lore: Charlie Howe anticipating and intercepting a fourth-overtime pass by Evansville Central’s Brennon Harper to set up a final, fitting, run-and-dive to the end zone by TJ Tippmann.
“Trust, unity and toughness is how I characterize this team,” first-year coach Jason Garrett said. “Charlie Howe making a play and giving us a chance, turning around and TJ Tippmann over Joe Tippmann on the left side to finish. A storybook ending. The Lord is mighty indeed.”
Like every game in Dwenger’s 14-1 season, you could pull out the names of players who were in the lineup, point to one and find a moment in the game where he delivered a big play.
Some of those plays were subtle, as in the moment when sophomore quarterback Brenden Lytle called a convincing hard count to draw an encroachment when Dwenger was backed up to its 5-yard line. Some were more obvious, as when Gage Renbarger read and disrupted a pass on a fourth-down flea flicker. Some were, again, less obvious, as when Lucas Krohn and Alex Kolkman helped push TJ Tippmann into the endzone for the third-overtime 1-yard score.
Central FG attempt was blocked by TJ Tippmann and recovered Hayden Ellinger to end regulation
Some big plays were just hard-nosed defensive moments delivered with fury, often by linebackers Jared Lee (team-high 12 tackles and team-high nine solo tackles), McGarry (the mental attitude winner) or Hayden Ellinger. Griffin Eifert came up with a timely interception. Michael Garrett found redemption with an overtime field goal after missing two others.
Then there was TJ Tippmann’s block of a potential game-winning field goal with one second left inregulation.
“TJ, I can’t say enough about him,” Garrett said. “I love him like a son. He’s the epitome of what it means to be a Bishop Dwenger football player. We know when we need a yard, need a score, need to get it in the red zone, he gets the ball. At strong safety, he’s running all over the field. He’s the highest-character guy. He’s led this team so well as a captain.”
Saints (14-1) claimed their fifth state title, while coach Jason Garrett became only the third first-year head coach to win a state championship
The win marked the end of an incredible season’s journey in which Dwenger took the Summit Athletic Conference lead early, stumbled just once in a loss to Snider, and made the most of every postseason opportunity.
TJ Tippmann finished with 77 yards rushing and two touchdowns, earning every one of those yards against an Evansville Central defense that was every bit of Dwenger’s equal until the fourth overtime.
“I didn’t care who scored that last touchdown, as long as we got the win,” TJ Tippmann said. “That’s how selfless every single one of those brothers are on my team.”
Selfless. Tough. Champions.
Final Records: Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (14-1), Evansville Central (13-2)
