Bishop Dwenger’s football team has spent a season with a target on its back, so what’s one more game?
Dwenger is the undeniable giant in its Class 4A state championship game against upstart Evansville Central at 3:30 p.m. Friday in Lucas Oil Stadium. The Saints will be playing in their 11th state championship game, with four titles under their belts (1983, 1990, 1991 and 2015). Evansville Central is making its first state appearance.
History aside, except for Dwenger seniors who were along for the ride as freshmen in 2015, this will be new for almost everyone. Tradition can be overrated.
What shouldn’t be overrated is Dwenger’s track record of success this season. Here are five reasons why the 13-1 Saints have an edge over the 13-1 Bears:
1. Defense, defense, defense
Dwenger built a season on this strength, molded by coach Jason Garrett and defensive coordinator Casey Kolkman and delivered by as solid a unit from front to back as the Saints have had. There’s not a weak spot in the two-deep lineup, which features a variety of tough guys rotating up front in Jordan Watercutter, Vinnie Fiacable, Joe Tippmann, Joe Henry, Luke Wiginton and Jared Monnier. The starting linebackers crew of TJ McGarry, Hayden Ellinger, Jared Lee and Charlie Howe are ferocious. The secondary of TJ Tippmann, Griffin Eifert, Sam Obergfell and Gage Renbarger are stingy.
Evansville Central sports a run-heavy offense, keyed by back Brennan Schutte (156.6 yards per game, 25 touchdowns). Quarterback Brennon Harper averages 122.5 yards per game in the air. That’s strong. Is it anything Dwenger hasn’t seen in the Summit Athletic Conference? Between the ground game of Snider and the air attack of Wayne, Homestead and Luers, the Saints have seen everything.
Dwenger has held three of its five playoff opponents to single digits in points and only two teams have scored more than 14 points against the Saints this season.
2. Big-game experience
During the course of a usual season, the Saints have two big rivals: Snider and Bishop Luers. Both of them gave Dwenger a tremendous battle, with Snider handing the Saints a wake-up loss and Luers coming very close to an upset. Add in two games against Wayne, the second-best team in the SAC (and perhaps in 4A). Then throw in Homestead, another potent 6A school. Dwenger has been fully tested and that mettle showed in its blowout win over previously unbeaten Angola.
Evansville Central has been tested, too, with its only loss coming to undefeated Class 3A No. 1 Evansville Memorial. But Dwenger’s schedule added another layer of quality preparation.
3. Extra Tippmanns
You can never have enough Tippmanns, in size or in quantity. To say this year’s Dwenger team is a family affair is an understatement. There are at least nine Tippmanns (cousins or brothers) who are or have been starters: Devon Tippmann, Joe Tippmann, TJ Tippmann, Vinnie Tippmann, Hayden Ellinger, Joe Henry, Lucas Krohn, Patrick O’Keefe and Blayne Huston (out with injury). There are even more Tippmanns coming off the bench. It’s kind of hard to keep track.
What does this mean? Their presence adds to the level of trust and familiarity on both sides of the ball. Plus, to restate the obvious if you’ve been watching Dwenger, the extended Tippmann family has a knack for high school football. Devon has 1,189 yards rushing, TJ has 15 touchdowns, Joe delivers pancake blocks on a regular basis. The family stats go on and on.
A book could be written about Dwenger family connections. Here’s another fascinating, non-Tippmann one: Vinnie Fiacable will be the fourth brother to play in a state title game, joining Stephen (2008), Mike (2013) and Nick (2015).
4. The Finley factor
Patrick Finley entered the season as a dangerous weapon for the Saints’ offense. He has speed, great hands, and an intangible knack for being in the right place at the right time. And he’s very difficult to tackle in the open field. So when he went down with a collarbone injury in Week 2, he took some of the Saints’ offensive swagger with him. They survived, relying primarily on their relentless running game with an occasional toss to Eifert.
But when Finley returned in the game against Angola, the entire landscape changed. Now, Dwenger has a passing game. O’Keefe, the quarterback-turned-receiver, has stepped up, too, in his new role when Brenden Lytle took over at quarterback. The stats say Dwenger’s a run-first, run-second and run-third team. Finley’s big-play ability will prevent Evansville Central from stacking too many in the box. If they do, watch out.
5. The kicker
Could it come down to a game-deciding field goal? If so, Michael Garrett can deliver. Garrett first made his mark with a game-winning field goal against Bishop Luers in 2017 but he’s been solid this year, hitting six of seven field goals and 30 of 35 extra points. Evansville Central’s Jon Degenhart has made 70 (!) of 75 extra points but only one of three field goals. The only time I’ve seen Garrett falter was in horrible weather conditions. It’ll be 72 degrees in Lucas Oil Stadium.
Feature photo of Jared Lee by Reggie Hayes
