INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time in over a decade, the Fort Wayne Bishop Luers Knights are IHSAA football state champions.
The Knights entered the game with an 11-3 record, arguably inferior to the 13-1 record of their opponent, the North Posey Vikings.
North Posey only lost once during the regular season, falling to eventual Class 3A runner-up Heritage Hills in a 10-0 shutout. Outside of a narrow 35-34 overtime win against Evansville Mater Dei in the second round of sectionals, the Vikings easily handled their opponents during the season.
Luers couldn't say the same. The team began the season with back-to-back losses against East Noble and New Haven, then won the next six games (including narrow two and one point victories over Northside and Dwenger) before falling in the regular season finale against Homestead.
The Knights went on a huge run throughout the postseason, showing everyone they earned their trip to Indianapolis.
Running back Mickey Darling began the scoring barrage for the Knights when he scored a one-yard rushing touchdown with less than seven minutes to play in the first quarter.
Kaleb Herke scored North Posey's only points of the game with a 30-yard field goal with roughly eight minutes remaining in the first half. The 7-3 score was the closest the game would be for the remainder of the day.
Mickey Daring scored his second rushing touchdown of the game with a six-yard march into the end zone not long after Herke's field goal. At Halftime, North Posey dominated the time of possession, but were still behind on the scoreboard.
The second half went exclusively in Luers' favor. The Knights racked up 26 total points while holding the Vikings scoreless.
Mickey Daring and Gio Jimenez combined for 162 total rushing yards for the Knights while Kohen McKenzie completed seven out of ten of his passes for 126 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
Jed Galvin and Liam Stone led the Vikings in rushing, laying down 145 out of the team's 168 total rushing yards. Quarterback Liam Stone completed six out of twelve of his passes for 54 yards and two interceptions.
