November 27, 2020
Western Boone's late 38 yard FG lifts Stars to third consecutive state championship
Josiah Smith booted a 38-yard field goal with :07 left to lift Western Boone to a thrilling, 36-35 win over Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in the Class 2A championship game.
The Stars (11-4) scored 10 points in the final 1:36 of the contest to overcome a 35-26 deficit and claim their third-straight state title and 18th consecutive tournament victory.
The back-and-forth contest featured plenty of offense as the teams combined for 795 yards and 43 first downs in addition to the 71 points.
Luers (8-7) held a 21-13 lead at halftime. Behind the passing of quarterback Carson Clark, the Knights were able to take advantage of two Webo turnovers to build the nine-point lead after Clark connected for his second touchdown pass to Krashaun Menson (a 7-yarder) with 3:38 left.
Coach Justin Pelley’s Stars used a ball-control rushing attack to sustain their offense. Fullback Robby Taylor, who had a state-record 43 carries in the game, scored on a 1-yard run with 1:36 left to pull Webo within 35-33.
A failed onside kick seemed to spell doom for the Stars, but the defense came up with a three-and-out and forced a punt. Western Boone benefitted from a kick-catch interference penalty to give it a first down at its 46 with :39 left. Five plays later, Luers was flagged for pass interference giving the Stars a first down at the Knights’ 21. Smith, the son of former Colts punter Hunter Smith, came on to boot the game-winner.
Taylor finished with 210 yards and two scores, while Clark completed 17-of-21 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns. Glenn Brody caught six of those passes for 171 yards and a 78-yard touchdown.
Coach Kyle Lindsay’s Knights were making their first state finals appearance since 2012 and 16th overall.
State Championship Records
Most Rushing Attempts (Any class) – 43 by Robby Taylor, Western Boone. (Previous best was 42 by Josh Smith of Attica in 2000 1A game).
Western Boone’s Luke Marsh earns the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award
During the awards ceremony, Luke Marsh of Western Boone High School was announced by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award in Class 2A Football.
The award is annually presented to a senior who is nominated by his principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability during his four years of high school.
He is the son of Kyle and Danette Marsh of Lebanon. He plans to attend either Marian, DePauw, or Indiana Wesleyan but is undecided on what he will study.
The award is named in honor of Commissioner Emeritus Blake Ress, who served as the IHSAA’s seventh commissioner from 2000-11.
The Indianapolis Colts, a corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Western Boone High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Luke Marsh.