Heritage Hills vs Bishop Luers

On December 1, 2024By Littum

Class 3A Final: Heritage Hills vs. FW Bishop Luers, at 15.00, Saturday
Stream live via PPV at IHSAAtv.org

Here’s a closer look at the Class 3A title game:

Matchups: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (10-4) vs. Heritage Hills (13-1)

Locations: Bishop Luers not ranked; Heritage Hills no. 2

Kickoff: 15.00 Saturday, at Lucas Oil Stadium

That’s how you see: IHSAAtv.org

Championships: Bishop Luers is a 12-time state champion in football (third most in state history) and earns his 18th.^th appearance in the state finals. Luers won a Class 2A state title a year ago before moving up to 3A through the tournament’s success factor. All 12 of Luers’ state championships came in Class 2A. The Knights played in 3A from 2013-18. Heritage Hills won its only football state title in 2000 with Jay Cutler at quarterback. The Patriots finished second in 2004, ’19 and ’23. The 2000 state football championship is Heritage Hills’ only state title in any sport.

Trainers

Luer’s coach Kyle Lindsay, 41, is in his 12th year^th season at Luers with a record of 95-64. He won two state titles as a player at Luers in 1999 and 2001 for his father, Matt. Last year, they became the fourth father and son to win state championships. Kyle was an assistant at Luers after graduating from Dayton in 2007 for six seasons before landing the head coaching job in 2013.

Heritage Hills coach Todd Wilkerson, 54, has 13 years^th season with a record of 109-44. Wilkerson, a 1988 Heritage Hills graduate, came back to coach at Heritage Hills as a middle school coach after serving in the U.S. Navy. Wilkerson coached at the middle school level for seven years, moved up to freshman coach and varsity assistant for five years and was hired as head coach in 2012. This is his third state final appearance.

A closer look at Bishop Luers

Luers is making his fourth consecutive top-10 appearance after beating No. 4 Mississinewa 34-28 to claim its third straight title, No. 10 Maconaquah 31-28 for its third straight regional and no. 7 Garrett 28-14, rally. from a 14-point halftime deficit to reach Lucas Oil Stadium for the second year in a row.

Luers is averaging 25.9 points and 266 yards of total offense per game. match. The Knights play a difficult regular season schedule that is loaded with bigger schools. The top offensive player for Luers is senior running back Daryea Williams (1,351 rushing yards, 15 TDs). Dee Hogue (679 rushing yards, seven TDs; 13 catches, 170 yards) is also a key player for Luers. The Knights have played two junior quarterbacks with Jayce White (713 passing yards, four TDs) and Devin Patterson (620 passing yards, five TDs) both seeing time. The defense is allowing just 156 yards per game. match. Hogue has nine interceptions as a defensive back. The line is also a strength with juniors Jarron Taylor (90 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, eight sacks) and Ayle Taylor (64 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10 sacks). Linebacker Brayden Mygrant (74 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks) is another defensive leader.

A closer look at Heritage Hills

Heritage Hills is one of four returning state finalists from a year ago and one of three that placed second. The Patriots are making their fifth 3A state championship appearance and third in six years. Heritage Hills came out of a tough Section 32 field with wins over No. 3 Gibson Southern (35-18) and no. 1 Evansville Memorial (38-24).

Heritage Hills is averaging 39.9 points and 351 yards of total offense per game. match, including 227 on the ground. The Patriots are led by junior quarterback Jett Goldsberry, who has 1,499 rushing yards and 25 TDs and 1,736 passing yards and 27 TDs. Senior running back Hunter Meredith (946 yards, 13 TDs; 12 catches, 254 yards, four TDs) is another offensive leader for the Patriots, along with junior receivers Tyler Ruxer (42 catches, 852 yards, 12 TDs) and Peyton Gray (25) catches , 475 yards, eight TDs). Meredith (61 tackles, three sacks) and Goldsberry (50 tackles, five for loss) also lead the defense along with senior linebacker Parker Hart (94 tackles), senior defensive back Alex Smith (80 tackles, four interceptions) and senior linebacker Kaden Frakes (56 tackles, two sacks).

Citable

Heritage Hills coach Wilkerson at Goldsberry:

“We’ve had (coaches) visit, like IU and Purdue. We’ve been to Miami of Ohio, Louisville. He’s one of those kids I think they’re just trying to figure out where he fits in. He plays defense for us and he’s a very physical linebacker, strong safety is where some teams look at him as he develops as a passer, so I don’t know .He’s such an athlete, but he is the type of kid with his work ethic, he’s going to be a very good college football player somewhere. There’s no doubt about that.”

How can Bishop Luers win

Keep going. Luers has been able to win close games throughout the tournament and will need to make this a close game heading into the fourth quarter. The defense has been excellent but will be tested by Goldsberry’s leg and arm. Putting Heritage Hills in passing situations would be beneficial.

How Heritage Hills can win

Play with confidence and stay ahead of schedule. This is a better passing team than it was a year ago, but the Patriots’ offensive success starts with the run. Limiting Luers’ big plays on offense will be key, especially Williams on the ground. The Knights haven’t had much success in the passing game.

Forecast

Heritage Hills 24, Bishop Luers 21. The Patriots claim their first title in 24 years.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 270-4904.