By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor
INDIANAPOLIS – Do-everything senior Daniel Wodicka carried 19 times for 115 yards and completed 13 of 24 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown Nov. 28 as second-ranked West Lafayette captured its second state title with a 24-10 victory over No. 8 Evansville Memorial at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Wodicka, who was named the 3A Mental Attitude Award winner, helped cap off a perfect 15-0 season for the Red Devils, who iced the game with a long drive resulting in a field goal late in the contest after Memorial (11-4) had bounced back from a 21-3 halftime lead to cut its deficit to 21-10.
West Lafayette benefited from four Tiger turnovers and did an outstanding job of hemming in standout Memorial quarterback Grant Gribbins, who finished 20 of 32 but had only 123 yards and was intercepted twice.
“We knew the key would be getting pressure up the middle on the quarterback,” said ninth-year Red Devils coach Marshall Overley. “We had a good offensive game plan, and coach Roseman got that defense goin’.”
Junior Aaron Woodard carried 17 times for 70 yards and a pair of touchdowns for West Lafayette, which also got seven receptions and 101 yards with a TD from senior wide receiver Andrew Pekny.
The victory enabled the Red Devils to finish with the state’s best record over the last two seasons at 26-1. It also marked the first time two teams from Tippecanoe County have won state championships in the same year (1A No. 2 Lafayette Central Catholic was the other in Friday’s 52-0 win over third-ranked Fountain Central).
Stay tuned throughout the weekend for wall-to-wall coverage via stories, video, and pictures. Till then, enjoy these photos from our Mark Gricius!
Processing your request, Please wait....
