Heading into Saturday night’s 6A Championship, Crown Point and Ben Davis had very different paths to Lucas Oil. Crown Point, sitting at 13-0 under 31st year head coach Craig Buzea played a range of 4A, 5A and 6A opponents on their schedule en route to an undefeated regular season. Come the playoffs, they breezed by their sectional before grinding out impressive wins against Penn and Westfield. 

For Ben Davis, sitting at 12-1 under first year head coach Russ Mann, their lone loss came against IMG Academy. Come the playoffs, the Giants defeated top five opponents Brownsburg, Cathedral and reigning champs Center Grove by three points each en route to Lucas Oil. 

Starting with the ball Crown Point quickly got things going with a seven yard connection between quarterback Noah Ehrlich and tight end Trevor Gibbs for a first down early. Consecutive false start penalties would force a quick punt and give the ball to the Giants at the 25 yard line.

Receiving possession in a stalemate, Ben Davis quickly looked to break the scoring early. Running back Alijah Price got to work with gains of 14 and eight before ATH Mark Zackery IV got his hands on the ball for an 11 yard first down. Quarterback Thomas Gotkowski would end up finding receiver Zane Skibiniski from 33 yards out for a miraculous pass-and-catch to put the Giants up 7-0. 

Back with the ball, Ehrlich got things going quick with a 33 yard toss to wide receiver Nick Soley. The Bulldogs could not hold onto the momentum and would soon end after another procedural penalty got the offense behind the sticks, forcing another punt. 

The Giants methodically worked the ball down field utilizing the shifty Price and quick legs of Gotkowski all the way into the red zone. Looking for Skibiniski once again, Gotkowski was intercepted by Dominick Fantin to give the ball back to Crown Point. 

The Bulldogs utilized another encroachment to kickstart their offense before a Jalen Harris sack backed them up once again. Facing third and long from their own 10 yard line, a quick screen would come up short to force another Bulldog punt. 

With the ball in positive territory, Ben Davis stuck with the legs of Price before they were faced with a 4th and short where Crown Point would stand strong to give possession back to their offense. 

Back on offense, it did not take long for the Bulldogs to give the ball back as Ehrlich looked deep for his receiver Tanner Rowles, but instead found the hands of Elijah Hurns and returned all the way for a touchdown. However, a holding penalty would negate the return and give Ben Davis the ball with just over four minutes remaining in the first half. 

The Giants were faced with some tough sledding by the Crown Point defense who has allowed under 150 yards per game this season. They converted a fourth down on the drive, but faced with fourth and goal from the seven yard line, head coach Russ Mann elected to send kicker Ben Rudolph to attempt and nail a 27 yarder to put the Giants up 10-0. 

With under two minutes left in the half, running back Larry Ellison was able to break free for a 34 yard scamper before Ehrlich was able to find tight end Jacob Soley for 39 yards down to the four yard line. Rather than risk going for the touchdown, head coach Craig Buzea sent Oliver Brewer out to nail a 21 yard field goal. 

As the teams entered the locker room in a 10-3 ball game, it is clear that the defenses came to play with under 300 yards combined from the offenses in the first half. 

To start the second half, Ben Davis was backed up at their own 10 yard line following a penalty on the kickoff return. Gotkowski would find Skibinski across the middle of the field for 16 yards before Price would get the edge and sprint 49 yards to pay-dirt to extend the lead 17-3. 

Like the Giants, Crown Point started backed up at the 17 yard line following excellent kick coverage from Ben Davis. However, their offensive experience did not fare as well with a Nehemiah Dau sack backing the Bulldog offense up to the goalline, forcing a third down punt. 

On the ensuing offensive drive by the Giants, Gotkowski would find Price down the seam for 15 yards before Price took it four yards himself for his second score of the night. 

Down 24-3 late in the third quarter, Crown Point was searching for an answer and briefly found it on some first down gains to Soley and Landen Delich. However, as Ehrlich threw one up deep for Jones, defensive back Yassine Falke was able to jump the route and get to the ball before the receiver to give the ball back to Ben Davis. 

Back on offense, Price would start things off with a halfback pass to Zackery IV for 23 yards before wide receiver Jei’vyair Horton would find Zackery IV as well, this time for a 19 yard touchdown to extend the Ben Davis lead 31-3. 

Playing for pride, Ehrlich was able to find Soley for a quick first down before he ultimately threw his third interception of the night into the hands of linebacker Toreeq Oyesigi who would return it down to the 14 yard line. 

On the very next play, Gotkowski would scramble for a high snap that went over his head before throwing a 14 yard dot to Skibinski for their second touchdown connection of the game. Extending the Giants lead to 38-3, and pouring cement over the already sealed grave. 

On the following drive, Ehlrich would find Soley for 19 and Jones for 10, but ultimately a red zone pass would find defensive back Alvin Contreas as Ehrlich threw his fourth interception of the game. 

Coming in for relief, back up quarterback Isaiah Rogers was looking to go deep and get in the box score, but would ultimately find the hands of Andy Parent  as Crown Point took over at the two yard line. 

Delaying the inevitable outcome, Crown Point drove 98 yards down the field with a big play from Soley for a 42 yard catch before Ehrlich would punch it in from a yard out to cut the lead down 38-10 in the waning minutes of the game. 

Putting the back up Rogers back out there to run the late game offense, the Giants would surrender yet another interception in the game as Griffin Vantichelt returned it to the 42 yard line. 

The Bulldogs would be left to run out the game and Ben Davis would bring home championship #10 to the West Side. 

Game Awards

Impact Play of The Game: Alijah Price 49 yard rushing touchdown- at the time of the play, Ben Davis was holding onto a narrow seven point lead to start the second half. However, a quick 49 yard burst from the junior running back is what started the 28-0 second half surge for the Giants. 

“It feels great, man,” Price said. “I need to give all my credit to my offensive line, my team and my coaches.”

Unit of The Game: Ben Davis linebackers- It is only fitting that one of the deepest units in the state this year showed out on the biggest stage. Jalen Harris- one sack and two tackles for loss, Drew Evans- four tackles and a pass deflection, Toreeq Oyesgi- seven tackles and an interception and the heart and soul Nylan Brown led the way with 10 tackles. The Giants linebacking core held Crown Point to just 3.2 yards per carry. 

“I am at a loss for words,” Brown said. “We did this. We did it together, as a program and as a brotherhood. It is something we established since day one on November 7th. Being able to get to this moment and achieve the goals with my brothers is an amazing feeling.”

Player of The Game: Alijah Price- 13 attempts for 141 yards and two touchdowns to pair with 23 yards passing and 25 yards receiving. The junior running back propelled and paced them throughout the game. 

“[Championship number 10] feels great, we are making history,” Price said. “It was sent by all of our alumni and we continued their legacy. We started off slow, and in the second half we were told to play Giants football and showed them our best football.” 

Championship number 10 puts Ben Davis as the fifth school in state history to reach that number. It meant even more since the school had been tied at nine championships with rival Warren Central since 2018. 

“ This is something I promised to my mom back when I hurt my knee my sophomore year,” Brown said. “It means more than the world to me. I am going to take it all in while I got it because I know I have to go play college ball and it all restarts. Kent State, I am ready to bring this winning culture, this same mindset and brotherhood to Kent.”