Valparaiso wins first Indiana high school football state championship since 1975

valparaiso wins 2022 indiana 5a high school football championshipTwitter photo by @IHSAA1
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Valparaiso closed-out the 50th annual Indianapolis high school football championships at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, with a 35-31 win over Whiteland to capture the Class 5A title. It is the Vikings first state football titles since 1975.

Valpo need an 80 yard, 16 play drive at the end of the game to win it. Justin Clark’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Rocco Micciche with :15 second left game was the game winner.

Game Recap

Valparaiso High School’s Connor McCall earns the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award

During the awards ceremony, Connor McCall of Valparaiso High School was announced by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 5A 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.

Academically, McCall maintains a 4.4 GPA, is Vice President of the National Honor Society and is a member of the school’s Student Athletic Advisory Committee. 

Along with football, McCall also participates in basketball and unified track and field for the Vikings. Connor is a football team captain, is an Indianapolis Colts Man of the Year nominee and has been named an Indiana Rising Star.

He is the son of Jim and Leslie McCall of Valparaiso, IN and is undecided with his college plans.

The award is named in honor of Commissioner Phil N. Eskew, who served as the IHSAA’s third commissioner from 1962-76. Under his leadership, the IHSAA football state tournament was initiated in 1973.

The Indianapolis Colts, a corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Valparaiso High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Connor McCall.

Game Statistics

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About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.