Fort Wayne Snider senior tailback Uriah Buchanan ran for 235 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Panthers 33-7 win over Decatur Central in the 5A state championship game Friday night at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. Buchanan’s touchdown runs were for 80 and 95 yards.
While Buchanan missed the longest run record by one yard, he also fell two yards short of 2,000 rushing yards for the season.
“We’re going home state champions, so it’s all good,” Buchanan said.
“These kids have worked very hard and everyone in this program knows they will work hard,” said Snider head coach Kurt Tippmann. “We’re proud of that and it leads to playing well at crucial points.”
The title is the third overall for Snider. Decatur Central was looking for its first title in its second championship game appearance.
Snider’s Jake Tippmann named Eskew Mental Attitude Award honoree
During the awards ceremony, Jake Tippmann of R. Nelson Snider 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.
Tippmann plays linebacker and has served as team captain this season. Tippmann is a member of the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee, was elected Vice President by his peers, and presented the group’s mission at the annual Fall Principals Meeting at Huntington North High School this fall. He is also a volunteer with Big Brothers, Big Sisters – acting as a mentor to and meeting with fifth grade students every two weeks over the last two years.
Tippmann has excelled in the classroom and is on track to graduate as the valedictorian of his class next spring with a 4.8 GPA.
He is the son of Kurt and Martina of Fort Wayne, IN and plans to study Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University next fall.
The award is named in honor of late former Commissioner Phil N. Eskew, who served as the IHSAA’s third commissioner from 1962-76.
The Indianapolis Colts, the presenting sponsor of the state tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Fort Wayne Snider High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Jake Tippmann.
