East Central wrapped-up a perfect 15-0 season Saturday with a 42-14 win over NorthWood to capture the program’s second straight 4A Indiana high school football championship. The Trojans entered the game ranked No. 175 in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football.
Senior running back Josh Ringer, a Miami (Ohio)-recruit, ran for 251 yards on 34 carries and three touchdowns. The Trojans converted on five of seven offensive possessions inside Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts.
The win caps the program’s first undefeated season since 1994. East Central went 12-3 to win the 4A crown in 2017 and had a 13-2 record last season.
“First time in our school history that we’re 15-0. We’ve been 14-0 before. All I can say is these seniors are special. To be able to go 15-0 and have a target on your back each and every week, it’s a testament to them. They continued to show up. They continued to compete and didn’t let the pressure get to them,” East Central head coach Jake Meiners said. “They just went out and tried to win a game each week, and that’s what they were able to do this year.”
East Central’s Dylan Maxwell earns Eskew Mental Attitude Award
During the awards ceremony, Dylan Maxwell of East Central High School was announced by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A 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.
Maxwell is a three-year varsity starter with the Trojan football team which won its second straight 4A championship today. Also, a three-year starter for the school’s basketball team, he’s been a two-year captain, received the team’s Most Valuable Player Award, and led last year’s team in rebounds and assists. He also plans to go out for track and field this spring.
Maintaining a 4.2 GPA, he ranks near the top of his senior class, is a member of National Honor Society, was the recipient of his school’s character award and was nominated for the Colts Academic All-Star team.
He is the son of Randy and Robin Maxwell of Guilford, IN. He is currently undecided on where he plans to attend college but is interested in studying Economics or another area of Business.
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, the presenting sponsor of the state tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to East Central High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Dylan Maxwell.
