Congratulations to The East Central Trojans and Coach Justin Roden on winning the Indiana Class 4A Football State Title by defeating The 4A #1 Lowell Red Devils 14-7.
Junior quarterback Alex Maxwell blasted off the line from six yards out with 2:02 left to provide East Central with the winning touchdown in a 14-7 triumph over previously-unbeaten Lowell in the Class 4A championship game.
Two plays earlier, Maxwell gained 37 yards on third down to set the Trojans up at the Red Devils 8-yard-line.
The victory is East Central’s second state championship, with the first coming in 1994 with Indiana Football Hall of Fame Coach, Rod Ballart. The Trojans finish 12-3, under the direction of head coach Justin Roden. The Trojans last state finals appearance came in 2015.
Lowell opened the scoring on a 1-yard run by senior standout Jordan Jusevich with 2:54 left in the first quarter. East Central tied it midway through quarter two after Maxwell found senior receiver Justin Brown for a 13-yard touchdown pass.
The Red Devils had a chance to break the tie midway through the fourth quarter, driving to the East Central 13. The Trojan defense, however, forced back-to-back losses forcing Lowell into a fourth down. Lowell’s pass fell incomplete at that point, turning the ball over.
Maxwell then directed an 11-play, 81-yard drive that chewed up 5:17 of the clock. After the score, Lowell’s final opportunity ended when senior Nathan Lloyd intercepted a first down pass at the East Central 12 yard line with just over a minute left.
Maxwell led all rushers with 88 yards on 13 carries, while Jusevitch paced Lowell with 80 yards on 16 carries.
Lowell, coached by Keith Kilmer, was making its fourth appearance in the state title game, winning once in 2005 finish the season at 14-1.
Trojan Jayden Williamson wins the Eskew Mental Attitude Award.
