A new format for a record 322 teams is set as the pairings were announced this evening for the 41st Annual IHSAA Football State Tournament presented by the Indianapolis Colts.
For the first time Class 6A will be used for the 32 largest schools in the state. With all eight of those sectionals
including four teams each, sectional semifinal games will be played on Oct. 25, sectional championship games
on Nov. 1 followed by regionals on Nov. 8 and semi‐states on Nov. 15. The two teams competing in the state
championship game will have a week off before playing for the title.
In 5A, with the next 34 largest teams competing, two first round games must be played in sectionals 9 and 13
on Oct. 25 that contain five teams each. All other 5A teams will have a week off until sectional semifinals are
played on Nov. 1 followed by sectional championship games on Nov. 8.
Teams in classes 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A will begin with first round sectional games on Oct. 25 and will play on
consecutive weeks all the way to the state championship games as they have in previous years.
The 12 teams that earn a berth in the state finals will play on Thanksgiving weekend in Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s
Indianapolis Colts, the state tournament’s presenting sponsor. A new format for the state championship games will also be utilized
for the first time as the Class A, 3A and 5A games will be played on Friday, Nov. 29 while the 2A, 4A and 6A contests are set for
Saturday, Nov. 30. In previous years, the Class A and 2A were played on Friday with 3A, 4A and 5A following on Saturday. In all, 316
games will be played around the state over the six‐week tournament.
To assist with the new format, here’s a look at when games will be played each week by class.
6A Sectional 3 (4 teams)
Semifinals
Game 1: Warsaw at Fort Wayne Northrop.
Game 2: Carroll (Fort Wayne) at Homestead.
Championship
Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.
5A Sectional 10 (4 teams)
Semifinals
Game 1: Elkhart Central at Goshen.
Game 2: Elkhart Memorial at Concord.
Championship
Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.
4A Sectional 18 (8 teams)
Game 1: South Bend St. Joseph at Hobart.
Game 2: South Bend Washington at South Bend Clay.
Game 3: Kankakee Valley at New Prairie.
Game 4: South Bend Riley at Plymouth.
Semifinals
Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4.
Championship
Game 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6.
Sectional 19 (8 teams)
Game 1: NorthWood at East Noble.
Game 2: Leo at Wawasee.
Game 3: DeKalb at Angola.
Game 4: Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger at Northridge.
Semifinals
Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4.
Championship
Game 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6.
3A Sectional 25 (8 teams)
Game 1: Calumet at Gary Wallace.
Game 2: Knox at Andrean.
Game 3: Glenn at Mishawaka Marian.
Game 4: Hammond at Gary Roosevelt.
Semifinals
Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4.
Championship
Game 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6.
Sectional 26 (8 teams)
Game 1: Twin Lakes at Culver Academies.
Game 2: Fairfield at Maconaquah.
Game 3: Jimtown at Tippecanoe Valley.
Game 4: Rochester at Peru.
Semifinals
Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4.
Championship
Game 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6.
2A Sectional 34 (8 teams)
Game 1: Eastside at Churubusco.
Game 2: Manchester at Bremen.
Game 3: Woodlan at Central Noble.
Game 4: Wabash at Prairie Heights.
Semifinals
Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4.
Championship
Game 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6.
1A Sectional 41 (8 teams)
Game 1: Triton at West Central.
Game 2: South Central (Union Mills) at Culver Community.
Game 3: LaVille at Whiting.
Game 4: Lake Station Edison at Winamac.
Semifinals
Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4.
Championship
Game 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6.
