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Area high school state football champions

All Fort Wayne-area high school football teams will begin their run at trying to win a state championship this week as the sectional round of the postseason opens. Schools from the Fort Wayne area have a tradition of being crowned IHSAA champions, winning 22 football state championships in the last 30 years.

The Bishop Dwenger team poses with the state championship trophy after it defeated Roncalli 22-21 in the 1983 Class 3A state finals. Both Bishop Dwenger and Roncalli entered the championship game undefeated, and with the one-point victory, Bishop Dwenger became the first Fort Wayne area school to win 14 games in a single season. This would also be the first of three state championships for Bishop Dwenger in an eight-year span. (Courtesy photo)

Bishop Luers receives the state championship trophy after its 25-7 victory against Lawrenceburg in the 1985 Class 2A state finals at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis. Bishop Luers' win over previously undefeated Lawrenceburg was the Knights' first state championship in school history. They also became the first football team in IHSAA history to have three losses in the regular season and win a state title. (News-Sentinel file photo)

DeKalb players carry their head coach, Dale Hummer, after defeating Franklin Central 28-7 to win the 1986 Class 4A state championship at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis. With this victory, the Barons became the first Fort Wayne-area team to win a Class 4A football state title, and it remains the only IHSAA championship in the DeKalb's program history. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Whitko players celebrate on the field of the Hoosier Dome after shutting out Tell City 26-0 in the 1986 Class 2A state finals in Indianapolis. Whitko finished the year undefeated and was the first Class 2A school in the state to win 14 games in a single season as it won the school's only football state championship. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Bishop Luers players celebrate on the Hoosier Dome field after beating Tri-West Hendricks 24-22 in the 1989 Class 2A state finals in Indianapolis. The two-point win at the time tied the IHSAA Class 2A record for the closest margin of victory in a state finals game. This also would be the first of nine state championships the Knights won under former head coach Matt Lindsay. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Members of Bishop Dwenger's football team embrace in celebration after beating New Palestine 56-14 in the 1990 Class 3A state finals at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis. This would be the first of three state championships in the 1990s for the Saints and their first undefeated season in program history. In addition, Bishop Dwenger's 56 points against New Palestine remains the IHSAA record for most points scored in a Class 3A state finals game. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Bishop Dwenger players celebrate with the state championship trophy after their victory against Indianapolis Cathedral in the 1991 Class 3A state finals at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis. With this victory, Bishop Dwenger became the second Class 3A school -- and the first Fort Wayne-area team from any class -- to win back-to-back state championships. (News-Sentinel file photo)

At a school celebration rally, Bishop Luers team members sign the game ball used during the team's 17-0 win against Westfield in the 1992 Class 2A state championship. Of the Knights' 10 state championships, this victory remains the only time Bishop Luers has shut out its finals opponent. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Snider players enter a school pep rally in their honor after defeating Ben Davis 24-21 in the 1992 Class 5A state finals. Under coach Russ Isaacs, the Panthers finished the season 14-0 for their only state title in program history. In addition, the 1992 Snider team is still the only Fort Wayne-area team to win a Class 5A football state title. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Wayne's Mike Lasley, Quavis Tate, Cornelius Bowick and Jeremy Messer hoist the state championship trophy after the team's 28-8 victory against Franklin County in the 1995 Class 4A state finals at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Sophomore Darnell LoVett scored three touchdowns, including a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown, to lead the Generals to their only state title in program history. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Bishop Luers players Brad Knipp and Adam Griffith embrace after the team's 38-6 victory against Danville in the 1999 Class 2A state finals at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. The Bishop Luers defense held Danville, which entered the game ranked No. 1 in the state polls and averaging 41 points per game, to a season-low 118 total offensive yards as the Knights won their first state championship since 1992. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Adams Central players celebrate in the end zone during the 2000 Class A state finals at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Adams Central beat previously undefeated Attica 29-21 in the championship game to finish the season 12-3 and win the school's first and only football state championship. (News-Sentinel file photo)

East Noble players raise their helmets in celebration on the RCA Dome field after winning the 2000 Class 4A state championship. In the school's first state finals appearance, the defense forced two interceptions and returned a blocked punt for a touchdown as East Noble defeated Plainfield 28-7 to win the state title. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Bishop Luers players Pat Wyss and Jhormy Martinez and assistant coach Derrick Dennis celebrate their 57-26 victory against Evansville Mater Dei in the 2001 Class 2A state finals at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. This championship-game rematch came one year after Evansville beat Bishop Luers 56-10 in the 2000 state finals. Bishop Luers' 57 points remains the third-most points scored in a Class 2A state finals game. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Running back Tucker Benedict celebrates after scoring a touchdown as Southern Wells defeated Perry Central 30-7 in the 2001 Class A state finals at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Benedict – who played in the state championship game after sustaining a concussion one week earlier in a semistate win against Pioneer – had a game-high 120 yards rushing and two touchdowns to lead Southern Wells to the school's only state title. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Bishop Luers players hold up a homemade championship banner on the field of the RCA Dome after defeating Southridge 36-30 in the 2002 Class 2A state finals in Indianapolis. Running back Jhormy Martinez led Bishop Luers with 148 rushing yards on 32 carries and scored two touchdowns as the Knights won their second consecutive state championship. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Harding defensive back Matthew Jenkins dives into the end zone after recovering a fumble on the 2-yard line against Southridge during the 2006 Class 2A state finals at RCA Dome in Indianapolis. The defensive touchdown helped secure Harding's 20-7 victory and the Hawks' only football state title in the school's history. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Quarterback Quinn Schafer scrambles away from Heritage Christian defenders during Bishop Luers' 21-6 win in the 2007 Class 2A state finals at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Schafer threw a 71-yard touchdown pass in the second half to put the Knights in the lead. With this victory, Bishop Luers became the second team in IHSAA history to have four or more regular season losses and still win the Class 2A state championship. (File photo by Ellie Bogue of The News-Sentinel)

The Bellmont Braves all try to touch the championship trophy they received for winning the 2008 Class 3A IHSAA state championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Running back Nick Hall had more than 200 all-purpose yards and scored four touchdowns to lead Bellmont past Evansville Memorial 28-14 and to its first state championship in program history. (File photo by Ellie Bogue of The News-Sentinel)

Logan Dorman looks at his Class 2A football championship medal after Bishop Luers beat Monrovia for the 2009 state title at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Bishop Luers overcame a three-point halftime deficit with 10 points in the third quarter to win its first of three consecutive state championships. (File photo by Ellie Bogue of The News-Sentinel)

Bishop Luers celebrate with the state championship trophy after defeating North Putnam 26-14 in the 2010 Class 2A state finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Bishop Luers' defense forced two turnovers and returned a fumble for a touchdown as it beat North Putnam, which entered the game undefeated, for the school's second consecutive state title. (News-Sentinel file photo)

Running back Jaylon Smith runs through the Evansville Mater Dei secondary for one of his two touchdowns during Bishop Luers' 41-17 victory in the 2011 Class 2A state finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Smith, the 2011 News-Sentinel Prep Football Player of the Year, had a game-high 130 rushing yards as the Knights won their third consecutive Class 2A state championship. (Photo by Chad Ryan of INMedia Source)