BLITZ: After another state finals loss, where does Adams Central go from here?

***Adams Central’s Jack Hamilton runs the ball during the first half of November 24’s Class 1A state title game against Indianapolis Lutheran at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Photo by Cole Wieland)***

We’ve seen this storyline play out before.

A powerful Adams Central team reaching the Class 1A state championship game, only to fall to Indianapolis Lutheran.

2021.

2022.

2023.

Each of the games has had a different story, but the same result – a loss to Lutheran. This time, a 35-28 loss at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday.

Now due to Success Factor, Adams Central will head to Class 2A beginning next season…along with Lutheran.

Oh, the irony.

What does that mean for the Flying Jets?

First, let’s just get this out of the way – Adams Central is not going to regress. Sure, it has to replace guys like Jack Hamilton, Trevor Currie, Keegan Bluhm and Zac Wurm, but take a look at the starting defense from Friday. Juniors Max Kaehr, Matt Heiser, Drew Kaehr and Jaret Smith along with sophomore Cam Fravel all saw significant action. Freshman Jamison Roach had a really good kick return.

Guys need replaced, but AC always has dudes ready to step up. That’s the way it always is. It’s what drives the rest of the ACAC nuts, because the Flying Jets always have the next crop of studs prepped and ready to go.

But now, those guys will need to do it in Class 2A. Bishop Luers looms in a potential sectional. Programs like Lafayette Central Catholic, Eastbrook, Bluffton and others as well.

Blitz would have liked nothing more than to see Adams Central pull it out against Lutheran this time around. Outside of a six-minute stretch in the first half in which Lutheran scored three touchdowns, it was a very even game. The Flying Jets were able to move the ball, and Hamilton was tremendous behind center, but it was not to be.

The fact that AC now has to move up with Lutheran seems a bit unfair, but hey, that’s the rules set by the IHSAA.

Coach Michael Mosser will now tackle a challenge that none of his predecessors – even Rick Minnich – had to deal with – playing up a class for at least the next two years.

Could we see a Round IV next year between Lutheran and the Flying Jets?

Wouldn’t that be something.

Then again, maybe Adams Central has seen enough of the Saints for awhile.

These opinions represent those of Blitz and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Blitz on Twitter at Blitz_OTH