INDIANAPOLIS – Three teams were feeling defensive in claiming state titles Saturday in the second round of IHSAA football state championships at Lucas Oil Stadium. Monrovia, Fort Wayne Dwenger and Center Grove all posted impressive displays on defense in winning Class 2-A, 4-A and 6-A state championships, respectively.

Class 2-A: Monrovia 33, Whiting 6
Monrovia won its first-ever state title in any sport in dismantling Whiting in the first football game of the day. Monrovia (14-1) accumulated all 382 of its yards on the ground, and a bulk from the duo of Dalton Smith and Jaden Rhea. Smith carried 13 times for 170 yards and Rhea 19 times for 122, both finding paydirt twice. Smith opened the game with a 76-yard touchdown run just 43 seconds into the game.

The Monrovia defense, which was one of the top units in the state this season giving up under 10 points per game, forced Whiting (13-2) into three turnovers.

Thomas Davenport had Whiting’s only touchdown on a one-yard run.

Class 4-A: Fort Wayne Dwenger 27, East Central 3
Dwenger was no stranger in playing for a state title, making its tenth appearance, but claimed its first title since 1991 in a dominant performance.

The Saints defense picked off four passes and recorded seven sacks. Frank Yanko led the defensive charge with three sacks, four tackles for loss and had eight total solo tackles.

Offensively, Amaun Clark paced Dwenger (14-1) with 138 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns from 24, 4 and 11 yards.

Class 6-A: Center Grove 28, Penn 16
For the 15th straight year, an Indianapolis-area school won the biggest class championship. The win for Center Grove, in earning its second state title, wasn’t easy.

The Trojans salted away a 14-play, 77-yard drive with just a five-point lead in the fourth quarter, capped by Titus McCoy’s third touchdown run on a one-yard dive.

McCoy had three touchdowns in the game and rushed for 193 yards to lead Center Grove to an undefeated 14-0 season.

Penn (12-2), the last non-Indy school to win the big class title back in 2000, reached its 11th state finals.

Camden Bohn led Penn with 77 rushing yards and threw for 139 more, accounting for both Kingsmen touchdowns. James Iapalucci caught a 15-yard touchdown pass that brought the Kingsmen to just a 14-10 deficit in the third quarter. Bohn’s 10-yard run in the fourth quarter cut the lead to 21-16, but a failed two-point conversion and McCoy’s score iced the game.