Seniors lead Cathedral to Class 5A state title—again

The football team of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis poses with the Indiana High School Athletic Association Class 5A trophy after their 56-7 victory over LaPorte High School in the state championship game on Nov. 29 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Submitted photo)

By John Shaughnessy

Coach Rick Streiff always tells his football players at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis that their season—like life—is a journey.

He continually makes that point to remind them to not get caught up in the emotional swings of the season, to keep their focus on their effort, their dreams and their goals.

“I say it so much that they tease me about it,” Streiff says with a laugh.

Streiff’s laugh is touched by pure joy, the same joy that has marked the journey of another successful football season for Cathedral. On Nov. 29, the Irish won the Class 5A football state championship of the Indiana High School Athletic Association.

The team also collected several defining records for the program in their 56-7 win over LaPorte High School at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The 2014 state football championship was the 12th for Cathedral, tying the private school with Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis.

The Irish also set records by earning a fifth straight championship and winning 30 consecutive tournament games since 2010.

Streiff also earned his 10th state title as the head coach of Cathedral, making him the state’s all-time leader in that category.

“It’s been quite a run,” the coach says about Cathedral’s five straight state championships. “It’s really a credit to a lot of people—the kids, the coaching staff, parents, the administration and the school. It all has to be in place and be supported for it to happen. Everything is in place to get the best out of the kids on the football field and off the football field.”

Streiff especially credited the seniors for the team’s success this year.

“One of the things we talk about a lot with all our seniors is, ‘What’s your legacy? Your team will go as far as you will take us.’ There’s an expectation of, ‘This is my stamp on the program.’

“This is a group that had a lot of tenacity. When they got ahold of you, they wouldn’t let go. The other thing about them is their perseverance. They just hung in there.”

Their coach saw that quality shine through in the semi-state game against Bloomington South High School, a game Cathedral won in overtime, 27-24.

“We were never ahead until the last play of that game,” says Streiff, who has been the head coach at Cathedral for 20 years. “That was the coming together of all that tenacity and perseverance.”

It all made for a joyous end to the journey.

“The kids listened,” Streiff says. “There’s just a firm belief that when the tournament rolls around, we’ll be playing our best football. There’s a sense of pride in being able to have that kind of success.” †