30 years later, Castle football players look back on 1994 state championship: ‘Time flies’

NEWBURGH, Ind. — Doug Hurt vividly remembers the Thanksgiving practice his Castle Knights experienced at the RCA Dome in 1994.

Then a senior center and defensive end, he and the Knights were preparing for the Class 5A IHSAA state championship against nationally ranked Portage. Hurt, who had never stepped foot inside the RCA Dome before, soaked in a “Hoosiers” moment. The lights powered on as the team walked around the field, something the current Castle head coach will never forget.

Two days later, Castle defeated Portage 30-12 to clinch its second state championship. That Knights team is one of 11 from Southwestern Indiana to win a title in the last 30 years.

The 1994 team will be honored at halftime on Friday against Central to commemorate what still stands as the program’s most recent state championship.

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Castle High School’s Sean Connors shouts to the crowd following the Knights’ 30-12 IHSAA state championship win in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis Nov. 26, 1994.

“The fact that it’s been 30 years, it seems really almost impossible,” Hurt said. “Time flies. Now being 30 years removed and having a son (Bo) that’s a junior on the team, it wasn’t just yesterday, although maybe sometimes it feels like it.”

Tony Salpietra, a running back, and longtime Castle assistant Matthew Holweger, a cornerback, were also seniors that fall. They were guided by former wrestling coach Bob Harmon and softball coach Pat Lockyear (who was a center and linebacker on the 1982 state championship team) as freshmen and knew something special would happen in their program.

The Knights finished 7-3 in 1993 after back-to-back losing campaigns. Their expectations remained high…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/30-years-later-castle-football-081008689.html

Author : The Courier & Press

Publish date : 2024-10-11 08:10:08

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