It was like President Obama being impeached. Or the Pope receiving a pink slip. Or Donald Trump having his microphone unplugged. For eternity.
On Sept. 12, according to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne Luers legendary football coach Matt Lindsay was found to have inappropriate video clips on his computer.
Lindsay, who coached there 33 years and won nine state championships, was eventually fired.
On Friday, the Luers will travel to Father Eckert Field in Merrillville to take on Andrean in the Class 2A Northern Semistate. Luers has won the last three 2A state championships.
But how did the Knights get over such an emotional letdown in September?
"It was pretty easy," Luers coach Steve Keefer said. "When I took over I told the boys we were looking forward, we were staying positive. That's how we were going to handle this, and that's what the players did."
Senior Jaylon Smith scored three touchdowns in Friday's 22-12 win over Tipton in the regional. Smith will play at Notre Dame after his prep days are done.
"He's a Mr. Football candidate, he's a Notre Dame recruit, he's a big part of what we do," Keefer said. "We have a lot of great athletes and these kids have been a part of three straight state championships."
That doesn't mean the Knights aren't aware that they have a tough contest at Andrean. They listened to the 59ers' record-breaking 67-66 five-overtime win over Lewis Cass on Friday night.
"That was something, wasn't it," Keefer said. "Obviously they have to be thankful for winning that game."
Luers has never played Andrean before. In 2009 and 2010 the Knights beat Rensselaer in the semistate. In 1991, Luers beat Lake Station 14-10 in Lake County.
In 1990 River Forest beat the Knights 15-12 at home in the semistate.
"That's what I love about our tournament," Keefer said. "I've always enjoyed getting out of our city and facing new challenges in new places."
Luers trailed Tipton 12-7 in the fourth quarter before Smith scored two touchdowns to keep Luers alive.
Keefer said he has 14 returning starters from last year's team, which pounded Evansville Mater Dei 41-17 at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thanksgiving Weekend.
"Andrean is impressive," Keefer said. "They run the ball well. They have a talented quarterback (Matt DeSomer). They have a good defense. I think it's going to be a great game."
The 59ers are shooting for their first semistate championship since 2004, when Andrean won the Class 3A state title.
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