The Bishop Chatard High School football team's goal is always to win a state championship. It has an Indiana record nine titles, including five over the previous eight seasons. It will get a chance to rectify last year's semistate loss when it hosts No. 9 Evansville Memorial (10-3) at a time and site to be determined.

"Every single year, state's our goal," tailback Ari Pappas said following the team's 31-14 victory over co-No. 4 Batesville on Friday in which he had 205 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. "It's nice to have regional and sectional (championships) but state's our ultimate goal. That's our mind-set. We have to prepare harder than we've ever prepared.

"We'd love to play Evansville Memorial again."

Bishop Chatard lost to Evansville Memorial 27-14 last season, but the Tigers will have to make the trip to Indianapolis this season with the winner facing No. 2 West Lafayette or No. 8 Jimtown for the Class 3A state championship on Nov. 27.

"Last year we went in not as prepared as I'd like," coach Vince Lorenzano said. "We'll be ready and do the best we can. We'll play our kind of game. It'll be nice to be home and take away the 31/2-hour drive."