Championship Top Performers: Homer vs. Logansport

An opportunistic defense helped spark a Homer explosion 82 years in the making Saturday. The Pelicans intercepted six passes, including a pair of first-quarter pick-sixes, and corralled a fumble to build leads of as many as 27 points in each half. And, despite a late comeback push by top-seeded Logansport, coach Richie Casey’s team was able to finally seal away a 41-28 victory with the last of those interceptions. Homer hadn’t reached a state championship game since 1985 and hadn’t won since 1939. Here were several of the contest’s top performers in the historic title bout. <strong>HOMER</strong> <strong>Katrevrick Banks (2024)</strong> <strong>6-2, 165 DB/ATH</strong> The sophomore led the Pelicans’ six-interception day with a pair of highlight-reel takeaways of his own. Banks returned the first 50 yards to the end zone in the final minute of the opening quarter to help kick the team’s start into a full-blown dominant gear and stretch the lead to 27-0. He then adding a leaping effort over a receiver and teammate on the sideline midway through the third. <strong>Andrevious Buggs (2024)</strong> <strong>5-8, 185 LB</strong> The sophomore standout led all players with 11 tackles, including one for loss, and a third-down hurry. <strong>Walteze Champ (2023)</strong> <strong>6-0, 200 DL/LB</strong> The junior defensive end added six tackle, including one for loss and a third-down hurry to help the defense get off the field. <strong>Elyjay Curry (2023)</strong> <strong>5-10, 170 RB</strong> The quick junior back broke his way loose off right tackle and 53 yards to the game’s first points and rarely really slowed down. Curry rushed 24 times for 257 yards — nearly three times all other players on both teams combined — and the long score. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138314" first="Brendon" last="Harris"] (2023)</strong> <strong>6-2, 195 DB</strong> The junior standout intercepted a fourth-down pass backed up toward the end zone on Logansport’s first possession and returned the ball 40 yards out toward midfield to set up the Pelicans’ first score. The play helped keep the Tigers off the board, provide Homer the early lead with which to work and set the tone of the opportunistic defensive day. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="127764" first="Takeviuntae" last="Kidd"] (2022)</strong> <strong>5-10, 160 QB/ATH</strong> One of the Pelicans’ senior leaders ending his career in Outstanding Player fashion with impressive contributions in all three phases. "Popcorn" completed seven of his 12 passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns, intercepted a pass and returned a kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown. <strong>Gregory Williams (2025)</strong> <strong>5-10, 165 LB</strong> The young edge athlete joined Buggs and Champ in his disruptive play in the box, including nine tackles and a pair for loss — second-most and tied for most in those categories, respectively, in the game. &nbsp; <strong>LOGANSPORT</strong> <strong>Khameron Boykins (2023)</strong> <strong>6-2, 170 QB</strong> Despite his miscues, the Tigers’ junior quarterback earned his team’s Outstanding Player honors as well with a 310-yard, three-touchdown performance on 21-for-42 passing that accounted for the bulk of the offensive yardage and managed to overcome turnovers to pull back within 13 points late. <strong>D’warr’tez Chatman (2024)</strong> <strong>5-10, 160 DB</strong> The sophomore safety made a leaping interception on the first possession of the game; led his Tigers with seven tackles, including one for loss; and recorded another pass breakup downfield. <strong>Jayven Claybrook (2023)</strong> <strong>6-0, 205 WR</strong> Arguably Logansport’s top college prospect for the next two classes, Claybrook caught a game-high nine passes for 102 yards and a touchdown to highlight an impressive all-around performance. He also rushed eight times for 25 yards, including a fourth-down conversion; ran in a two-point conversion; completed a key 28-yard pass on another fourth down; returned three kickoffs 79 yards; and took care of kicking off. <strong>Jacob Contario (2022)</strong> <strong>6-3, 175 WR</strong> The senior receiver made several explosive plays in the passing game en route to five catches for a game-high 157 yards and a 76-yard score and returned three kickoffs for 73 yards. <strong>Thalemius Hill (2023)</strong> <strong>5-9, 145 ATH</strong> Another speedy athlete to make plays in multiple phases, Hill caught three passes for 40 yards, including a quick screen for a 19-yard touchdown and the subsequent two-point conversion, and snatched a pair of takeaways: a fumble and an interception deep in the red zone.