2025 Team Preview: Lawrenceburg Aims to Reclaim Championship Glory

The Tigers have won 6 sectional titles in 9 seasons, but are on a two-year drought.

Head Coach: Ryan Knigga (130-42 in 15th year)
2024: 10-2 (lost in sectional championship to Batesville, 21-7)
Graduated 17 seniors: D'Kari Mucker, Landon Cornett, Ryan Hinthorne, Ryan Richard, Noah Knigga, James Baker, Colton Gallagher, Cole Holder, Logan Fehr, Bryce Hedrick, Hunter Perry, Luk Addington, Keillan Abdon, Noah Redar, Alex Youhanic, Emrick Engel, Conner Lange.

Crunch Time Episode Featuring Lawrenceburg: https://www.eaglecountryonline.com/on-air/podcasts/crunch-time/episode/crunch-time-august-18-2025/

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Most teams across the state of Indiana would be thrilled to go 10-2 over the course of one season, but for the Lawrenceburg Tigers, that wasn't enough in 2024. 

Lawrenceburg has become accustomed to winning championships, capturing six sectional championships in the last nine seasons. However, the Tigers have not tasted sectional championship glory since 2022. 

After graduating 17 seniors, the Tigers are looking to regroup and refocus on winning Sectional 30, which has been won by Batesville the previous two seasons. 

"When you think about our program, it's been pretty consistent. I don't think its broke. Last year, 10-2, we were very excited about that season. We would have obviously like to get that sectional championship. We talk about it quite often in our program, you are remembered by championships. Hopefully at the end of the year we are healthy and playing well and give ourselves a shot to do that," said head coach Ryan Knigga. 

OFFENSE

Lawrenceburg returns one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the area in junior Crue Gilmour. As a sophomore, Gilmour passed for 1,151 yards and eight touchdowns. He also ran for a team-high 769 yards and 11 scores, earning All-Conference honors. 

"Crue is a competitor, he is a dynamic player. He does a lot of things on offense that I think are going to give us a chance on Friday nights. He's developed a high IQ of the game, his arm has gotten better, and I think we all know what he can do with his feet," said Coach Knigga. 

The Tigers will have two experienced runners splitting carries in the backfield. Senior Isaiah Williams returns after running for 315 yards last season. His teammates have raved about his ability to make defenders miss. Fellow senior Qain Foster will also get carries after running for 290 yards a season ago. 

Williams and Foster will run behind fullback/h-backs Jacob Becker and Vander LaBazzo. 

At receiver, Lawrenceburg has a dynamic playmaker in senior All-EIAC wideout Keaten McGrath. Last season, he caught 49 passes for 697 yards and four touchdowns. Mason Manford is expected to start in the slot. Hunter Miller, Trey Boyce and Campbell Williams are vying for playing time. 

The offensive line will feature some new names. Ben Pierce is a returning starter at right guard. Braxton Gill, who featured as a tight end last season, is first on the depth chart at left tackle. They will be joined by Dylan Bates, Dennis Welch, and Kaleb Carter. 

"That group is working hard every day. I think they are getting better. I think the more they work together, the better they are going to get," said Coach Knigga. 

DEFENSE

Despite losing IFCA Top 50 All-State linebacker Noah Knigga, the Tigers return plenty of experience on defense. Knigga led the Tigers in tackling last year with 111 takedowns, including 25 for a loss. He is off to Eastern Michigan, leaving a void at middle linebacker. 

Grayson Callahan is coming along nicely inside and will pair with All-EIAC linebacker Kinser Pope. The Tigers also return Jacob Becker, Vander LaBazzo and Qain Foster at linebacker. 

"These guys get after it. They will hit you, they tackle you, they play well in space," said Coach Knigga. "I think they will all have big years." 

Up front, the Tigers will have new starters at defensive end. Sophomore Max Nelson and junior Jackson Bollmer will flank JV state wrestling champion Seth Graham. Dylan Bates, Colton Moore, and Zachary Scribner will provide depth on the defensive line. 

In the secondary, the Tigers will have three of their top offensive playmakers. Crue Gilmour and Keaten McGrath are slated to start at corner, while Isaiah Williams is the starting free safety. Campbell Williams, Trey Boyce and Jayden Montgomery are pushing for playing time. 

SPECIAL TEAMS

Ryan Hinthorne was a big weapon for the Tigers throughout his high school career. As a senior, Hinthorne made 42-of-45 extra point attempts and 7-of-8 field goal attempts. With Hinthorne gone, the Tigers will turn to soccer star Caden McCool to handle the kicking duties. Crue Gilmour will be the punter. 

GOALS/EXPECTATIONS

"Any time you talk about Tiger football, I hope we have created a culture and an identity that we are going to come out and we are going to play physical, we are going to play hard, we are going to compete. Everybody wants to talk about winning that state championship and that's great. We've been fortunate enough to be there two times since our staff has taken over ('16 and '22) and those are great accomplishments, but I'd also like to point out that I don't think people understand how hard winning a sectional is. You have to stay healthy; you have to win three games in a row. That is a hard task. I've always said once you win that sectional, everything after that is icing on the cake. For some people, two years wouldn't be long. For us, it's been a long time, it's been two years, and that just says what are standard is and what we want to do.