The Bishop Chatard and Evansville Memorial high school football teams are opposites in many ways:

Evansville Memorial returned 16 starters from last season, Bishop Chatard had to replace 18.

Evansville Memorial has thrown for 2,251 yards, Bishop Chatard 644.

Evansville Memorial won a single sectional between 1993 and 2007; Bishop Chatard 11, plus six state titles.

But the two programs have reached the same point -- the Trojans will be traveling to Evansville for a Class 3A semi-state championship at 7:30 p.m. Friday -- and there are similarities, according to the two coaches.

"They're big," Bishop Chatard coach Vince Lorenzano said. "They're the biggest team we've played this year; similar to Cathedral in size. They don't have any major, glaring weaknesses and they're used to playing good teams."

"They're big and physical," Evansville Memorial coach John Hurley said. "The thing that stands out is their physical style of play and reputation. They've had a lot of success and bring a reputation. We'll have to fight with our kids to not put them on a pedestal before they get here."

Evansville Memorial was just 3-9 the past two seasons -- though it reached the sectional championship game both years -- losing eight games by nine points or less. This season, it fell to 2-2 with a 24-21 loss to Evansville Reitz. It has won nine straight since to rise to fifth in the rankings, with four of the victories by a touchdown or less.

"We had a lot of adversity (the past two years)," said Hurley, who is in his first season as head coach after 12 years as an assistant. "We had a lot of close games and couldn't find a way to win. This year's been the flip of that. We've stayed healthy and the kids have gained more confidence in what we're doing."

Evansville Memorial has had success with a spread offense, using running back Ryan Black (1,812 rushing yards) to establish the run and allowing quarterback Grant Gribbins (2,251 yards, 24 touchdowns) to throw to the tandem of Jackson Jarboe (648 yards, seven touchdowns) and Jonathan Wandling (643 yards, 11 touchdowns).

Bishop Chatard had to replace its entire secondary but Bobby Akin, Jack Treesh, T.J. Agnew and Ross Lubbers have held opposing passers to 46.8 percent passing and six touchdowns while intercepting 11 passes. The Trojans have allowed 1,047 rushing yards, including a 2.8-yard per carry average, and 10 scores, and just 43 points in the first three quarters.

Evansville Memorial has had success defensively by forcing teams into situations that they have to throw, led by defensive end Anthony Otterbein (25 sacks). It plays bigger schools in the running-oriented Southern Indiana Athletic Conference but will be facing a Bishop Chatard offense that is averaging 265.8 rushing yards per game and has scored 47 touchdowns on the ground.

"I don't think we differ much from Bishop Chatard," Hurley said. "We want to control the line of scrimmage and force (opponents) to do what they don't want to do. (But our ability to do) that will be tested tremendously."