(Warsaw) — When Warsaw’s football team had a record of 3-3, Tiger fans weren’t making plans for Thanksgiving Saturday.

They are now.

For the first time in over 100 years of playing football, Warsaw will play in the IHSAA state finals, facing #4 Decatur Central Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The opponent’s ranking won’t bother Bart Curtis’ squad, which has beaten #1 Concord, #2 Lafayette Jeff and #3 Merrillville in consecutive weeks for sectional, regional and semistate titles. It’s part of a seven-game win streak the Tigers have put together since their low point of the season.

“3-and-3, two losses in a row to Concord and Plymouth, not a good feeling coming into film and seeing our issues,” recalls Warsaw quarterback Drew Sullivan. “We had to trust our coaches and what we needed to improve on, take it day-by-day, snap-by-snap and just grow every day.”

“There were some stern and difficult conversations, some stern and difficult practices to get them over a hump,” notes Curtis, who also took Mishawaka to state in 2012. “They accepted coaching well, even though they didn’t like it at the time. My position coaches have done a masterful job of motivating these kids and getting them better.”

Motivation wasn’t the only key. Warsaw stopped making costly mistakes and played cleaner football.

“We’re not turning the ball over,” Curtis says candidly. “I think that’s vitally important. We’re playing with a whole lot more confidence and we’re playing with a lack of self-concern. We’re giving of ourselves, regardless how much the pain is or how much the price is.”

Warsaw knows it will have its hands full with Decatur Central, who finished as the 5A runner-up last season.

“Our coaches like to say it’s like the final boss, a combination of all the teams we’ve already played,” states linebacker Gavin Schultz. “We’re just very excited to have the chance to play.”

Saturday’s kickoff at Lucas Oil Stadium is set for 7 p.m.