NEW PALESTINE — A spot at Lucas Oil Stadium is on the line.
The New Palestine Dragons football team takes on the Michigan City Wolves today at Kelso Stadium in New Palestine, with the winner calling themselves Class 5A semistate champions and advancing to next Saturday’s state finals.
It’s the last home game in Hancock County this season, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Here’s what to expect at today’s big game:
The Dragons are ranked No. 1 in Class 5A, a spot they’ve held all season. The Wolves are No. 3. New Palestine has the top offense and defense in the state, while the Wolves are right behind in both categories.
It’s a heavyweight fight, and something will have to give. The winner moves on to face another Top 5 team in next week’s final.
New Palestine has one of America’s premier players in junior running back Charlie Spegal. Spegal is third in the nation in rushing yards with 2,941, and he leads the country in rushing touchdowns with 63 and scoring with 392 total points. His 63 touchdowns are a new Indiana state record.
These two teams score, and they score a lot. New Palestine is second in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 60.5 points per game. Michigan City averages 45.1 points per game. The Dragons have won their 12 games by an average of 51.5 points. The Wolves have won by 32.3 points per contest.
This game could come down to defense. The Dragons defense allows just 9.0 points per game. The Wolves allow 12.8. Playmakers can be found on both sides of the ball, and New Palestine boasts the state leader in quarterback sacks. Junior Kyle King has 17.
For more on New Palestine’s semistate game, including more photos and a more detailed breakdown of the game, jump inside to Page B1.
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What: IHSAA Class 5A Football Semistate
Who: No. 3 Michigan City (10-2) at No. 1 New Palestine (12-0)
Where: Kelso Stadium, New Palestine High School
When: 4 p.m. today
Cost: $10
Follow along: For coverage of today’s game, follow Sports Editor Brian Heinemann on Twitter at @brianheinemann or @GDRSports. Don’t forget to check greenfieldreporter.com Saturday evening for a story from the game, and Tuesday’s Daily Reporter for photos and a more comprehensive look at the semistate game.
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