NEW PALESTINE — Charlie Spegal started Friday night by breaking a 47-yard run to set up a touchdown. He ended his night by breaking New Palestine’s single-season touchdown record.
But Spegal, the Dragons’ junior running back, was just one of many catalysts for a Dragon football team that had a record-setting opening half in a 77-7 victory against Shelbyville.
New Palestine set school records for points in a quarter by taking a 46-0 edge after 12 minutes. Fueled by five first-half Shelbyville turnovers — including a pick-six by Luke Ely — and four one-play touchdown drives, the lead grew to 74-0 at the break.
Spegal scored seven touchdowns — six on the ground and one on a 39-yard reception — to tally 38 total TDs for the season, breaking Alex Neligh’s record of 37 set in 2015.
The Dragons gained 386 yards — 245 on the ground — in just 28 first-half snaps. New Palestine scored nine touchdowns and a field goal in 10 offensive possessions. Spegal ran for 219 yards on 15 carries. Zach Neligh threw for 141 yards and two scores and also ran for a touchdown. All six of Neligh’s completions went to different receivers.
Neligh and the Dragons’ first unit saw their nights end at halftime for the fourth time in seven games this season. Chris Guhl took over at quarterback during the third quarter and completed all four of his pass attempts. The Dragons’ 10 completions went to nine different receivers.
“Tonight was a great example of how many weapons we really do have. Guys making big plays, short plays, doing little things. Our receivers, so many of them being able to catch the ball tonight, but their blocking downfield was absolutely spectacular as well,” New Palestine coach Kyle Ralph said. “We’ve got great players. Our guys do a great job of being unselfish. When their number is called, they do a great job of executing. Even when their number isn’t called, they run their routes sharp, they run them well, they run the concepts well. Zach throws the ball well. It was a good look.”
In addition to setting the New Palestine school scoring record seven games into the season, Spegal is closing in on another milestone. He needs 154 yards to become the 26th player in IHSAA history to rush for 6,000 career yards.
“Charlie getting the touchdown record is nice, but it doesn’t mean anything without the guys up front. I thought they played well,” Ralph said. “Alex’s record seemed so astronomical in 2015 when he had 37 touchdowns. That’s an insane amount. He played 14 games that year. We’ve just been so efficient. We’re seven games in and Charlie broke it. The sky’s the limit. As long as guys keep doing their job and we’re staying in sync, I expect that relationship to continue to be a really good one.”
Facing a Shelbyville team that had started the year 1-5 and was decimated by injuries to several key players — including their starting quarterback and top receiver — the Dragons’ theme for the week was focus.
"Our focus has always been on ourselves, constant improvement, be a better version of yourself every day at practice," Ralph said. "And then on Friday, go out there and be 1-0. We’ve done a nice job of that. We’ve got a more mature team this year. They’re handling the wins really well. That’s something we’ve got to continue to do if we’re going to be successful in the long haul.”
It didn’t take long to show that focus. New Palestine led 14-0 80 seconds into the game, as Spegal capped a four-play drive with an 8-yard TD run to put the Dragons on the board. Maxen Hook recovered a fumble on Shelbyville’s first play. One snap later, Neligh hooked up with Colby Jenkins for a 16-yard TD.
The opening quarter also saw three more Shelbyville turnovers — a fumble recovery and an interception by Kade Large, and another pick by Brody Luker, as well as a blocked punt. New Palestine held Shelbyville without a first down until the second half.
Meanwhile, the Dragons offense was cooking. After Alex Kropp nailed a 39-yard field goal, New Palestine scored on three consecutive snaps — a 39-yard screen pass from Neligh to Spegal and runs of 32 and 14 yards from Spegal.
The Dragons’ junior running back scored again on an 8-yard run to end the quarter. His sixth and seventh TDs came in the second frame — runs of 10 and 15 yards. Neligh also had a TD run in the second stanza.
But the highlight of the second quarter was an interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Luke Ely. The senior linebacker plucked a pass over the middle and ran it in 20 yards for a score.
“He’s a leader on defense, he makes all of our checks for us. I couldn’t be prouder of the guy," Ralph said. "I really challenged our linebackers and our linebacker coaches to get our linebackers improved in their pass drops. They worked on that all week and it paid off with a great interception by Luke and a defense touchdown. It was a special moment for him."
The top-ranked Dragons (7-0, 5-0 HHC) hold a one-game lead in the conference and travel to New Castle next week.
