NEW PALESTINE — I’m here at Kelso Stadium, just over 1.5 hours until kickoff of semistate football.
Class 5A No. 1 New Palestine plays host to No. 3 Michigan City. The winner will meet Decatur Central in Saturday’s state finals, slated for 7 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Hawks held on to defeat Columbus East, 27-24. East missed a 42-yard field goal at the end of regulation that could have sent the game to overtime.
My key to this game is the Michigan City front seven on defense against the New Palestine offensive line. The Wolves have incredible talent up front on defense, and will test the Dragons in a way not many teams have this year. Linebacker Chase Triplett is the big name – he’s a Purdue commit – but watch out for Ernest Frierson, a 6-foot-1, 315-pound defensive tackle, and Rocye Robinson, a 6-0, 250-pounder on the line. How the Dragons front five of Jacob Brittsan, Noah Mack, Austin Keele, Alex Cotterman and Kyle King handle the Wolves in the trenches will go a long way in determining who advances to the state finals.
More to come as we near kickoff!
New Palestine will receive the opening kickoff in just about 20 minutes.
1st quarter
New Palestine received, and an offsides penalty on the first play gave the Dragons a 1st and 5. Michigan City’s huge defensive line stuffed the Dragons, forcing a punt. Two plays into their first drive, Michigan City QB Bryce Hayman threw the ball straight to Maxen Hook, who returned the ball over 40 yards for a TD.
New Palestine 7, Michigan City 0
The Wolves learned from their interception, handing the ball to running back Lyric McFarrin 11 straight times on their next drive. McFarrin rushed for over 70 yards but the Dragons defense held in the red zone. Wolves kick a 21-yard FG to get on the board.
New Palestine 7, Michigan City 3
Dragons go 3 and out again. Michigan City defense is looking as good as advertised. New Palestine is punting.
Michigan City takes the lead after a 46-yard pass from Bryce Hayman to Zennon Willhelm. Willhelm got behind the defense and made an incredible bobbling, falling catch. McFarrin punches it in from a yard out two plays later.
Michigan City 10, New Palestine 7, 1:47 left in the first quarter
Dragons go 3 and out again to end the 1st. They end the quarter with two yards of total offense.
2nd Quarter
Michigan City drives right to the New Pal 21 but turns it over on downs. 4th and 5 pass incomplete. Dragons take over.
On 3rd and long, Zach Neligh pumpfaked and absolutely froze the Wolves defense. He had his choice of several receivers for a big TD and went to Ryker Large for 74 yards and the lead.
New Palestine 14, Michigan City 10
Michigan City gets into Dragons territory and goes for it on 4th and 4… and the Dragons stuff it. New Palestine gets the ball back.
Charlie Spegal finally gets going, powering through a tackle on a 25-yard gain. Dragons marching. Dragons go for a 4th and 8, and a hard count from Neligh gets the Wolves offside. Neligh takes it himself for three yards on 4th down, converting and keeping the Dragons drive alive. Spegal caps the drive with a 15-yard TD right up the middle.
New Palestine 21, Michigan City 10, 3:47 remaining in first half
Michigan City tries to answer but ends up punting. New Pal has 1:34 left in the half to try to extend its lead.
The Dragons go 3 and out, giving the Wolves 37 seconds to try to cut into the deficit.
Jacob Hockett saves a TD with 3 seconds left in the half. Shoelace-tackle on City’s Wilhelm to force a field goal attempt as the half ends. Wolves miss the field goal wide, and Hockett’s tackle ends up being huge.
HALFTIME: New Palestine 21, Michigan City 10
3rd Quarter
Michigan City gets the ball and Brody Luker gets his 5th INT of the year off a deflection on the 2nd play of the half. New Pal ball.
Charlie Spegal sets the Indiana record for TDs in a season, capping another big offensive drive for the Dragons with 10-yard score straight up the middle.
New Palestine 28, Michigan City 10
Michigan City gets a couple nice runs to get back onto New Palestine’s side of the field. Wolves had to go for a 4th and 3 with 5:21 left in the game, and after a timeout, the Wolves converted, keeping the drive going. Maxen Hook ended that quickly, getting his second interception of the day, returning the ball into Michigan City territory.
Zach Neligh found Colby Jenkins for 29 yards on a 4th and 10, putting the Dragons on the 1 yard line. Michigan City’s defense came up big, stuffing Charlie Spegal three times and Zach Neligh once to force a turnover.
The Dragons defense forces a punt to end the quarter.
End 3rd: New Palestine 28, Michigan City 10
Fourth Quarter
New Palestine drives deep into Michigan City territory but turns the ball over on downs, throwing incomplete three straight times. Michigan City takes over down 18, with 9 minutes left.
The Wolves put together a nice drive, only to watch it end with New Palestine’s fourth interception of the day, this one by Brody Luker, his second. Luker and Maxen Hook each with two picks.
New Palestine put the game away quick. Neligh ran 35 yards and Spegal followed with a 50-yard TD run. This one is all but over.
New Palestine 35, Michigan City 10, 4:55 left
The Dragons defense holds the Wolves to another 3 and out. Dragons ball with 4:26 left.
The Wolves defense, so good in the first half, has been worn down. Charlie Spegal is going off, racking up huge yardage in the fourth quarter here. Dragons running down the clock as we go final.
FINAL: New Palestine 35, Michigan City 10