INDIANAPOLIS — With 3 minutes, 34 seconds left in the first quarter, everything changed.
New Palestine quarterback Lincoln Roth dropped back, Valparaiso’s Mason Maple closed in, and with one sack the Dragons were hit with a crucial question during the IHSAA Class 5A State finals on Friday night.
It sank in quickly as Roth limped off the field after the third-and-6 play, returning briefly during the top-ranked Dragons’ ensuing drive, only to exit for good with the game tied 7-7 against No. 2 Valparaiso inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
Backup quarterback Eric Roudebush didn’t blink.
Instead, as the Dragons’ do-it-all senior leader, Roudebush reacted how he always has. He stepped forward, football in hand, ready to help the Dragons defeat the Vikings 27-20 and claim their first repeat state championship.
Roudebush had complete only one pass all season for six yards. He battled Roth for the starting quarterback job in the offseason and lost out after serving as Zach Neligh’s understudy the past two seasons.
Despite limited reps while serving as a wide receiver, punter, and placekicker, Roudebush knew what he had to do with the Dragons’ 28th straight victory and third state title in six years on the line.
“All season, I’ve been ready, not because Lincoln didn’t do a good job, he’s done a great job all season, but I was ready for opportunity if something like today happened,” Roudebush said. “I just needed to pick up the ball and be ready to go and lead the team and do what I can.”
He gave the Dragons stability when there could have been upheaval.
On his first play, Roudebush ran for four yards, then he broke free for 11 yards before he marched the Dragons down field to set up Alex Kropp’s 23-yard field goal with 8:11 remaining in the first half.
Valparaiso (13-1) tied the game 10-10 after a 36-yard field goal by Liam Shepherd, but then the Dragons’ defense came alive and so did the state’s all-time leading rusher.
The Vikings missed a 42-yard field goal attempt to open the second half, and the Dragons scored 17 unanswered points with no one player more important than the other.
“As his story would turn out, at the end of it all, (Eric) ends up being one of the stars tonight when our quarterback goes down. It’s just a testament to what our kids do and what they buy into, understanding it’s about whatever makes the team the best,” New Palestine head coach Kyle Ralph said.
“He was mentally into every play every week, and what a special night tonight that kid’s going to be able to tell his children, his grandchildren. I’ll tell my children and grandchildren about what it means to be an unselfish football player. What it means to care about your team more than you care about yourself.”
Charlie Spegal echoed the sentiment while he struggled to find gaps in the first half, limited to 36 yards on 10 carries in the half before busting loose for an 80-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Spegal grabbed a pitch from Roudebush on the right side, cut across the field and sprinted up the left sideline to give the Dragons a 17-10 lead just 17 seconds after the Vikings’ missed field goal attempt.
“It was part of the game plan. I knew eventually I was going to break one. It finally happened,” Spegal said. “That’s the type of guys we have on this team. Guys like (Roudebush). When your name is called, they’re going to step up and get the job done. He did for us.”
The Dragons’ defense added to the momentum swing on third-and-2 on Valparaiso’s 36-yard line midway through the third quarter.
Hunter Burks slide into the backfield to force a fumble against Hayden Vinyard, and Maxen Hook scooped it up with 7:08 on the clock in the third.
Roudebush orchestrated an eight-play drive that Kropp ended by converting a 20-yard field goal to increase New Palestine’s lead 20-10.
A pick-six interception return, the team’s third in three weeks, by Ryker Large nearly put the game out of reach 27-10 late in the third quarter.
“We knew they would be run heavy and our goal was to get them to pass,” Large said. “All five of our DBs have been playing together for three years, so we were able to disguise our coverages pretty well, and my twin brother got in the passing lane, so he threw it a little bit behind him and I was able to catch it with no one in front of me.”
Valparaiso tried to rally back and pushed the Dragons with 10-points in the final five minutes, but New Palestine refused to be denied.
Taking possession with 3:08 left, Spegal lowered his shoulders and made the Vikings’ stop him.
They couldn’t, even with all three timeouts.
A 5-yard run, followed by another 5-yard run on third-down. First down, and then the back breaker, a 27-yard run and the Vikings’ third time out spent.
With 2:13 remaining, Spegal didn’t deviate from the norm.
“Just two hands on the ball and put my shoulders down and gain some yards for my team,” Spegal said.
Roudebush held the ball on the final play, a fourth-down backdrop, kneel down that burnt the final three seconds after a quick Dragons timeout as the sea of red in the stands showered the players with appreciation.
Among them, several were cheering for Roudebush, who like his father Nick held the spotlight at state. Nick played on the 3A state runner-up 1990 team, rushing for 2,000 yards, but his Dragons lost 56-14 against Fort Wayne Dwenger at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
“Tonight was very special, especially having that shadow to live up to. Being able to step up and do my thing, (my dad) was able to step up and do his thing and didn’t come out with the win, but I got the win, so I’m going to have some bragging rights,” Roudebush said. “Whether there was a shadow or not, it was about coming out here every week and doing my thing for the team and being ready.”
