For the first time in five years and just the third time ever, Kendallville will be invading Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday afternoon as East Noble takes on top-ranked New Palestine for a Class 4A state championship.
What should we expect to go down the day after Thanksgiving?
Let’s break it down.
TWO STORYLINES
1. A TEAM ON A MISSION
New Palestine has blitzed through the season to reach this point. Only one game – an overtime victory at Bishop Chatard in regional – has been decided by single digits. Its most recent win, a 43-7 drubbing of Martinsville, was just the latest in a series of demolitions of good teams.
The Dragons are led by a 2,000-yard rusher, an 1,800-yard passer and a receiver that has hauled in 12 touchdowns, with a defense allowing just eight points per game.
This is a complete football team.
2. FINISHING THE JOB
With a first-year coach and significant obstacles in the way in terms of opponents, it felt like a long shot for East Noble to navigate the Class 4A north and get to the state championship game. Yet here they are, ousting the likes of Leo, Bishop Dwenger and Mishawaka to get to Lucas Oil Stadium.
While the offense can be formidable, it is the defense that has led the way. Creating turnovers has been the hallmark of this team entering this weekend – 30 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries.
The goal once again will be to win the turnover battle over New Palestine. That will be key if the Knights are to pull the upset.
FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Jacob Davis, junior, New Palestine
The chess match between the East Noble defense and Davis will be interesting to watch. The starting quarterback has thrown just a single interception this season with 1,822 yards and 22 touchdowns through the air.
Davis is also an adept runner in New Pal’s power spread scheme, rushing for 612 yards and 12 scores.
RB/LB Dylan Krehl, senior, East Noble
In big games, Krehl’s ability to carve out yards on the ground is paramount to East Noble’s success. He has went for at least 120 yards rushing in nine games, including 200-yard efforts against Leo and Huntington North.
Krehl’s physical stature will not wow you, but he is an aggressive runner with deceptive speed. Defensively, he leads East Noble in tackles (116), tackles for loss (20), sacks (five) and forced fumbles (three).
Michael Thacker, senior, New Palestine
Sitting on several D1 offers, the 6-foot-2, 270-pound Thacker will be the biggest challenge on the interior line that East Noble will have faced all season.
Strong, aggressive and relentless, Thacker leads the Dragons in tackles for loss (29.5) and sacks (10).
The Knights are going to try and establish the run game. Thacker will lead a defensive front that will aim to disrupt and shut down that goal.
LB Kobe Ritchie, senior, East Noble
New Palestine is extremely physical up front, but it is somewhat young with four junior starters on the offensive line.
The veteran Ritchie will be essential in slowing down a rushing attack that averages over 260 yards per game. Don’t be surprised if the Knights send Ritchie right into that offensive front to try and get some tackles for loss. Ritchie has 19 of them, second on the team.
Ritchie also has five sacks and five interceptions, evidence of his versatility all over the East Noble defense.
KEY TO VICTORY – NEW PALESTINE
Dominate from the jump
The Dragons are the favorite in this game. Like East Noble, they are making their first state finals appearance since 2019 when they beat Valparaiso for a title.
Coach Kyle Ralph’s team has the ability to dominate this game in all three facets. The offense is powerful, the defense is stingy and the special teams are sound. If New Palestine starts this game playing to its potential, it is going to be a tough afternoon for East Noble. But the longer the Knights are allowed to hang around, the more confidence is gained where anything can happen.
If New Palestine can build up a multi-score lead in the first quarter or half, it is going to be tough for East Noble to climb back into it.
KEY TO VICTORY – EAST NOBLE
Force miscues
No team in the state finals has more interceptions on the year than East Noble – 30. That’s evidence of a defense that forces opponents to go to the air, either because of being behind or the fact that they can’t run the football.
Somehow, East Noble needs to do one of those to New Palestine, then allow the back end of the defense to cook. That will be assisted by forcing turnovers. If New Pal tries to go vertically early, make it pay for it. If the Dragons look to move the ball on the ground, jar that ball loose on the turf and get a turnover.
East Noble has to force New Palestine into mistakes to win this one. That starts with a defense that forced 41 total turnovers this year.
BLITZ’S PICK
Of all the state matchups for area teams this weekend, this one is the most daunting. New Palestine is No. 1 for a reason.
Blitz has doubted East Noble at key times this season, so this will just fit that narrative. The positive is that the Knights time and again have proven Blitz wrong. They are going to have to do just that to win a state title.
New Palestine is a machine. It is big and strong up front on both sides with playmakers all over the field. This may be a better squad than the back-to-back state title teams of 2018-19 that went a collective 28-0.
East Noble is going to have to play a near-perfect game and hope New Palestine makes some uncharacteristic mistakes to have a chance.
BLITZ SAYS NEW PALESTINE BY 13.
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