4A State Championship — #1 New Palestine (13-0) vs East Noble (13-1)

[Knightsfan_01]

4A state Finals are set!  
 

New Pal definitely handled Martinsville with ease.. while EN squeaked by Mishawaka..

Good luck to both communities!

[temptation]

Most intriguing matchup of the weekend to me.

[BTF]

7 hours ago, temptation said:

Most intriguing matchup of the weekend to me.

For the first time in several years, EVERY game is intriging for a change. But yes, I'm intrigued by this one as well. 

[BTF]

7 hours ago, Knightsfan_01 said:

4A state Finals are set!  
 

New Pal definitely handled Martinsville with ease.. while EN squeaked by Mishawaka..

Good luck to both communities!

Look no further than last year. Squeaking by Mishawaka is no easy task. It actually screams that you're a pretty dangerous team. 

[Komets2727]

East Noble is the real deal folks. New Pal is a very good team and may win the title, but the Knights will definitely show up and fight. Very confident that this will not be a blowout

[olinecoach]

Having watched both of these teams (New Pal significantly more I will admit) I do not think this game will be very close. IF EN can slow down the ground game for NP, that could change things, but I don't see that happening. EN is good, but NP has the talent and oline/dline of many high level 5a or 6a programs.

[Tin Cup]

The championship was played two weeks ago when NP beat BC in OT.   New Pal will roll this week.

[CoachMack219]

I'll take Coach Ralph, New Pal, and the Over. Lol 

[Coach Nowlin]

Very happy for my friend Coach Stewart, we've had some great battles when he was at Western and very impressive in year 1 taking the Knights down to state !!! 

 

[Cavemen24]

I'm rooting for East Noble but it will be tough to beat New Pal.

[crimsonace1]

The two teams are almost mirror images of each other offensively. Both have an outstanding RB who also plays LB (Dylan Krehl for EN, Josh Ranes for NP), a solid #2 running back that rotates in, a QB who can hurt you with both arm and legs, a very big offensive line, and they both run spread with a lot of the same concepts (power running with a vertical passing game), both feast on forcing turnovers ... EN has 41 takeaways this season, New Pal has 28, but has only committed five. NP had an impressive win over Chatard in the regional in OT, East Noble had an impressive win over Mishawaka that saw multiple lead changes and wasn't decided until the final possession. Otherwise, both have rolled through the postseason. 

I see what should be a very, very even matchup between two very good teams. 

[Olympian06]

New Pal by 21. 

[Knightsfan_01]

The more I look at this game the more I like East Nobles chances.  Both teams scoring avg, pts against, and margin of victory are similar.  They are both 1-0 against the states top 25.  New Pal is 5-0 against the states top 64 while East Noble is 7-1.  

Who has New Pal played other than Chatard and Martinsville??? No-one..  I’m not doubting they are good, or even #1 in 4A.  But the assumption that EN won’t compete is a joke.  I have not seen anything on film or otherwise that suggests this game is New Pals easily.

This EN team is ready. They have a cockiness and confidence I haven’t seen since 2019.  Their D is a UNIT!  They have athletes on the D-line, their linebackers are amazing, and their secondary might be the best EN has ever had.

The lights are bright at Lucas Oil though.  Whoever plays the cleaner game I think wins.  I think if EN can come out +1 in the turnover margin.. they pull out the win.  If they can’t take care of the ball and lose the turnover margin it will go to New Pal.

EN - 24

New Pal - 17

 

 

[FastpacedO]

1 hour ago, Knightsfan_01 said:

Who has New Pal played other than Chatard and Martinsville??? No-one..  I’m not doubting they are good, or even #1 in 4A. 

Who New Palestine has or hasn’t played will not matter. They have been ragged on for their schedule for years (due to their conference). Coach Ralph is 140-14 over 12 years for a reason. They are very well coached, very disciplined, and very well conditioned.

it should be a good game

[Knightsfan_01]

2 minutes ago, FastpacedO said:

Who New Palestine has or hasn’t played will not matter. They have been ragged on for their schedule for years (due to their conference). Coach Ralph is 140-14 over 12 years for a reason. They are very well coached, very disciplined, and very well conditioned.

it should be a good game

I’m not ragging on them.  Their SoS is just a bit higher than EN’s so why would I? Lol

I’m just saying the people expecting this not to be close must just be going off program history, pedigree, eye tests, whatever.  
 

I always try to be a little more subjective but admittedly my opinion has bias as well.

[Justasportsfan]

East Noble shocked me by beating the cavemen..dragons on a different level though..new pal -9.5

[SMAUG]

Virgin Post:

Due to extreme bias and all out homerphyllia (there is no cure) I try to keep my ignorance to myself but…….

Yinyang Li … New Pal -16.5

 

[FastpacedO]

11 hours ago, Knightsfan_01 said:

I’m not ragging on them.  Their SoS is just a bit higher than EN’s so why would I? Lol

I’m just saying the people expecting this not to be close must just be going off program history, pedigree, eye tests, whatever.  
 

I always try to be a little more subjective but admittedly my opinion has bias as well.

I didn't feel you were ragging on them. I was just stating they have been ragged on for their schedule for several years. It was the topic of discussion prior to New Palestine playing at Bishop Chatard for Regionals and that they had not played anyone (especially in comparison to Chatard). They ended up beating Chatard at Chatard 28-21 in OT, and the game was just as good as I had expected it to be.

So far this year New Palestine's toughest opponents would be Chatard, and I would put Martinsville and Decatur Central about even behind Chatard. Decatur Central does not show in their schedule because the game was called at halftime deadlocked at 21-21 but was never completed. I am not sure why it was not resumed on Saturday (I am assuming they could not get officials. Their conference is not the greatest but when it comes to the tournament the majority of them (minus Delta and Shelbyville) are all in the same sectional. Greenfield-Central (at least this year), Pendleton Heights, and Mt. Vernon aren't terrible but this year probably were not the strongest.

Having watched in person and on film New Pal and watching film of East Noble they are almost mirror images of each other. Both with Power offenses and East Noble running a 3-4 defense while New Pal runs a 3-3 stack. Both teams want to run the football New Pal 3,690 rush yards 263.6 per game and East Noble 3,391 rush yards 242.2 per game. They also both can throw the ball if needed New Pal 1,847 pass yards 141.9 per game and East Noble 1,621 pass yards 115.8 per game. Both teams create a lot of turnovers New Pal 28 forced turnovers (10 fumbles 18 Int's) and East Noble 43 forced turnovers (11 fumbles 30 Int). They also both take care of the football New Pal has only turned the ball over 5 times (4 fumbles 1 Int) and East Noble has only turned the ball over 11 times (4 fumbles 7 Int).

This may be the best game of the 6 State Championships (6A and 5A could be the best 2). No homer from me as I have no affiliation with New Pal or East Noble, but I will take New Pal in a coin toss game for 2 reasons a.) experience at Lucas Oil Stadium for the coaches and preparing their team for the big stage, b.) New Pal has a kicker who has a longest FG of 49 yards. Aside from that I think it is definitely a coin flip game.

[Olympian06]

New Pal… way too much 

[dmizers3]

On 11/28/2024 at 4:55 PM, Knightsfan_01 said:

The more I look at this game the more I like East Nobles chances.  Both teams scoring avg, pts against, and margin of victory are similar.  They are both 1-0 against the states top 25.  New Pal is 5-0 against the states top 64 while East Noble is 7-1.  

Who has New Pal played other than Chatard and Martinsville??? No-one..  I’m not doubting they are good, or even #1 in 4A.  But the assumption that EN won’t compete is a joke.  I have not seen anything on film or otherwise that suggests this game is New Pals easily.

This EN team is ready. They have a cockiness and confidence I haven’t seen since 2019.  Their D is a UNIT!  They have athletes on the D-line, their linebackers are amazing, and their secondary might be the best EN has ever had.

The lights are bright at Lucas Oil though.  Whoever plays the cleaner game I think wins.  I think if EN can come out +1 in the turnover margin.. they pull out the win.  If they can’t take care of the ball and lose the turnover margin it will go to New Pal.

EN - 24

New Pal - 17

 

 

Oops

[Donnie Baker]

On 11/28/2024 at 4:55 PM, Knightsfan_01 said:

The more I look at this game the more I like East Nobles chances.  Both teams scoring avg, pts against, and margin of victory are similar.  They are both 1-0 against the states top 25.  New Pal is 5-0 against the states top 64 while East Noble is 7-1.  

Who has New Pal played other than Chatard and Martinsville??? No-one..  I’m not doubting they are good, or even #1 in 4A.  But the assumption that EN won’t compete is a joke.  I have not seen anything on film or otherwise that suggests this game is New Pals easily.

This EN team is ready. They have a cockiness and confidence I haven’t seen since 2019.  Their D is a UNIT!  They have athletes on the D-line, their linebackers are amazing, and their secondary might be the best EN has ever had.

The lights are bright at Lucas Oil though.  Whoever plays the cleaner game I think wins.  I think if EN can come out +1 in the turnover margin.. they pull out the win.  If they can’t take care of the ball and lose the turnover margin it will go to New Pal.

EN - 24

New Pal - 17

 

 

This aged like a bottle of Boones Farm tickled pink. I swear to God it did 

[Olympian06]

On 11/28/2024 at 4:55 PM, Knightsfan_01 said:

The more I look at this game the more I like East Nobles chances.  Both teams scoring avg, pts against, and margin of victory are similar.  They are both 1-0 against the states top 25.  New Pal is 5-0 against the states top 64 while East Noble is 7-1.  

Who has New Pal played other than Chatard and Martinsville??? No-one..  I’m not doubting they are good, or even #1 in 4A.  But the assumption that EN won’t compete is a joke.  I have not seen anything on film or otherwise that suggests this game is New Pals easily.

This EN team is ready. They have a cockiness and confidence I haven’t seen since 2019.  Their D is a UNIT!  They have athletes on the D-line, their linebackers are amazing, and their secondary might be the best EN has ever had.

The lights are bright at Lucas Oil though.  Whoever plays the cleaner game I think wins.  I think if EN can come out +1 in the turnover margin.. they pull out the win.  If they can’t take care of the ball and lose the turnover margin it will go to New Pal.

EN - 24

New Pal - 17

 

 

Woof 

[CaptainHook]

I did not think East Noble would be able to run the ball vs the Dragons.  But I did not expect 61 yards, most of which came in last drive vs subs.  Held their leading rusher to -7 yards.

[Olympian06]

39 minutes ago, CaptainHook said:

I did not think East Noble would be able to run the ball vs the Dragons.  But I did not expect 61 yards, most of which came in last drive vs subs.  Held their leading rusher to -7 yards.

Hopefully New Pal will have a tougher schedule next year… they need to be better prepared. 

[CaptainHook]

4 hours ago, Olympian06 said:

Hopefully New Pal will have a tougher schedule next year… they need to be better prepared. 

haven't heard much from that guy since Regional