New Palestine overpowers Shelbyville in battle of unbeatens for HHC title

The start was just what Shelbyville needed -- a forced turnover and an 8-play scoring drive.

Shelbyville Middle School’s eighth-grade football team had a quick 8-0 lead over New Palestine Tuesday in the Hoosier Heritage Conference championship game at McKeand Stadium. Both programs entered the game with 7-0 records.

The Dragons responded with a 10-play scoring drive then its defense limited the Golden Bears to just three first downs over the final three quarters to secure a 32-8 victory.

“We had some special teams mistakes and shut down a little bit but this group fought all year long,” said Shelbyville Middle School head coach Doug Brown. “We can’t hang our hats on it.”

Cohen Wuethrich punished the Shelbyville defense with 135 yards rushing on 18 carries. He had touchdown runs of 53 and six yards and produced a blocked punt early in the fourth quarter that set up his second scoring run that extended New Palestine’s lead to 24-8.

“(Weuthrich) stays low to the ground and if you hit him up top you were bouncing off of him,” said Brown.

Jude Russell intercepted a Layden Fitzgerald pass near midfield on Shelbyville’s next possession and returned it to the end zone to begin the celebration.

“Our offense sputtered a little bit. I think they were a little more physical up front,” said Brown. “We tried to get outside and use our athletes against theirs but we didn’t get the blocks.”

Shelbyville Middle School quarterback Layden Fitzgerald, left, looks for a receiver down the field Tuesday against New Palestine.

Following a Wuethrich fumble on the third play of the game, Shelbyville marched to the end zone on a drive that lasted over four minutes and ended with Fitzgerald reaching the end zone on a 1-yard run. The youngest son of Shelbyville High School football head coach Scott Fitzgerald then completed a two-point conversion pass to Camden Thoman for an early 8-0 advantage.

Wuethrich carried the ball on six of New Palestine’s next eight plays but a penalty and an incomplete pass left the Dragons with third-and-15 from the Shelbyville 42. Owen Darragh slipped back across the field all alone and Grady Nicholson found him for New Palestine’s first touchdown. Wuethrich completed the two-point conversion run to tie the game.

New Palestine's Tucker Harbert, left, looks for room to run as Anthony Bruno (7) blocks a Golden Bear Tuesday at McKeand Stadium.

The Dragons opened the second half with an onside kick and recovery. Four plays later, Wuethrich broke several tackles on the way to a 53-yard touchdown run. Anthony Bruno completed the two-point conversion run and it was all Dragons after that point.

Shelbyville’s offense only ran three plays in the third quarter but was still in contention until Wuethrich blocked a punt attempt which gave the Dragons the ball at the Shelbyville 6. One play later, Wuethrich had his second touchdown of the game. Bruno caught the two-point conversion pass from Nicholson to make it 24-8.

Now forced to get the ball down the field quickly, Russell’s pick six with 5:36 to go sealed the perfect season and a second-straight HHC title for New Palestine.

The much-heralded Golden Bears finished 7-1 and closed out their middle school careers with just two losses – both in competitive games with New Palestine.

This large-in-overall numbers and talented class is just what the high school football program needs as it tries to climb back into the top half of the HHC standings and produce winning seasons.

“They will bring a lot of physicality, they’ve got athletes and they bring some speed,” said Brown of what their impact can be on the next level. “They are very smart football players and coachable kids. That is the main thing, they are coachable. They see things that we don’t always see and they let us know about it.”

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