Michigan City’s seven-game winning streak ends at half-state against Zionsville | NWI Preps Football

Then, senior quarterback Giovani Laurent became a receiver. Sophomore Tyler Bush lined up behind center. Michigan City has won seven straight and advanced to Friday’s 5A semi-state game against Zionsville.

“I am proud of this team. We are all suffering right now. We had bigger goals and we were one game away but I’m proud of those guys,” Laurent said. “We said we would get this section and region title and I will tell you that no one believed in us. I hate to say it, but some of our fans didn’t believe in us. We kept our own circle and believed in each other.

The Eagles controlled most of Friday’s game, beating Wolves 52-21.

“They’re a really good football team. Our kids played as hard as they could and had a great year,” coach Phil Mason said. work to keep this program where it is. I have been here for six years and in six years we have won three regionals. I am quite proud of that.

Michigan City was without a start running back Jaden Hart.

“He makes the difference. He’s a game changer for us. Without a doubt, I wish I had him,” Mason said. “He would have helped a little bit.”

Andrew Oleksiuk, who won the game with a field goal last week, put Wolves (9-4) up first with a 31-yard field goal.

The Eagles (9-5) fought back with a long drive that ended with a 3-yard goalie from Christian Abney for a touchdown. After a quick possession from Michigan City, Abney threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Gunnar Hartwig.

Hartwig took the ball away from Kenneth Tucker Jr. on the play.

Bush made a few important plays in the next training to keep Wolves alive. He passed the marker on fourth down with less than a yard to go early into possession of Michigan City’s 39-yard line.

Bush capped off the drive with a 21-yard fade to Laurent.

Zionsville moved the ball upfield with several big plays, including a 16-yard touchdown by Gage Bankert. The Eagles scored again just before the break on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Abney to Trey Firestone.

Abney ran for 33 yards on a rush, then Bankert scored on a 24-yard run to start the third quarter.

Wolves scored twice in the air in the second half, first on Omarion Hatch’s 77-yard score and then on a second Laurent catch. Hatch had 246 yards on 13 touches.

“I wish (Hatch) the best. He will become a great basketball player. We will support this basketball team. A lot of our guys are going to go play basketball,” Mason said.

Laurent, who finished with five catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns, smiled and congratulated his teammates in the locker room after the game.

“We went quite far, further than anyone thought,” Laurent said. “I’m proud of these guys, especially my senior class. They pulled us out of this gutter hole that we were in. We got up and did a great job.