The Lapel High School varsity football team will host a home playoff game against Indianapolis Lutheran (Indianapolis, IN) on Friday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m.

What: Indiana High School Football
Who: Lapel (IN) vs Indianapolis Lutheran (IN)
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

Matchup Preview: Indianapolis Lutheran vs. Lapel

The upcoming matchup between Indianapolis Lutheran and Lapel promises an intriguing clash between two teams that have shown strong performances this season. Both teams have impressive records, yet they differ significantly in playing style, strengths, and overall team dynamics.

Team Rankings & Records

• Indianapolis Lutheran
  • Class: 1st in Indiana
  • Overall Record: 11-1
  • Conference Record: 6-1
  • Home: 6-0, Away: 5-1
  • Points For (PF): 515, Points Against (PA): 118
  • Win %: .917, Conference Win %: .857
• Lapel
  • Class: 8th in Indiana
  • Overall Record: 9-3
  • Conference Record: 0-1
  • Home: 2-3, Away: 7-0
  • Points For (PF): 341, Points Against (PA): 236
  • Win %: .750, Conference Win %: .000

Indianapolis Lutheran is ranked higher, with only one loss this season and an impressive home record, making them a formidable opponent. Lapel, however, has shown exceptional resilience on the road with a perfect away record of 7-0, adding an unpredictable edge to the game.

Scoring and Performance by Quarters

• Indianapolis Lutheran dominates in the first half, particularly in the second quarter, where they average 18.5 points. They maintain a strong lead into the third quarter and focus on maintaining their advantage in the fourth.
  • Q1: 13.8 | Q2: 18.5 | Q3: 7.3 | Q4: 3.3 | Final Avg: 42.9 points per game
• Lapel has a slower start but picks up momentum as the game progresses. Their second-half performance is stronger, with an average of 7.6 points in the third and 7.0 in the fourth, which could mean they rely on resilience and adaptability.
  • Q1: 4.2 | Q2: 8.4 | Q3: 7.6 | Q4: 7.0 | Final Avg: 28.4 points per game

Indianapolis Lutheran’s ability to establish early leads is likely to challenge Lapel’s typically slower start. Lapel will need to bridge the gap quickly or risk being overwhelmed by Indianapolis Lutheran’s high-scoring offense.

Team Stat Comparison

• Indianapolis Lutheran
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 146.3
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 200.2
  • Total Yards Per Game: 346.4
  • Tackles Per Game: 51.8
  • Sacks Per Game: 2.0
  • Points Per Game: 33.3
• Lapel
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 116.7
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 258.8
  • Total Yards Per Game: 375.5
  • Tackles Per Game: 80.7
  • Sacks Per Game: 1.5
  • Points Per Game: 28.6

Lapel shows strength in the passing game with an average of 258.8 passing yards per game, compared to Indianapolis Lutheran’s 200.2. However, Indianapolis Lutheran’s balanced offense and slightly better points-per-game average suggest they can mount a more versatile attack.

Key Players

• Indianapolis Lutheran
  • D’Marco Wilson (#5): 114.9 rushing yards per game
  • Jackson Willis (#10): 235.4 passing yards per game
  • LJ Ward (#1): 70.3 receiving yards per game
  • Hudson Mills (#85): 9.4 tackles per game
  • Raishaun Mchaney (#76): 1.1 sacks per game
• Lapel
  • Jack Miller (#2): 98.1 rushing yards per game
  • Devin Craig (#11): 254.5 passing yards per game
  • Rylie Hudson (#22): 92.8 receiving yards per game
  • Isaiah Young (#32): 13.8 tackles per game
  • Jayden Lindsey (#9): 0.4 sacks per game

Indianapolis Lutheran’s D’Marco Wilson and Lapel’s Jack Miller are both potent rushers who can change the pace of the game. Lapel’s Devin Craig and Indianapolis Lutheran’s Jackson Willis will likely play critical roles in the passing game, setting up key plays for their respective teams.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced Triton Central and Heritage Christian this season:

• Indianapolis Lutheran lost to Triton Central (16-13) but defeated Heritage Christian decisively (49-7).
• Lapel defeated Triton Central (27-17) but lost to Heritage Christian (40-21).

These results suggest that both teams have strengths and weaknesses against similar opponents, but Indianapolis Lutheran’s dominant win over Heritage Christian indicates a strong capability to handle opponents decisively.

Game Outlook

Indianapolis Lutheran’s high ranking, well-rounded offense, and solid home record give them an advantage. However, Lapel’s undefeated away record and superior tackling ability (80.7 tackles per game) show they are well-equipped to compete. This matchup will likely be determined by Indianapolis Lutheran’s ability to exploit their early-game strength against Lapel’s resilience in the second half.