Michigan City’s history-making football season unfortunately, came to an end last night when they lost to the Kokomo High School WildKats 21-14 at Kokomo.
The game began with Michigan City kicking off to Kokomo and a pretty great drive from the Wildkats with a 25-yard pass. Kokomo scored early with 6 minutes and 15 seconds left in the first quarter, bringing the score to 7-0. The Wolves fought hard to get back into the game and in 24 seconds after Kokomo scored, achieved a 71-yard catch and run play, tying up the game at 7-7.
The Wildkats punted after a 3 and out by the Wolves’ defense, leading City to take over on their 42-yard line.
The Wolves made it to the Wildkats’ 17-yard line on their 4th down and 5, sent out their kicker and then called their 1st time out of the game with 2 minutes and 53 seconds left in the 1st quarter. The game was still tied 7-7.
The Wolves then attempted a conversion and failed on the 4th down, handing the ball off to Kokomo. With 6 seconds left in the 1st quarter, Michigan City called their second timeout.
The 2nd quarter began after Kokomo converted on their 4th down, leading to a Kokomo 1st and 10 on the Wolves’ 31-yard line. City’s defense held, though, and after a 6-yard loss they took over on their 20-yard line after a touchback with 11 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter. Unfortunately, City lost a fumble following the touchback and Kokomo took over, leading to a Wildkats touchdown. After that, Kokomo led the game 14-7.
Michigan City returned the kickoff to their 31-yard line with 8 minutes and 53 seconds left in the 2nd quarter, with the Wildkats still leading 14-7. They made it to the Kokomo 40-yard line before 2 illegal motion penalties by City led to a Kokomo interception with only 5 minutes and 39 seconds left in the 1st half.
Kokomo unfortunately scored following this, leading to a 21-7 Wildkat lead at the end of the 1st half.
The Wolves came up hard in the 2nd half after their rough 1st and 2nd quarters, getting a long drive with 7 minutes and 57 seconds left in the quarter, leading them to 4th and goal on the Kokomo 4-yard line. Unfortunately again, the Wildkats proved too much for the Wolves and they failed to score.
Kokomo then fumbled, leading to the Wolves getting the ball within the Wildkats’ 5-yard line and a subsequent touchdown and conversion by City, bringing the score to 21-14.
The weather became a factor at this point, with heavy winds and rain blanketing the field. Despite the adverse conditions, City managed an intercept with 45 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.
From there, the game was deadlocked, with both teams working hard to win, with Michigan City’s defense putting a ton of pressure on the Wildkats and Kokomo picking up the ball after a Wolves fumble. City came out in force in the last 5 minutes of the game, pressing hard to tie up the game with a touchdown and conversion, however they couldn’t make it and closed out the game after an incomplete pass, 21-14.
This is by no means a total loss for City. For the 1st time in Michigan City’s 116 year-long history of highschool football, they not only made it to a regional championship game, but won that and made it to semi-state competitions. This wasn’t a story of a superior team crushing an inferior team, but one of two, very much evenly-matched teams going head to head, with only one coming out on top.
This is a win in Michigan City’s history books, and La Porte County’s as a whole, as for the 1st time ever we saw people and businesses from across the county come together in immense support of the Wolves. The pride shown in our young athletes is reflected in our pride for our home in La Porte County, showing that when it comes right down to it, we’re all in this together and we are one La Porte County.
So Congratulations to the Michigan City Wolves on closing out the best season they’ve ever had, and thank you to everyone who came out in support of our hometown team.
Special thanks to the Fans of Michigan City Wolves Football Facebook Page for real-time game updates and the Michigan City High School and Fans of Michigan City Wolves football Facebook pages.