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New Palestine's Charlie Spegal breaks state rushing record in Dragons' win

Posted at 11:53 PM, Sep 06, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-06 23:53:23-04

NEW PALESTINE — It seems only fitting that the record yards came just as so many have for Charlie Spegal: up the middle, grinding it out for a first down.

"I was just glad to get it over, I hadn't really thought much about it. was focused on getting the win out there with my team," Spegal said.

On his second carry of the game, in which New Palestine beat Yorktown 55-19, Spegal set a new state career rushing record, breaking the previous mark of 8,110 yards set by Elwood's Sammy Mireles.

Spegal finished the game with 184 yards and four touchdowns, giving him 129 touchdowns in his career.

"I've worked my butt off for it, but it's also about my teammates and coaches. guys blocking for me, it's a real team effort," Spegal said.

The previous record-holder was here, as well. Mireles set the mark in the 2013 season, and Friday night, he handed it off to the new rushing record holder.

"It takes a lot of hard work, I know what I had to do to get there," Mireles said. "Takes a special player to do something like that, he's that kind of guy. I'm real happy for him."

As for the rest of the game, it was another dominating performance from the Dragons. A lot of it was through the air in the first half. New Palestine scored 33 points before halftime. Spegal kept running, too, adding more to his total as New Pal improved to 3-0 this season.

"You have to stay healthy, work hard all the time. Have to have some great guys in front of you too. (Spegal's) been fortunate to have that for all four years, real proud of him.

Spegal still has plenty of running ahead of him. The record could be a mile past the mark by the time he's done.

Watch the video above for highlights from the game.

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