MIDDLETOWN — Lapel is headed into regional championship action at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, after a hard-fought overtime win against Shenandoah.

The Bulldogs (8-4) will take on the Eastbrook Panthers (11-1) at home this week after earning the sectional crown on the road Friday in a game players won’t soon forget.

Lapel and Shenandoah seemed unwilling to let go of the rope tethered to the IHSAA sectional title trophy, but the Bulldogs managed a final tug to secure the title in a 42-41 overtime win against the Raiders.

Coming into the game, the Raiders had lost just once and were the favorite, but from the opening kickoff, the Bulldogs paid no attention to season records.

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They were up, and they were down, and when called upon, the Bulldogs responded in a game in which the sad part was someone had to lose.

“We’ve had to play four quarters all year, and we knew if we could get the game into halftime within striking distance we’d have a chance,” head coach Tim Miller said.

On Shenandoah’s first possession, Lapel’s Jakob Addington intercepted a pass from Raider Peyton Starks, but the Bulldogs fumbled away the possession. Turnovers plagued both teams, and Starks and Lapel’s Cole Alexander each threw three interceptions.

Despite the turnovers, Alexander was unfazed and put up 285 passing yards.

“We knew going into the game it was going to be Cole running and Cole throwing,” Miller said. “We’re blessed to have an athlete like him.”

On the celebration field, Alexander couldn’t have been happier.

“It was fantastic,” he said. “We got out there and got the job done. I knew it was going to be a fight all night long.”

Alexander gave kudos to the Bulldogs defense for forcing fumbles to get the momentum back on their side. Defensive back Reese Smith said he was happy to prove what kind of team Lapel is.

“Critics didn’t believe us,” Smith said, “but we came out and showed them, and I’m so happy we did.”

Lapel got on the scoreboard first, when Justin Engle took a six-yard pass from Alexander into the end zone. Luke DesNoyers hit the extra point for a 7-0 Bulldog lead late in the first quarter.

Shenandoah answered on a 35-yard pass to Andrew Bennett, but the extra point attempt missed and the quarter ended with the Bulldogs up 7-6.

The Raiders were gunning for Alexander, who went down twice on a Bulldog second-quarter possession, and the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs, but Lapel’s Tanner Mroz found himself in the right place to catch a bobbled Raiders pass, and the Bulldogs gained possession.

Then, on a third-and-8 pass attempt, Shenandoah’s Kiernan Breckenridge intercepted Alexander’s pass.

While a penalty pushed the Raiders back, they answered with a 65-yard pass to Gabe Young, who took it into the end zone. A successful 2-point conversion gave the Raiders a 14-7 second-quarter lead.

But, Alexander and Charlie Prough teamed up for a 36-yard score near the end of the half, and the Bulldogs evened the score at 14.

Prough has been a strong receiver for the Bulldogs all season.

“There’s a lot of history at Shenandoah, and it feels great to beat them again.” Prough said. “We knew it was going to be a fight. We brought our best, and it showed.”

The Raiders put Alexander to the test, but after two take-downs and escaping a sack, Alexander opened the second half scoring with a long pass to Connor Gill on a fourth-and-15 play, and the Bulldogs were back on top 21-14.

Another Bulldog score gave fans breathing room at 28-14, but the Raiders wanted a win as much as the Bulldogs, and they found the end zone with half a minute remaining in the third quarter, closing the gap to one touchdown.

After a Lapel punt in the fourth quarter, Shenandoah moved the ball, and Young broke the line for a 34-yard run to the end zone, but the Bulldogs blocked the extra point, and the Raiders were down 28-27.

Late in the fourth, Alexander scored on a keeper, but the Raiders’ Young also scored tying the game at 35 with less than two minutes to play.

In the no-time overtime, each team started its drive on the opponent’s 10-yard line. After winning the toss, the Bulldogs elected to play defense first. The Raiders scored, but a failed 2-point conversion got the Lapel fans and team loud.

“We didn’t play perfect, but we played well, and the kids were fired up,” Miller said.

Alexander then took the ball in for the score, and clutch kicker DesNoyers delivered the extra point for the win, giving the Bulldogs back-to-back sectional titles over Shenandoah.

“I can’t be more proud of our guys,” Miller said. “I know everyone looks to last year, but it’s a different group of kids — different mindset.”

DesNoyers — who had a perfect night, 6-6 for extra points — said he wasn’t nervous about attempting the game-winning kick because that’s his job.