New Palestine High School

The Dragons football team opens its 2023 home schedule Friday night at Kelso Stadium against the Yorktown Tigers. It is also the conference opener for the reigning HHC champion Dragons and a matchup of ranked teams. Game info 3A #RV/10 Yorktown Tigers (2-0, 0-0) at 4A #7/10 New Palestine Dragons (0-2, 0-0) Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1 Site: Kelso Stadium Tickets: $6, cash at gate or online at https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=39739 Broadcast audio: NewPalRadio.com (pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m.) Broadcast video (PPV): IHSAAtv.org/NewPalestine SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons look to bounce back from an 0-2 start, with two losses to ranked teams in higher classes, with their home opener against Yorktown. The Dragons have won their home opener in 10 consecutive years and 13 of their last 14. The Dragons lead the all-time series 22-5, including 10 straight victories over the Tigers. Last year, the Dragons won 50-13, scoring 26 points in the third quarter to break the game open. Grayson Thomas had 117 rushing yards and Ty Mitchell 98 receiving yards in that contest. The Dragons are 0-2 for the second time in 11 seasons after a last-minute loss last week to Decatur Central. Last time the Dragons were 0-2, they defeated Yorktown 42-14 at Kelso Stadium in 2021. This is the Dragons’ third consecutive game this season against a ranked team. This game features the two longest-tenured HHC coaches in 19th-year Yorktown leader Mike Wilhelm and 11th-year Dragons leader Kyle Ralph. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons built leads of 21-7 and 35-24 last week against Decatur Central, tallying six rushing touchdowns from three different players, but DC rallied with 10 points in the final 5:50 to steal the victory. Senior RB Grayson Thomas had a big game against Decatur Central with a career-high 233 yards. It was his third career 200-yard game and his first since Sept. 3, 2021 against Yorktown, when he ran for 207 yards. His previous career high was 228, tallied in his freshman year against Shelbyville. Thomas’ 76-yard run on the first play of the second half was the Dragons’ first 70-yard play from scrimmge since Sept. 17, 2021. Senior slot Kyler Kropp is a versatile weapon for the Dragons. Last week, he had four catches for 100 yards - including grabs of 48 and 41 yards. He also rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown and had 50 kick return yards for 216 all-purpose yards. Kropp rushed for 103 yards in Week 1 and his 100-yard receiving game in Week 2 was the Dragons’ first since current Ball State Cardinal Isaiah Thacker had 109 in last year’s sectional title game. The Dragons tallied 312 yards rushing against Decatur Central, their first 300-yard game on the ground since Oct. 15, 2021 against Delta. The Dragons’ offensive line is anchored by senior Ian Moore. The Ohio State commit is the No. 2-ranked offensive lineman nationally by Rivals. He will be a two-way starter. Defensively, Michael Thacker returns for his third season as a starter after posting a sophomore season with 13 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss. Both were named IFCA Top 50 All-State players in 2022. This is the Dragons 56th season of varsity football. They enter this week with 398 total wins and need two to reach the 400 mark. Of those, 116 wins have come under Kyle Ralph and 200 under Hall of Famer Marvin Shepler. SCOUTING THE TIGERS Yorktown is 2-0 for the seventh consecutive season. The Tigers, fresh off their first sectional title since 2014, have outscored their two foes 105-13. Senior QB Mason Moulton is Yorktown’s leader. A four-year varsity performer, Moulton is completing 61% of his passes for 201 yards per game and five touchdowns. His top target has been junior Ephraim Dougherty, who has 221 yardson 14 catches. Senior Quentin Williams has 100 receiving. Senior Ayden Ewing has 159 rushing yards. LOOKING AHEAD The Dragons continue their three-game homestand next week against Mt. Vernon in the Boundary Rail Game. It will be the 56th regular-season meeting between the two programs. Pendleton Heights visit Kelso Stadium the following week to close the homestand. The Dragons’ next six games will be played inside Hancock County. FOLLOW US All New Palestine games are broadcast free-to-listen at NewPalRadio.com. All home games are also video streamed at IHSAAtv.org on a pay-per-view basis. NPHS Athletics is on Facebook (NewPalestineDragons), Twitter (@NPHSDragons), Instagram (@newpalestinedragons) and online (NewPalestineAthletics.com).