New Palestine High School

The Dragons football team continues its schedule with the annual Boundary Rail game against Mt. Vernon. The Dragons look to defend the Rail and the HHC Helmet against the Marauders in the schools' 63rd meeting on the gridiron. It's also NPCFL Night as we recognize the future Dragons in the New Palestine Cadet Football League. Game info 4A #--/RV Mt. Vernon Marauders (1-2, 0-1) at 4A #6/9 New Palestine Dragons (1-2, 1-0) Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8 Site: Kelso Stadium Tickets: $6, cash at gate or online at https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=40698 Broadcast audio: NewPalRadio.com (pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m.) Broadcast video (PPV): IHSAAtv.org/NewPalestine SETTING THE SCENE It’s the annual Battle for the Boundary Rail as the Dragons face Mt. Vernon. It’s the 56th season for both schools and their 63rd meeting. New Palestine leads the all-time series 37-24-1, including 32-22-1 in the regular season. Since the Boundary Rail was first contested in 2005, the Dragons are 15-3 in meetings for the traveling trophy. The Dragons won both meetings last year, with a 35-24 come-from-behind victory in the opening round of the sectional, a game in which Grayson Thomas ran for 191 yards and the go-ahead touchdown. The Dragons gained 509 yards in that contest. In the regular season, the Dragons won 42-6, with Thomas running for 166 yards as NP outgained MV 444-197. This is the first time since 2008 the Dragons and Marauders will face off with both teams having records below .500. NP was 3-5 and MV 1-7 when they met that year. NP and MV have dominated the HHC, with the two schools winning every HHC title since 2010. NP has 10 titles in that span, MV three. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons rallied from an early 9-0 deficit to win 30-22 last week, with Grayson Thomas running for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Thomas now has 4,393 career rushing yards and 66 touchdowns, both second-most in school history. Sophomore QB Gavin Neal threw his first career touchdown pass, a 30-yard strike to Ty Mitchell, last week against Yorktown. Neal threw for a career-high 119 yards and also ran for 70 yards and a score. Mitchell had a season-high 62 receiving yards on four catches. Sophomore Cameron Rollyson also had 42 yards on two catches. The Red Rage had created just one takeaway in the first two games, but had three interceptions last week. Connor Jacobia, Garrett Ranes and Mason Hiatt each had interceptions against a talented Yorktown offense. Caden Jacobia also has an interception against Westfield. 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 399 total wins and need two to reach the 400 mark. Of those, 117 wins have come under Kyle Ralph and 200 under Hall of Famer Marvin Shepler. SCOUTING THE MARAUDERS MV dropped a 41-35 decision to Greenfield-Central last week to fall to 1-2. The Marauders have been very good offensively, scoring 35.3 ppg, but have allowed 42.3 ppg. Sophomore QB Luke Ertel leads the Marauders. He is completing 65 percent of his passes for 246 yards per game and seven touchdowns. His top targets have been seniors Chris Edmonds (11-238) and Tre Jones (12-195, 3 TDs). Junior Joliba Brogan (46-340) leads MV in the running game. LOOKING AHEAD The Dragons conclude their three-game homestand next week against Pendleton Heights. The Dragons then travel to Greenfield-Central Sept. 22. 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 and Instagram (@NewPalestineDragons), Twitter (@NPHSDragons) and online (NewPalestineAthletics.com). Photo credit: Aaron Smith