New Palestine High School

The Dragons football team faces another team that played in a state championship game in 2025, as they visit 4A No. 6/7 Roncalli for the first-ever regular-season meeting between the two schools. 5A 1/2 NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS (5-1, 4-0 HHC) at 4A 6/7 RONCALLI ROYALS (4-2, 2-1 CCC) Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 Location: Bob Tully Field, Roncalli Tickets: $6, at gate or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=209300 Audio: NewPalRadio.com NOTE: New Palestine fans are asked to park at St. Jude church/school located west of Roncalli. SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons hit the road for the fourth time in five weeks to face Roncalli. NP has won four straight games and Roncalli three straight. This is the first-ever regular season meeting between the two schools. They have met eight times in the postseason between 1985-2023. The Dragons have dropped seven of the eight meetings, with their victory a 44-13 win in the 2014 regional. This is the Dragons’ fifth game against a team ranked at the time of the game. It is their second game this season against a team that played for a state title in 2025. The Dragons clinched at least a share of their fifth straight HHC title last week. They can win it outright with a Week 9 victory over Delta. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons wasted little time getting started in their victory over Greenfield-Central, scoring their first touchdown 82 seconds and four plays into the game, building a 14-point lead in the first five minutes and scoring 20 first-quarter points. The Dragons tallied 445 yards of total offense last week, split between the run and the pass. Rhys Ragan tied a season high with 15 completions, and set a season high with 204 yards. It was his second 200-yard passing game of the year. Ragan has now thrown for 1,016 yards, the 14th straight season the Dragons have had a 1,000-yard passer. He also crossed the 200 completions and 3,500 passing yards barriers for his career last week. Ragan threw for four touchdowns against G-C, becoming the first Dragon to do so since Gavin Neal threw for five touchdowns against Mt. Vernon in 2023. Cael Butler had two touchdown receptions, while Landon Maddox and Mason Oglesby each had one. It’s the first time since Oct. 10, 2025 against New Castle the Dragons have had three players catch touchdown passes in a game. Junior RB Logan Parks was held below 250 yards for the first time in his career as a starter, but he had 143 yards on 16 carries and two TDs last week. He needs 36 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Parks is the second back in Dragons football history to rush for 250 yards in three consecutive games. He ran for 267 vs. Yorktown and 263 vs. Mt. Vernon. He joins Charlie Spegal, who did so in 2018, as Dragons to rush for 250 yards in three straight. Junior linebacker Evan Walker had another big day in the middle of the Dragons’ defense. He recovered a fumble on G-C’s first play, and had a team-high eight tackles for the game. He leads NP with 59 tackles and 7.5 TFL. Senior SL/LB Mason Oglesby passed Blaine Nunnally for ninth place on the career receiving yards list last week and now has 1,171 career receiving yards. He needs 3 yards to catch Brandon Collins in eighth place. With 94 career catches, he needs one to tie Colby Jenkins for third on the NPHS career list. SCOUTING THE ROYALS Roncalli has won three straight games, including last week’s 25-0 victory over Brebeuf Jesuit. Senior QB Dominic Cromer threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns - 74 to Will Hegwood and 70 to Luke Roeder - and also ran for 46 yards and a score. Senior Alex Jarvis ran for 112 yards. Hegwood also had an interception for a defense that allowed 165 total yards. Cromer is completing 61% of his passes for 396 yards and four scores. Jarvis has 419 rushing yards to lead a balanced attack. Roeder leads Roncalli with 276 receiving yards and four TDs. FOLLOW US All New Palestine games are broadcast free-to-listen at NewPalRadio.com. NPHS Athletics are on Facebook and Instagram (@NewPalestineDragons), Twitter (@NPHSDragons) and online (NewPalestineAthletics.com).