New Palestine High School

The New Palestine football team seeks its sixth consecutive sectional championship Friday night, as the Dragons travel to Tech High School to face Cathedral in a 1 vs. 2 matchup. (5A 2/2) NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS (7-3) at (5A 1/1) CATHEDRAL IRISH (7-3) Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 Location: Howard Longshore Stadium, Arsenal Tech HS, Indianapolis Tickets: $8, https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=217374. NO CASH SALES. ONLINE OR CREDIT/DEBIT CARD ONLY Audio: NewPalRadio.com SETTING THE SCENE For the 26th time in school history, and the 10th consecutive season, the Dragons are playing for a sectional championship. NP will be seeking its 17th overall sectional title and sixth straight. The Dragons are 10-2 in sectional title games under coach Kyle Ralph’s tutelage, and 28-3 in sectional play since 2013. NP is 47-8 all-time in tourney play in Ralph’s tenure. This is the Dragons’ first No. 1 vs. No. 2 tournament game since meeting Cathedral in the 2025 sectional final, a game the Dragons won 20-15. New Palestine leads the series 3-2, with all five meetings taking place in the IHSAA tournament. The winner of the last three meetings - in 2019, 2021 and 2025 - have gone on to win the state title. The Dragons have won 12 straight tournament games dating to 2024, and 14 straight sectional games dating to 2021. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons offense clicked again in a 53-35 victory over No. 7/5 Pendleton Heights. They amassed 549 yards of offense - 300 on the ground and 249 through the air - in the victory. The Dragons scored on nine of their 11 possessions, with seven touchdowns. WR/DB Cael Butler had an incredible start to the game. He reeled in a 39-yard TD pass on the Dragons’ first drive, then on the next snap, he picked off a pass on PH’s first offensive play and ran it back to the 15, setting up another score. Butler later had a 44-yard touchdown grab and finished the game with his second pick, coming in the end zone on PH’s last play of the game. Ragan threw for 249 yards, his season-high, completing 13-of-16 passes. He moved into 10th on the NPHS single-season passing list with 1,692 yards. It was his fourth 200-yard passing game of the season and the 10th of his career. After missing the last game and a half with an injury, Logan Parks returned to the starting role and tallied his fourth 200-yard, four-touchdown game of the season, running for 211 yards. He now leads the HHC in rushing yards, and is fourth in Class 5A, despite playing in only seven games. TE Mason Oglesby had another five-reception day against PH. He is now second on the career receptions list with 113, trailing leader Tyler Walden (138). He also is sixth on the receiving yards list. He needs 24 yards to move into the top five. DL Sam Hirschy had another monster day against the Arabians. He had three sacks, 4.5 TFL, 10 tackles and four quarterback hurries to lead the Red Rage defense. Hirschy now has 7.5 sacks on the season. DB Andrew Davis and LB Waynee Estes each had nine tackles against PH. Wuethrich also had a sack. SCOUTING THE IRISH Cathedral enters the game ranked No. 1 in both polls and the MaxPreps rankings in Class 5A. The Irish have played a heavily-regional schedule, with five out-of-state schools, and have posted a 7-3 mark. The Irish use two QBs. Luke Finn completes 64% of his passes for 810 yards, while Emmett Knowles is completing 59% for 598 yards. RB Xavier Dangerfield leads a balanced running game that averages 169 yards per contest, as he has 905 yards. Senior Evan Johnson is the top receiver, with 604 yards on 39 catches. Defensively, Cathedral has 17 interceptions, with James Groepper’s five leading the team. Cathedral beat Mt. Vernon 49-7 last week, holding the Marauders to 155 total yards. Finn threw for 128 and Knowles 63. Dangerfield tallied 135 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries. Johnson had 108 receiving yards. LOOKING AHEAD The winner of this game will face either Plainfield or Terre Haute South in next week’s regional game. The Dragons would travel to Plainfield but host THS. 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).