New Palestine High School

The New Palestine football team travels to Fortville for the 55th regular season meeting of their county rivalry with the host Marauders. Game info 4A #1/1 New Palestine Dragons (3-0, 1-0 HHC) at 4A 9/10 Mt. Vernon Marauders (1-2, 0-1 HHC) Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 (gates open 6 p.m.) Site: Mt. Vernon Stadium, Fortville (directions: https://goo.gl/maps/f8FZkzQBS7rHa5FV7) Tickets: $6, available at the gate or in advance online at spicket.events/marauders Broadcast audio: NewPalRadio.com (pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m.) Video: NFHSnetwork.org (no commentary, PPV) SETTING THE SCENE It’s the 55th year for Dragons football and the 61st time they meet their arch-rivals to the north. Both the Boundary Rail and the HHC’s Helmet trophy are on the line this week, as well as first place in the conference. New Palestine leads the all-time series 35-24-1, including 31-22-1 in the regular season. Since the Boundary Rail was first contested in 2005, the Dragons are 14-3 in meetings for the traveling trophy. NP and MV have met every year since 1968. The Dragons are 3-0 for the ninth time in 10 years and the 10th time in the last 12. This will be the Dragons’ third game this season against a ranked team. DRAGONS NOTES Junior RB Grayson Thomas has started the season with three straight 100-yard games, tallying 187 against Westfield, 173 on 12 carries against Decatur Central and 117 on 16 carries against Yorktown. He now has 2,866 yards and 41 TDs for his career. He needs 54 yards to reach Chris Grider for fifth on NP’s all-time rushing list and 134 yards to become the fifth 3,000-yard rusher in school history. The Dragons’ passing game hit the 200-yard mark last for the first time in 16 games. Senior Danny Tippit was 14-20 for 184 yards and two scores, while senior Eian Roudebush was 2-3 for 21 yards in the 50-13 victory over Yorktown. Junior WR Ty Mitchell had the Dragons’ biggest receiving game of the season against Yorktown, hauling in five passes for 98 yards. That included a 66-yard catch that set up a second-quarter TD pass to Kyler Kropp. Senior WR Isaiah Thacker eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for his career against Westfield. He now has 1,109 total receiving yards in three varsity seasons, 817 of which have come in two years at New Palestine. He needs 183 yards to become the ninth 1,000-yard receiver in school history. Senior K Brendan Tanksley, an All-HHC selection last year, hit a school-record 47-yard field goal at the end of the first half against Yorktown. The Dragons scored four TDs in a 4:39 span last week, punctuated by three consecutive interceptions that led to scores. A.J. Reierson had a 13-yard pick-6 - the Dragons’ second defensive TD of the season. The Red Rage has allowed just 106 rushing yards total the last two weeks against Decatur Central and Yorktown. Eli Hook and Blaine Nunnally led the Dragons with nine tackles each against the Tigers. Michael Thacker had eight tackles, four TFLs and two sacks. Roudebush, A.J. Reierson, Daniel Thacker and Nunnally all had interceptions last week, with Reierson’s going for a pick-6, the Dragons’ second this season. Two Dragon seniors - Isaiah Thacker (Ball State) and Luke Burgess (Louisville) - have committed to play collegiately next season. Junior OL Ian Moore is the No. 1-rated offensive tackle nationally by Rivals, who has Moore rated as the No. 1 Class of 2024 prospect in the state and No. 33 in the nation. SCOUTING THE MARAUDERS Mt. Vernon started the season 0-2 but rallied in the fourth quarter last week to beat Greenfield-Central in its home opener. The Marauders currently hold the HHC’s Helmet trophy. The Marauders are averaging 29 ppg on 383 ypg and allowing 30.3 ppg. Senior Eli Bridenthal leads the Marauders, with 178 rushing yards and four TDs. He also has 223 receiving yards. Senior George Burhenn has 11 catches for 227 yards. LOOKING AHEAD The Dragons complete their three-game road swing at Pendleton Heights, a team the Dragons have defeated in 10 consecutive meetings. 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) and online (NewPalestineAthletics.com).