New Palestine High School

The 4A No. 1 New Palestine football team returns to Kelso Stadium to face 5A No. 6 Decatur Central in a top 10 matchup. 4A #1/1 New Palestine Dragons (1-0) vs. 5A 6/6 Decatur Central Hawks (0-1) Time: 7 p.m. Friday Location: Kelso Stadium Tickets; $6, cash at gate or online at https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=87197 Audio: NewPalRadio.com (coverage begins at 6 p.m.) Video: IHSAAtv.org (PPV) SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons and Hawks contest what has become an annual Week 2 meeting after they first met in the 2018 5A state championship game. Two of the last three meetings have been decided in the closing seconds. The teams have split their four all-time meetings. This matchup was between a pair of preseason No. 1s - the Dragons remain No. 1 in the polls, while the Hawks fell from the top spot after a 41-15 loss to Columbus North last week. The Dragons are No. 1 for the first time since 2022. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons aerial attack was on point last week, as junior quarterback Jacob Davis completed 10-of-13 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns in his New Palestine debut. Davis completed six passes to sophomore Mason Oglesby for 60 yards. He also connected with Eli Wasson and Austin McMahan on touchdowns. The TD pass to McMahan was a 99-yarder, as McMahan broke free behind the defense, reeled in a pass near midfield and outran the Kokomo defenders to paydirt. It was the longest play in school history, eclipsing a 98-yard run by James Young in the 2014 state championship game victory. McMahan had 106 receiving yards on two catches last week. Caden Jacobia led a running-back-by-committee ground game for the Dragons last week, tallying 52 yards on eight carries. Josh Ranes and Davis each scored their first rushing touchdowns as Dragons. The Red Rage defense held Kokomo to 3.9 yards per play last week and forced three takeaways - all coming on consecutive second-quarter possessions and each leading to a Dragons TD. Oglesby had a fumble recovery, while Josh Ranes and Cameron Rollyson each tallied interceptions. Caden Jacobia led the Dragons with 15 tackles against Kokomo, while Garrett Ranes had 13 - including 12 solos. All-State DL Michael Thacker had 12 tackles - eight solos, a sack and two tackles for loss. Senior Michael Thacker returns after posting 60 tackles, seven sacks and 19 tackles for loss in eight games last season. He has 252 career tackles, including 75 for loss, in three years as a starter. Josh Ranes and Rollyson tallied 11 tackles each. SCOUTING THE HAWKS The Hawks are looking to bounce back from last week’s 41-15 loss at home to Columbus North before beginning play in the Mid-State Conference. Junior QB Bo Polston has committed to the University of Toledo. He was 5-of-8 for 52 yards last week. Junior Braylon Morris was 4-of-6 for 40 yards and a TD. Five passes were completed to Kasmir Hicks for 68 yards and a touchdown. Polston has thrown for more than 1,600 yards in each of his two varsity seasons. He has 3,349 career passing yards, completing 245-of-487, to go along with 34 career passing TDs. The Hawks struggled to get their running game going against Columbus North, rushing for 88 yards on 34 carries. Senior N’Po Dodo led the Hawks with 29 yards. DC dropped from No. 1 to No. 6 in the USA Today Network 5A poll. LOOKING AHEAD The Dragons open conference play next week at Yorktown, beginning a run of three consecutive road games. 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).