New Palestine High School

The New Palestine football team heads north to Fortville for the 65th meeting against Mt. Vernon. The Battle for the Boundary Rail features the Dragons against their oldest and fiercest rival. The New Palestine football team hits the road for the first time this season to face Yorktown. 4A #1/1 New Palestine Dragons (2-0, 1-0) at Mt. Vernon Marauders (0-3, 0-1) Time: 7 p.m. Friday (gates open 6 p.m., no admission prior to gate opening) Location: Mt. Vernon Stadium, Fortville Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vrc3aRvnag5KGaN78 Tickets; $6, https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=83373 Spectators STRONGLY encouraged to purchase tickets in advance due to expected large crowds. Parking: See attached map. Audio: NewPalRadio.com (coverage begins at 6 p.m.) SETTING THE SCENE It’s the annual Battle for the Boundary Rail - the 65th meeting between the Dragons and Marauders and the 57th regular season matchup since both schools began varsity football in 1968. The Dragons hold a 39-24-1 overall record in the series. NP is 33-22-1 in the regular season and is 16-3 in meetings for the Boundary Rail traveling trophy since it was first contested in 2005. The Dragons are ranked No. 1 in both polls for the fourth consecutive week. This is the 24th consecutive poll week in which the Dragons are ranked. The Dragons are 75-2 in HHC games since 2013. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons had an efficient game last week at Yorktown, as the varsity offense scored six touchdowns in six possessions in a 41-13 victory over Yorktown. The Dragons ran for 259 yards and averaged 10 yars per carry, led by Josh Ranes, who had 177 yards and two TDs on 10 carries, including a 64-yard TD run and a 40-yard run that set up a score. QB Jacob Davis tallied 51 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, while also completing 7-of-8 passes for 116 yards and a TD. WR Austin McMahan had 71 yards receiving, including a 55-yard touchdown reception. Junior safety Connor Jacobia had a big game defensively last week. He recovered a fumble in the first quarter, and his second-quarter interception set up the Dragons’ fifth TD of the half. Jacobia also had six tackles - including a 4th-and-1 tackle on a screen pass that stopped a Yorktown drive at the Dragons’ 31. Ranes has back-to-back 100-yard games. He also had 130 yards against Decatur Central in a half. He is averaging 17.8 yards per carry and has five touchdowns. The Dragons have scored 21 points in a quarter in each week this season. They scored 21 in the second quarter against both Kokomo and Decatur Central, and then scored 21 in the opening quarter last week against Yorktown. The explosive play has been a hallmark of the Dragons’ attack. Eight of the Dragons’ 14 TDs have been from 20 or more yards, and four have come from beyond midfield. The Red Rage has forced six turnovers this season. Each has led to a Dragons touchdown. Senior DL Michael Thacker had a sack last week, his second of the year. Thacker has 19 tackles - 15 solos - and four tackles for loss through three games. He also has a pair of sacks and 27.5 for his career. Thacker is committed to Ball State, where he will play alongside his older brother Isaiah. SCOUTING THE MARAUDERS MV enters this game 0-3 for the first time in more than three decades, albeit against a tough schedule. The Marauders have allowed 35.7 ppg through three games. The Marauders led 22-15 at halftime against G-C before falling 43-29 at home last week. Joliba Brogan scored two touchdowns on runs of 18 and 7 yards. Quarterback Mason Meyer threw a 40-yard TD to Ryker Baer in the second quarter. D.J. Johnson also had a touchdown last week. LOOKING AHEAD The Dragons head to Pendleton Heights to face the Arabians to cap their three-game road swing next week. The Dragons then return to Kelso Stadium Sept. 27 for the 57th Homecoming contest, where they will face Greenfield-Central. 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