New Palestine High School

The Dragons football team hosts its 57th annual Homecoming game Friday night with a top-five matchup against Greenfield-Central. 4A No. 1/1 New Palestine Dragons (4-0, 3-0 HHC) vs. 4A No. 5/5 Greenfield-Central Cougars (5-0, 3-0 HHC) Time: 4:30 p.m. Saturday (postponed from Friday) Location: Kelso Stadium Tickets: $6 at gate or online at https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=92707 Audio: NewPalRadio.com Video: IHSAAtv.org ($) SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons’ 57th homecoming game is a Top-5 matchup, as the unbeaten Dragons face rival Greenfield-Central. The Dragons have won 15 straight homecoming games and are 19-3 on homecoming since 2002. The Dragons are 28-5 all-time against the Cougars, including victories of 21-14 and 35-0 last season, as the Dragons rushed for 363 yards in the sectional meeting while posting a shutout. The Dragons have won 15 straight meetings since 2011 and 16 straight regular-season meetings dating to 2009. The Dragons are ranked No. 1 in both polls for the sixth consecutive week. This is the 26th consecutive poll week in which the Dragons are ranked. The Dragons are 77-2 in HHC games since 2013 and have won 22 consecutive conference games. G-C has won 11 of its last 12 conference games, with the lone loss coming to the Dragons in 2023. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons’ offense amassed a season-high 641 yards in last week’s 56-17 victory at Pendleton Heights, including 473 on the ground. It was the largest offensive output since a 681-yard game vs. Anderson in 2018. RB Josh Ranes ran for 268 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. Gavin Neal, returning after missing the first four games with an injury, ran for 108 yards in his first game as a running back. It was the first time the Dragons had two 100-yard rushers in a game since the 2023 sectional win over Greenfield-Central. Ranes now has 707 rushing yards and four consecutive 100-yard games. He is averaging 13.1 yards per carry and has 12 touchdowns. The Dragons have had solid balance this season. Eight different players have scored touchdowns, including five different receivers. QB Jacob Davis completed 9-of-14 passes for 168 yards and two scores, while also rushing for 78 yards and a score last week, giving him 246 yards of total offense. Davis has thrown for 836 yards so far this season. He needs 164 yards for the 21st 1,000-yard passing season in school history. A Dragon has thrown for 1,000 yards in each of Coach Ralph’s previous 11 seasons. The Dragons’ 473 rushing yards last week were their first 400-yard game on the ground since 457 Sept. 27, 2019 at Greenfield-Central. The Dragons’ offense is averaging 9.8 yards per play this season. The Dragons have scored a touchdown from beyond midfield each week this season, and have seven TDs of 50 yards or more this season. Last week, Ranes tallied a 75-yard run and Austin McMahan had a 49-yard TD reception. Sixteen of the Dragons’ 30 TDs have come from 20 or more yards, including four last week. Junior safety Connor Jacobia has interceptions in three consecutive weeks. The Dragons are now plus-11 in turnover ratio, and have turned their 12 takeaways into 10 touchdowns. Senior DL Michael Thacker had a sack last week, his fourth of the year, to go with three TFL. Thacker has 31 tackles - 25 solos - and 9.5 tackles for loss through five games. He has 29.5 career sacks and 85 TFL.Thacker is committed to Ball State, where he will play alongside his older brother Isaiah. SCOUTING THE COUGARS Greenfield-Central enters this contest 5-0 for the second consecutive season. The Cougars are averaging 355 yards and 41 points per game. QB Dallas Freeman is completing 66 percent of his passes for 136 yards per game. The Cougars have four rushers averaging between 48-53 ypg - Braylon Benavente, Cooper Hinton, Payton Foley and Freeman. LOOKING AHEAD The Dragons hit the road next week to face Shelbyville. 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).