New Palestine High School

The New Palestine football team travels to Shelbyville to look to extend its 23-game conference winning streak. 4A No. 1/1 New Palestine Dragons (5-0, 4-0 HHC) at Shelbyville Golden Bears (1-5, 0-4 HHC) Time: 7 p.m. Friday Location: McKeand Stadium, Shelbyville Tickets: $6 at gate or online at https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=95630 Audio: NewPalRadio.com SETTING THE SCENE After a 38-0 shutout victory over Greenfield-Central on Homecoming, the Dragons hit the road for a trip to Shelbyville. The Dragons are 19-9 all-time against the Golden Bears, including a 49-7 victory last season. NP has won 11 straight meetings against Shelbyville. Last year’s fourth-quarter touchdown by the Bears snapped a streak of four consecutive Dragon shutouts in the series, and were their first points against NP since 2018. The Dragons are ranked No. 1 in both polls for the seventh consecutive week. This is the 27th consecutive poll week in which the Dragons are ranked. The Dragons are 78-2 in HHC games since 2013 and have won 23 consecutive conference games. DRAGONS NOTES Two weeks ago, the Dragons’ offense shone in piling up 641 yards at Pendleton Heights. Last week, the Red Rage dominated the day in posting its first shutout of the year, beating Greenfield-Central 38-0. The Dragons held the Cougars to 45 total yards - 36 on the ground and nine through the air - and four first downs in the game. The Cougars never advanced past the NP 35 yard line in the game. Offensively, the Dragons gradually pulled away to the victory, led by a powerful running game that tallied 244 yards. Josh Ranes posted his fifth straight 100-yard game, tallying 183 yards and two touchdowns on a season-high 24 carries. Ranes needs 110 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the year. Caden Jacobia added 45 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Senior DL Michael Thacker tallied the Dragons’ first defensive TD of the season last week, with a 26-yard scoop-and-score after Mason Oglesby’s sack-fumble. The All-State DL also had six tackles, two TFLs and a sack, and how has 37 tackles, 11.5 TFL and five sacks through six games. It was the Dragons’ first defensive TD since a 58-yard fumble return by Brady Armstrong Nov. 3, 2023 at Mt. Vernon. Thacker also broke Kyle King’s career sacks record last week. He now has 30.5 sacks for his career and five this season. In addition to rushing for 183 yards, Josh Ranes had 10 tackles last week. Garrett Ranes added 11 tackles and a forced fumble to lead the Red Rage. The Dragons are plus-13 in turnover ratio, with 15 takeaways. In addition to Thacker’s scoop-and-score, Gavin Neal and Cameron Rollyson each had fumble recoveries last week. 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. Junior QB Jacob Davis has thrown for 953 yards so far this season. He needs 47 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 have forced a running clock in four consecutive games. SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS Shelbyville posted a win in Week 1, but has gone winless since, scoring four touchdowns in the last five weeks. The Golden Bears dropped a 33-0 decision to Yorktown last week. Sophomore Tyler Gwinnup averages 107 yards per game passing, Junior running back Donavon Martin tallies 164 yards per game rushing. Shelbyville is under the tutelage of second-year coach Scott Fitzgerald, a longtime assistt with the Golden Bears to former head coach Pat Parks. LOOKING AHEAD The Dragons play their final road game of the season next week at New Castle before hosting Senior Night Oct. 18 against Delta. 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).