New Palestine High School

It's Week 2 of the IHSAA football sectional as the Dragons travel to Yorktown. 4A #1/1 New Palestine Dragons (9-0) at Yorktown Tigers (7-3) Time: 7 p.m. Friday Location: Tiger Stadium, Yorktown Tickets: $7 https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=100720. Limited cash sales available at gate Audio: NewPalRadio.com Video: IHSAAtv.org (via WMUN-Muncie) SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons hit the road for the second round of the sectional for a visit to Yorktown. The Dragons lead the all-time series 24-5 and have won 12 consecutive meetings since 2013. This is the first tournament meeting since 2004, when the Dragons won a 37-20 decision in the sectional final at Yorktown. The teams also met in the sectional in 1983 - a Yorktown victory - and 1989 - a Dragons victory. The Dragons won 41-13 in Week 3 at Yorktown. Josh Ranes ran for 177 yards and two scores, Jacob Davis threw for 116 yards and a TD and also ran for three TDs. This is the Dragons’ fifth consecutive sectional game against an HHC foe. Seven of the Dragons’ eight sectional opponents since 2022 have been HHC teams. This is the 20th time the Dragons have faced a team in the state tournament they had beaten in the regular season. NP is 16-3 in such sectional games, including 9-0 under coach Kyle Ralph. The Dragons are 75-38 all-time in IHSAA tournament games, including 59-27 in the sectional. NP has won 14 sectional titles, including eight in the last 11 seasons. Under coach Ralph, the Dragons are 23-3 in the sectional and 36-8 in tournament games. NP is seeking its first-ever sectional four-peat. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons advanced with a methodical 28-14 victory over Mt. Vernon in the sectional opener. The Dragons’ offense took advantage of their limited possessions, scoring 14 first-quarter points and leading from wire-to-wire. Junior QB Jacob Davis had a 100/100 game, rushing for a career-high 118 yards and a touchdown, while throwing for 103 yards and two scores. He completed TD passes to Austin McMahan and Garrett Ranes. All-State defensive tackle and Mr. Football candidate Michael Thacker had a big game last week. He punctuated it with a pick-6 in the third quarter, tipping a pass to himself from his defensive line position, then sprinting 32 yards for a touchdown. He also had seven tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in the game. As a team, the Dragons had nine tackles for loss. Davis now has 1,479 passing yards, placing him 13th on the single-season passing list. He needs 93 yards to move into the top 10. He has 2,444 career passing yards. RB Josh Ranes has 1,444 rushing yards. 14th on the Dragons’ season rushing list. During the season, the Dragons posted their third consecutive undefeated run through the Hoosier Heritage Conference. It’s their 10th in 12 years and their 12th in 15 years. The Dragons have won 14 HHC titles, all since 2005. Thirteen have been outright. They have 24 overall conference titles in the program’s 57-year history. As a team, the Red Rage is allowing 3.5 yards per play and 153.6 yards per game. The Dragons have scored eight touchdowns from beyond midfield this season. Four are TD passes to McMahan, one to Wasson and three TD runs by Ranes. The Dragons are plus-15 in turnover ratio, with 18 takeaways. SCOUTING THE TIGERS The Tigers advanced with a 46-6 victory over Richmond last week. Sophomore QB Sam Tokar threw for 103 yards and three touchdowns, while freshman Nathan Spangler ran for 117 yards and a score. Noah Long added 88 yards and two rushing TDs in a 239-yard rushing attack. Tokar is completing 58% of his passes for 1,197 yards and 14 TDs. His top target has been senior Ephraim Daugherty, who has 617 yards and nine TDs on 57 catches. Wilson Webster leads a balanced running game with 698 yards. Long has 413 yards and nine touchdowns rushing. LOOKING AHEAD The winner of tonight’s game will host either Greenfield-Central or Pendleton Heights in next Friday’s sectional final. The winner of the New Palestine-Yorktown game will host. 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).