New Palestine High School

The New Palestine Dragons host the semistate at Kelso Stadium, as they welcome the Martinsville Artesians with a State Finals trip on the line. 4A #4/3 Martinsville Artesians (12-1) at 4A #1/1 New Palestine Dragons (12-0) Time: 7 p.m. Friday Location: Kelso Stadium Tickets: $12, cash at gate or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=103512 Audio: NewPalRadio.com Video: https://www.ihsaatv.org/ ($12) SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons host Martinsville with an opportunity to advance to their sixth State Finals, and fifth under coach Kyle Ralph. The Dragons last advanced to the State finals in 2019, when they won the second of back-to-back state titles. The Dragons are 5-3 all-time in semistate games and 4-0 in games played at Kelso Stadium. Ralph’s teams are 4-2 in the semistate all-time. The Dragons and Artesians have met once, a 70-6 Dragons win in the 2015 sectional. The Dragons went to the State Finals in Class 5A that season. Martinsville is in its first semistate since 1996, and is 0-2 in the semistate all-time. Both teams used late heroics to win their regional titles. The Dragons beat Chatard 28-21 in overtime, while Martinsville used a blocked punt in the final minute to beat Evansville Reitz 35-28. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons are in the semistate for the second consecutive year, after pulling through in overtime in a 28-21 victory over Bishop Chatard last week. Josh Ranes and Jacob Davis helped the Dragons amass 254 first-half yards and build a 21-7 second-quarter lead before Chatard rallied to tie the game early in the third. Ranes ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns, while Davis ran for 108 yards and a score. It was Ranes’ 11th 100-yard rushing game this season, Davis’ second. It marked the third time this season the Dragons have had two 100-yard rushers. Davis also completed 10-of-12 passes for 80 yards and a 36-yard touchdown to Austin McMahan. That duo has connected 11 times for scores this season, with six going for 35 or more yards, including two in back-to-back games. McMahan also had an interception last week, as the Dragons are now plus=21 in turnover ratio. The Dragons have forced seven turnovers in the last three games. The Dragons have scored on their first possession in six consecutive games and have done so nine times this season. Davis crossed the 2,500 yard passing mark for his career against Pendleton Heights. He now has 2,658 career yards, including 1,693 this season. The latter places him eighth on the NPHS single-season passing list. RB Josh Ranes has 1,963 rushing yards. seventh on the Dragons’ season rushing list. He needs 57 yards to catch Nick Roudebush in sixth place. DL Michael Thacker posted his 10th sack of the year and extended his school record of 34.5 career sacks. He had three TFLs against Chatard. Garrett Ranes led the Dragons with nine solo tackles. Josh Ranes also had a sack and two hurries. Eight Dragons were named to the All-Hoosier Heritage Conference team - Davis (QB), Josh Ranes (RB), McMahan (WR), OLs Brock Brownfield and Abe Walling, Thacker (DL), Garrett Ranes (LB) and Desmond Palmer (DB). SCOUTING THE ARTESIANS Martinsville has built a 12-1 record based on an explosive offense that’s scoring 40 points and tallying 408 yards per game. The Artesians have scored at least 35 points 11 times this season. QB AJ Reynolds has thrown for 2,919 yards and 37 touchdowns this season, completing 70% of his passes. His top wideout has been senior Hunter Stroud, who has 104 catches for 1,397 yards and 16 touchdowns. Austin Pryor (792 yards) and Lucas Dewey (745 yards) lead a rushing game that averages 177 yards per game. Dewey ran for 239 yards and a score last week against Evansville Reitz, while Reynolds completed 12-of-18 for 113 yards and two TDs, hitting five different receivers. LOOKING AHEAD The winner of tonight’s game will face either No. 2/2 East Noble or No. 6/5 Mishawaka in the Class 4A State Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium. The 4A game will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29. FOLLOW US All New Palestine games are broadcast free-to-listen at NewPalRadio.com. NPHS Athletics is on Facebook and Instagram (@NewPalestineDragons), Twitter (@NPHSDragons) and online (NewPalestineAthletics.com).