New Palestine High School

The New Palestine football team travels to Decatur Central in a matchup of the defending 4A and 5A state champions and one of the most anticipated games in the state this week. GAME INFO 5A #1/1 NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS (1-0) at 6A RV/RV DECATUR CENTRAL HAWKS (0-0) Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29 Site: Devere Fair Field, Decatur Central HS, Indianapolis (directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BtbRHpNu8w2ZrgK69) Tickets: $7 + fees, https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=131417 Audio: NewPalRadio.com SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons continue their 58th season of varsity football as they meet Decatur Central in a matchup of defending state champions. The Dragons won the 4A title and Hawks the 5A title last season. Both moved up a class this year due to the Tournament Success Factor. This is the first regular season meeting of defending state champs in Indiana since Oct. 14, 2022, when Cathedral beat Center Grove 40-29. The Dragons and Hawks are 2-2 all-time against each other. DC won the last completed game 31-29 in 2023. The schools’ contest last year was canceled at halftime due to lightning with the teams tied 21-21. Their first meeting came in the 2018 5A state championship game, a 28-14 Dragons victory. The Dragons are again in Class 5A due to the success factor. NP competed in 5A from 2015-21, winning two state championships in three State Finals appearances. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons beat Kokomo 52-0 last week, posting the 29th shutout in head coach Kyle Ralph’s 13 seasons. The Red Rage defense held the Wildkats to 27 rushing yards and 118 total yards, forcing 10 negative-yardage plays in 40 snaps. Offensively, the Dragons amassed more than 300 rushing yards in the first half and 377 on the ground overall. Caden Jacobia had an efficient night, with 116 yards on three carries - including a 69-yard touchdown. Returning All-State RB Josh Ranes had 83 yards and two scores on five carries, while returning All-State QB Jacob Davis ran for 88 yards and a score, while throwing for 55 yards and a touchdown pass to Cameron Rollyson. LB Garrett Ranes led the Dragons with eight tackles last week, playing just a half. Cameron Rollyson and Caden Jacobia each had a sack. The Dragons return eight players on offense and 10 on defense who started games in 2024. The Dragons have four returning IFCA All-State players - Davis, Josh Ranes OL/DL Brock Brownfield and OL/DL Abe Walling - and six returning All-HHC performers, as DB Desmond Palmer and LB Garrett Ranes were also also honored in addition to the first four. Davis (Towson), Brownfield (Purdue), Walling (Army West Point) and Palmer (Indiana State) have committed to play at Div. I colleges next year. The Dragons return 13 of the top 15 tacklers from a defense that allowed 182 yards and 10.7 points per game a year ago, including Garrett Ranes (92 tackles, 3.5 sacks) and Brownfield (56 tackles, 7 sacks). Connor Jacobia led the team with four interceptions, while Caden Jacobia and Aalijah Lissade had three each. SCOUTING THE HAWKS Decatur Central dropped a 30-28 overtime game to Avon last week in its season opener and first game as a member of Class 6A. A year ago, the Hawks also fell in Week 1, then went on to win the 5A state title. DC is led by QB Bo Polston, who threw for 123 yards and ran for 122 last week, and has 5,489 career passing yards. He is committed to play at Toledo. WR/DB Kasmir Hicks had 45 yards receiving on four catches last week, while also running for 42 yards. He will play at Indiana. Last year, Hicks amassed 1,376 yards from scrimmage and had four interceptions. LOOKING AHEAD The Dragons return to Kelso Stadium next week to face Yorktown in their home opener, which will also be the HHC opener. 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).