New Palestine High School

The Dragons hit the road for the first time in four weeks as they make the short trip to Greenfield-Central. (5A 1/1) NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS (5-0, 3-0 HHC) at GREENFIELD-CENTRAL COUGARS (3-2, 2-1 HHC) Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26 Location: Clayton Myers Field, Greenfield (Dragons fans are asked to enter the west gate) Tickets: $6, cash at gate or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=142955 Audio broadcast: NewPalRadio.com SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons hit the road for the first time in four weeks as they travel to face county foe Greenfield-Central. The Dragons lead the all-time series with G-C 29-5. The Dragons have won 16 consecutive games since 2011, and 17 straight regular-season games since 2008. NP’s 29 wins against G-C are the second-most against opponents - with the 42 wins over Mt. Vernon the most. The Dragons won last year’s meeting 38-0, behind 183 rushing yards from Josh Ranes and 117 passing yards from Jacob Davis. The Dragons have posted back-to-back shutouts against the Cougars. The Dragons enter the week with a 29-game conference winning streak. They are 84-2 in HHC games under Kyle Ralph’s tutelage. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons won their 19th straight game - and their 20th straight regular season game - last week with their victory over Pendleton Heights. The 19-game winning streak is tied with Adams Central for the longest active streak in the state. Senior QB Jacob Davis posted his second 300-yard game of the year, as he completed 13-of-15 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, and added 83 rushing yards and a score. Seven different Dragons caught at least two passes each in last week’s game. Cael Butler had three catches for 68 yards, and Connor Jacobia had two receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown. The Dragons tallied 258 rushing yards last week - their third 250+ game this season - and 499 total yards against PH. Caden Jacobia tallied a season-best 131 yards on 14 carries. He ran for two touchdowns. Jacobia has three 100-yard games this year. The Red Rage posted another strong game, with PH’s only points coming on the last play of the game. The Dragons have allowed 22 total points this season, with the starers having allowed one touchdown this season - on the opening drive at Decatur Central. Garrett Ranes has been the king of takeaways this season. He has two interceptions and a blocked punt. Last week, he added a fumble recovery. Davis is eighth on the Dragons’ all-time passing list with 2,668 yards. He needs 114 yards to catch Gary Greene (1983-84) for seventh. His next touchdown pass will be the 40th of his career. The Dragons are ranked No. 1 overall in the state in the Sagarin computer rankings for the second straight week. Davis (Towson), Brownfield (Purdue), Abe Walling (Army West Point) and Palmer (Indiana State) have committed to play at Div. I colleges next year. SCOUTING THE COUGARS G-C is 3-2 and seeking its fifth straight winning season. The Cougars have won three of their last four games, including a come-from-behind 28-27 OT win over Shelbyville last week, in which the Cougars rallied from a 14-3 halftime deficit. The Cougars are led by senior Cooper Hinton, who is averaging 130 yards per game on the ground and has five touchdowns. He rushed for 145 yards and a score in last week’s game. Senior fullback Braylon Benavente tallies 75 yards per game. Freshman QB Draven Nolting has run for 137 yards and thrown for 284. G-C’s defense is led by McCoy Wilson (41 tackles) & Zach Waterman (34 tkl, 2 INT). LOOKING AHEAD The Dragons host Shelbyville for Homecoming next week. 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).