New Palestine High School

The Dragons begin their quest to repeat as champions as they open the 5A tournament on Halloween at Plainfield. #1/1 NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS (9-0, 7-0 Hoosier Heritage) at #10/10 PLAINFIELD QUAKERS (7-2, 5-2 Mid-State) Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31 Location: Plainfield High School (directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/X88Z1RYvWw6G6jnd6) Tickets: $8, https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=153531 (NO CASH SALES) Audio: NewPalRadio.com Video: none SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons open sectional play with their first-ever trip to Plainfield. The Dragons are seeking their fifth consecutive sectional championship and 16th overall. Plainfield will be seeking its first sectional title since 2022. The Dragons are 7-1 against Mid-State Conference teams in the tourney since 2018. They have played a team from the Mid-State in six of the last seven seasons. This is the first meeting between the Dragons and Quakers. NP is back in Class 5A after spending three seasons in Class 4A, due to the Tournament Success Factor. The Dragons were previously in 5A from 2015-21, during which time they won four sectional titles, three regional and semistate titles, and the state championships in 2018 and 2019. NP is 80-38 all-time in the IHSAA tournament, and 41-8 overall and 25-3 in sectional games under coach Kyle Ralph. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons finished off their second straight unbeaten regular season and the 14th in school history. It’s their 10th unbeaten regular season in 13 years under coach Kyle Ralph. The Dragons won their fourth straight conference title and 25th overall league title by sweeping through the HHC. They have won 15 HHC championships. The Dragons’ special teams came through again in the regular season finale against Delta. Kade Stephens ran the opening kickoff back 99 yards for a score. After Delta’s first possession, Caden Jacobia blocked a punt and ran it back 31 yards for a TD. It was the second kickoff return TD and the fourth blocked kick return TD for the Dragons this season. They also have a punt return touchdown. For the third straight week, the Dragons scored 35 points or more in a quarter, when they tallied 35 in the opening quarter against Delta. The Red Rage allowed 32 total points in the regular season, breaking the school record of 42 set by the 2014 state championship team. The No. 1 unit allowed 16 points and two touchdowns all season. Against Delta, four different Dragons caught TD passes, as Cael Butler, Garrett Ranes and Mason Oglesby all had TD receptions from Jacob Davis, while Ryder Gardner threw a touchdown pass to Brady Lantz. It was the first time since 2022 that four Dragons caught TD passes in a game. Senior QB Jacob Davis has 1,420 passing yards this season and 4,334 his career. He also has 5,660 yards of total offense in his career. He is currently fourth on the NPHS all-time passing list. He needs 93 yards to catch Zach Neligh for third and 241 to catch second-place Justin Plummer. His 42 career passing TDs are second. The Red Rage has 22 sacks this season - led by Sam Hirschy’s 4.5 - and 12 takeaways. Garrett Ranes has two INTs and two fumble recoveries. SCOUTING THE QUAKERS Plainfield is 7-2 after a win over Martinsville to finish the regular season. The Quakers are led by senior RB Luke Starnes, who is the school’s career rushing leader. He has 1,321 yards this season, ranking second in 5A, and 3,845 for his career. The Quakers love to throw the ball - QB Bryce Sebanc averages 28 pass attempts and 190 passing yards per game. Tashawn Calahan leads the Quakers’ defense with four interceptions. LB Blake Larison had 60 tackles, four sacks and an INT. LOOKING AHEAD The winner of today’s game faces either No. 2/2 Cathedral or Anderson in next week’s sectional final. New Palestine will host the title game if it wins tonight. 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). Photo credit: Landyn Muffler / NPHS yearbook