New Palestine Athletics
New Palestine Football
Commitment, Character, Class Friday, Sept. 26 vs. Greenfield-C., 7:30 p.m. The schedule Date Opponent Time/Score F 8/22 DANVILLE W 61-0 F 8/29 at Richmond W 42-6 F 9/5 YORKTOWN* W 48-13 F 9/12 at Mt. Vernon* W 31-3 F 9/19 at Pendleton Hts.* W 56-7 F 9/26 GREENFIELD-C.* 7:30 F 10/3 at Shelbyville* 7:00 F 10/10 at New Castle* 7:30 F 10/17 DELTA* 7:30 *-HHC game All games broadcast by Dragon Radio access at NewPalestineAthletics.com
The planner Friday, Sept. 26 FB: vs. Greenfield-C., 7:30 p.m.** Saturday, Sept. 27 CC: at Madison Invitational, 8:30 a.m. GSOC: vs. Lawrence C., 9 a.m. BSOC: vs. Delta, noon GO: Regional at New Castle Monday, Sept. 29 TE: vs. Rushville, 4:30 p.m. GSOC: at Shelbyville, 5:30/7 p.m. BSOC: at Yorktown, 5:30/7 p.m. VB: vs. Franklin C, 5:30 p.m. (9/JV/V) FB: JV at Greenfield-C., 6 p.m. FB: 9th vs. Greenfield-C., 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30 VB: vs. Yorktown, 5:30/7 p.m. VB: 9th vs. Hamilton SE, 5:30 p.m. GSOC: JV at Warren C. Inv., 5:30 Wednesday, Oct. 1 GSOC: vs. Wapahani, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2 BSOC: at Pendleton Hts., 5:30/7 p.m. GSOC: JV at Warren C. Inv., 5:30 VB: at Triton Central, 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3 FB: at Shelbyville, 7 p.m.** TE: Sectional at Mt. Vernon, 4:30 Saturday, Oct. 4 CC: HHC at NPHS, 10 a.m. VB: NP Freshman Inv., 9 a.m. TE: Sectional at Mt. Vernon, 10 a.m. **-Broadcast by Dragon Radio (access via Dragon HQ page at NewPalestineAthletics.com)
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Homecoming date
GREENFIELD-CENTRAL COUGARS (3-2, 1-2) at 4A #2/2 NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS (5-0, 3-0) Kelso Stadium, New Palestine, Indiana Broadcast: Dragon Radio Welcome to homecoming 2014! The Dragons enter tonight looking for their fifth consecutive homecoming victory as they host the county rival Greenfield-Central Cougars. Tonight’s game sees the Dragons looking to build to another milestone. Last week, their 56-7 victory over Pendleton Heights was the 300th in the program’s history. They also won their ninth straight HHC game and their 14th straight regular season contest with the Young Blackwell victory. NP did it with its traditional quick-strike offense. Running back James Young had four TDs, including a 1-yard run to put the Dragons up 7-0. He also had a 1-yard run in a 28-point second quarter, sandwiched around TD passes from Alex Neligh to Duke Blackwell (9 yards), Noah Grable (49 yards) and Garrett Kuhn (85 yards). Young also had two thirdquarter TDs, capping the period with a 67-yard romp. Sterling Curran had a 43-yard TD run in the third, as well. Young had 151 yards rushing and Neligh 202 yards passing, as the Dragons eclipsed the 500-yard mark with 539 total yards, a season high and the most since hitting 558 on Nov. 1, 2013 at Muncie South. Young’s four TDs were the most in a game since Nick Survant had four in 2012 against Greenfield-Central. The 85-yard pass from Neligh to Kuhn was the longest since an 81yard hookup from Blake Luker to Tyler Walden in Week 4 of the 2013 season. The Red Rage kept the opponent out of the end zone for the 11th straight quarter -- PH’s lone score came on a kickoff return -- and forced six turnovers. Blackwell, Adam Kincaid and Kyle Zehner had interceptions. Grable, Kuhn and Gabe Estes had fumble recoveries. Estes (11) anbd Kuhn (9) were top tacklers. PH was held to minus-10 rushing yards.
State polls Class 4A polls AP IFCA 1. Columbus East 1. Columbus East 2. New Palestine 2. New Palestine 3. Chatard 3. Chatard 4. Evansville Reitz 4. Evansville Reitz 5. FW Dwenger 5. FW Dwenger 6. SB St. Joseph 6. Plymouth 7. Plymouth 7. SB St. Joseph 8. Jasper 8. Jasper 9. New Haven 9. Roncalli 10. Roncalli 9. New Haven Other HHC teams Yorktown (Class 3A): AP Rec Votes, IFCA No. 9
Looking ahead
The Dragons hit the road for two straight weeks, with a game at Shelbyville next weekend. Note kickoff is 7 p.m. next week.
Tonight’s opponent
The Cougars enter tonight’s game with a 3-2 record, but fell 37-13 to Shelbyville last week. Under the tutelage of ninth-year coach Roger Dodson, G-C has been getting strong performances from its running game. A week ago, running back Cameron Nuckols had 116 rushing and 37 receiving yards, and quarterback Jeremiah Fields threw for 97. Two weeks ago, Drey Jameson’s kickoff return keyed a 34-21 victory over Pendleton Heights. This is the 22nd meeting between the two teams since 1994. NP leads the series 16-5.
300th win
Last week’s victory over Pendleton Heights gave the Dragons the 300th victory in program history. The all-time record is now 300-191-2 in 47 years of varsity football.
Elsewhere at NPHS
The girls golf team won the first sectional in the program’s history, outdistancing Greenwood and Pendleton Heights. Abby Poole was the individual sectional champ with a 73. The Dragons compete in the regional Saturday at New Castle. ... The volleyball team finished third at the tough Warren Central Invitational last weekend. ... The girls soccer team is in HHC contention after a 6-0 win over Greenfield-Central last week. ... Samuel Voelz was the runner-up and the boys CC team finished third at the FlashRock Invitational last Saturday ... the boys tennis team entered the week 12-1 with 10 straight victories.
On the air
Listen to all New Palestine football games on Dragon Radio. Join Andrew Smith and Mike Jackson for the play-by-play of NPHS football. Access Dragon Radio by clicking “Dragon HQ” on the athletics website.
JV update
The JV football team is now 4-0 after a 27-0 win over Pendleton Hts. The frosh are 2-2.
Around the HHC STANDINGS New Palestine Yorktown Mt. Vernon Shelbyville Greenfield-Central Pendleton Heights Delta New Castle Last week’s games (Sept. 19) New Palestine 56, Pendleton Hts. 7 Mt. Vernon 24, Delta 21 This week’s games (Sept. 26) Greenfield-C. at New Palestine, 7:30 Mt. Vernon at Pendleton Hts., 7:30 Next week’s games (Oct. 3) New Palestine at Shelbyville, 7 Pendleton Hts. at Delta, 7:30
Conf. 3-0 2-1 2-1 2-1 1-2 1-2 1-2 0-3
GB -- 1 1 1 2 2 2 3
Overall 5-0 4-1 3-2 3-2 3-2 3-2 2-3 1-4
Shelbyville 37, Greenfield-Central 13 Yorktown 39, New Castle 7 Delta at New Castle, 7:30 Shelbyville at Yorktown, 7:30 New Castle at Mt. Vernon, 7 Yorktown at Greenfield-Central, 7:30
New Palestine Athletics Commitment s Character s Class
The schedules
NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS (5-0, 3-0 HHC) 8/22 DANVILLE W 61-0 8/29 at Richmond W 42-6 9/5 YORKTOWN* W 48-13 9/12 at Mt. Vernon* W 31-3 9/19 at Pendleton Heights* W 56-7 9/26 GREENFIELD-CENTRAL* 7:30 10/3 at Shelbyville* 7:00 10/10 at New Castle* 7:30 10/17 DELTA* 7:30 *-Hoosier Heritage Conference game GREENFIELD-CENTRAL COUGARS (3-2, 1-2 HHC) 8/22 SHORTRIDGE W 48-18 8/29 NORTHWEST W 62-12 9/5 at Mt. Vernon* L 14-31 9/12 PENDLETON HEIGHTS* W 34-21 9/19 at Shelbyville* L 13-37 9/26 at New Palestine* 7:30 10/3 YORKTOWN* 7:30 10/10 at Delta* 7:30 10/17 NEW CASTLE* 7:30 *-Hoosier Heritage Conference game
Projected starters
NEW PALESTINE OFFENSE WR: 6 Duke Blackwell WR: 7 Adam Kincaid WR: 3 Garrett Kuhn TE: 22 Noah Grable LT: 62 Nick Derheimer LG: 63 David Judy C: 65 Andrew Yazel RG: 70 Matt Moeller RT: 50 Michael Woodall QB: 11 Alex Neligh RB: 32 James Young SPECIALISTS KO: 18 Spencer Corey PK: 18 Spencer Corey/30 Kyle Barton
Rankings
DEFENSE DE: 76 Alex Barnes DT: 74 Thaddeus Muse DE: 22 Noah Grable LB: 42 Joe Izbicki LB: 44 Sterling Curran LB: 45 Gabe Estes CB: 12 Chaz Hill CB: 14 Kyle Zehner S: 9 Nick Brickens S: 7 Adam Kincaid S: 3 Garrett Kuhn P: 9 Nick Brickens Ret: 6 Blackwell/9 Brickens
New Palestine broke into the Top 10 during Week 4 of the 2013 season and has been there since. The Dragons held station this week in the polls. The Dragons advanced a spot in the AP poll to No. 2 last week, their highest placement since the end of the 2013 regular season, where they were also No. 2. This week, they advanced two spots to No. 2 in the IFCA poll, as well, behind Columbus East and ahead of Chatard. CLASS 4A POLL RANK BY WEEK 2014 Preseason (8/19): IFCA No. 3, AP No. 3 Week 1 (8/26): IFCA No. 4, AP No. 3, Sagarin No. 1 Week 2 (9/2): IFCA No. 4, AP No. 3, Sagarin No. 4 Week 3 (9/9): IFCA No. 4, AP No. 3, Sagarin No. 3 Week 4 (9/16): IFCA No. 4, AP No. 2, Sagarin No. 2 Week 5 (9/23): IFCA No. 2, AP No. 2, Sagarin No. 2
Series history
SERIES HISTORY Tonight marks the 22nd meeting between New Palestine and Greenfield-Central since the series began. Despite the two schools being in the same county, they didn’t play each other until 1994 when they both formed the Hoosier Heritage Conference. NP has won 16 of the 20 regularseason matchups, including six straight regular-season games. Last year, the Dragons won 51-7 at Cougar Stadium behind two defensive scores. New Palestine leads 16-5 Regular season: New Palestine leads 16-4 At Kelso Stadium: New Palestine leads 5-2 10/11/13: NP 51-7 (at G-C) 10/11/03: NP 42-12 (at Dome) 10/5/12: NP 47-7 (at NP) 10/11/02: G-C 17-14 (at G-C) 10/7/11: NP 21-19 (at G-C) 10/5/01: G-C 28-6 (at NP) 10/29/10: G-C 7-0 (sect at G-C) 10/6/00: NP 9-3 (at G-C) 10/8/10: NP 32-0 (at G-C) 10/8/99: NP 48-12 (at NP) 10/10/09: NP 56-0 (at Lucas Oil) 10/9/98: NP 22-7 (at G-C) 10/10/08: NP 38-14 (at G-C) 10/10/97: NP 42-10 (at NP) 10/5/07: G-C 8-6 (at NP) 10/4/96: NP 14-0 (at G-C) 10/6/06: NP 35-10 (at G-C) 10/6/95: NP 17-6 (at NP) 10/7/05: NP 68-14 (at NP) 10/7/94: G-C 28-8 (at NP) 10/8/04: NP 34-0 (at G-C)
Reigning HHC champs
New Palestine is the defending Hoosier Heritage Conference champion, having run the table with a 6-0 record last season. The Dragons have now won five conference titles, tying them with Mt. Vernon for second-most in the league’s 20-year history. NP has won three of the last four championships and has won five titles since 2005, most among HHC schools. HHC HISTORY Most HHC titles (*-shared title) 7: Delta (2000, 2001*, 2002*, 2004, 2005*, 2008, 2009) 5: New Palestine (2005*, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013) 5: Mt. Vernon (1997*, 1999*, 2001*, 2003, 2012) 4: Hamilton Southeastern (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997*) 3: Pendleton Heights (1997*, 1998, 2002*) 1: Shelbyville (2007) 1: Greenfield-Central (2002*) 1: Yorktown (1999*) HHC champions by year 2003: Mt. Vernon 2013: New Palestine 2012: Mt. Vernon 2002: Delta/G-C/PH 2011: New Palestine 2001: Delta/Mt. Vernon 2010: New Palestine 2000: Delta 2009: Delta 1999: Mt. Vernon/Yorktown 2008: Delta 1998: Pendleton Heights 2007: Shelbyville 1997: HSE/MV/PH 2006: New Palestine 1996: Hamilton Southeastern 2005: New Palestine/Delta 1995: Hamilton Southeastern 2004: Delta 1994: Hamilton Southeastern
HHC lookahead
New Palestine remains the HHC leader, with Yorktown, Mt. Vernon and Shelbyville a game back at 2-1. The Dragons handed the first two their only conference losses, and play Shelbyville next week. Shelbyville meets Yorktown tonight in a matchup of two of the 2-1 teams. Also tonight, Mt. Vernon (2-1) is at Pendleton Heights (1-2); while New Castle (0-3) meets Delta (1-2).
Dragons on homecoming
Tonight is homecoming, the highlight of the fall season each year. This year, the school held a homecoming festival with a community festival, pep rally and parade. The Dragons have had success in recent homecoming tilts, winning five straight and nine of their last 12. New Palestine in homecoming games last 12 years 9/20/13: vs. Whiteland (W 35-10) 10/5/12: vs. Greenfield-Central (W 47-7) 9/30/11: vs. Shelbyville (W 49-13) 9/24/10: vs. Yorktown (W 49-6) 9/18/09: vs. Rushville (W 34-13) 9/26/08: vs. Yorktown (L 0-37) 9/28/07: vs. Shelbyville (L 19-34) 9/8/06: vs. Batesville (L 7-20) 9/30/05: vs. Shelbyville (W 35-21) 9/24/04: vs. Yorktown (W 34-9) 10/3/03: vs. Shelbyville (W 22-9) 9/27/02: vs. Yorktown (W 24-6)
Follow the traveling trophies
New Palestine regained the HHC’s Helmet trophy with a 35-14 victory at Yorktown on Sept. 27, 2013 and successfully defended it six times, most recently with a 56-7 win over Pendleton Heights on Sept. 19. The Dragons held the Helmet for an HHC record 14 consecutive weeks in 2010-11. NP and Mt. Vernon also play for the Boundary Rail, which the Dragons held for seven consecutive years before surrendering it to MV in 2012. The Dragons regained it in 2013 and defended it with a 31-3 win in Week 4. The piece of interurban track ran close to the rough boundary between the two school districts. NP holds a 9-1 record in the series.
Dragon streaks
New Palestine is in the midst of several streaks right now, having won 12 straight regular-season games and eight straight HHC contests. New Palestine records MOST CONSECUTIVE REGULAR-SEASON WINS 21: Aug. 19, 1983-Aug. 30, 1985 17: Aug. 27, 2010-Oct. 14, 2011 14: Aug. 23, 2013-present MOST CONSECUTIVE HHC WINS 20: Sept. 4, 2009-Oct. 14, 2011 (HHC record) 9: Sept. 6, 2013-present MOST CONSECUTIVE HOME WINS 38: Sept. 12, 1986-Oct. 2, 1992 8: Aug. 30, 2013-present
New Palestine Athletics Commitment s Character s Class
A perfect 300!
The Dragons won their 300th game in school history last Friday, beating Pendleton Heights 56-7. The 300 wins have come over a 47-year span. The 100th win came in the 18th season of varsity football (1985), the 200th came in the 33rd (2001), and the 300th in the 47th. . Milestone wins 1: 9/6/68: New Palestine 37, Hamilton Southeastern 13 50: 9/22/78: New Palestine 20, Mt. Vernon 14 100: 10/25/85: New Palestine 21, Brookville 0 (sectional) 150: 11/9/90: New Palestine 20, Chatard 12 (regional) 200: 9/21/01: New Palestine 14, Yorktown 10 250: 8/22/09: New Palestine 22, Whiteland 16, OT 300: 9/19/14: New Palestine 56, Pendleton Heights 7 QUEST FOR 300 WINS BY DECADE 1960s: 9 (9-9) 1990s: 57 (57-47) 1970s: 47 (47-48-2) 2000s: 63 (63-51) 1980s: 83 (83-25) 2010s: 41 (41-11) WINS BY OPPONENT (55 different schools) 30: Mt. Vernon 25: Triton Central 18: Eastern Hancock 16: Greenfield-Central, Rushville 15: Pendleton Heights, Tri 14: Yorktown 11: Indian Creek 10: Knightstown 9: Shelbyville 8: Beech Grove, Edinburgh 7: North Decatur 6: Batesville, Delta, Hamilton Southeastern, Whiteland, Zionsville 5: Greensburg, Lapel 4: Morristown, Richmond, South Decatur 3: Chatard, Frankton, Shenandoah 2: Alexandria, Brookville, Danville, Elwood, Franklin, Howe, Sheridan, Wes-Del, Westfield 1: Anderson, Anderson Highland, Arlington, Blackford, Brebeuf, Cathedral, Centerville, Covington, Crawfordsville, Eastbrook, Hamilton Heights, Lawrenceburg, Mississinewa, Mooresville, Muncie Central, Muncie South, Tell City, Tipton, Washington WINS BY HEAD COACH 200: Marvin Shepler (1968-2001) 49: Doug Armstrong (2002-08) 30: Tim Able (2009-11) 18: Kyle Ralph (2013-present) 3: Charlie Hill (2012) MOST WINS IN A SEASON (*-undefeated regular season) 13-1: 2013 (HHC, regional champs)* 12-2: 1990 (state runner-up) 11-1: 2011 (HHC champs)* 11-2: 1987 (regional champs) 10-1: 1983 (BBRC, cluster champs)* 10-1: 1984 (BBRC, cluster champs)* 10-1: 1988 (BBRC champs)* 10-2: 1989 (sectional champs) 10-3: 2009 (sectional champs) 10-3: 2005 (HHC, sectional champs) 10-3: 2004 (sectional champs) OTHER FACTS WIns at Kelso Stadium: 155 Away: 140 Wins at neutral sites: 5 (2-Lucas Oil Stadium, 2-RCA Dome, 1-Warren C.) IHSAA tournament wins: 43 HHC wins: 79 Sectional titles (7): 1987, 1989, 1990, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2013 Regional titles (3): 1987, 1990, 2013 Semistate titles (1): 1990 Conference titles (13): 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988 (Big Blue River Conference), 1992 (Rangeline conference), 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013 (Hoosier Heritage Conference) School closers: Brookville (1988), Anderson Highland (2009), Muncie South (2013) (last game for opponent before school closed/consolidated)
Coming off perfection
The 2013 season marked the fifth undefeated regular season in school history, the best start in school history and the most wins in school history. Undefeated regular seasons in New Palestine history 2013: Final record 13-1 (HHC, sectional champs) 2011: Final record 11-1 (HHC champs) 1988: Final record 10-1 (BBRC champs) 1984: Final record 10-1 (BBRC, cluster champs) 1983: Final record 10-1 (BBRC, cluster champs)
20 in 12
The Dragons’ potent offense also made a habit of scoring in bunches in 2013. They carried over the penchant for 20-point quarters into 2014, starting the season with 21 points in the first quarter of each of the first three games. The Dragons have had six 20-point quarters in the first five games this year. 20-point quarters in 2014 21 points, 9/19 at Pendleton Heights (3rd quarter) 28 points, 9/19 at Pendleton Heights (2nd quarter) 21 points, 9/5 vs. Yorktown (1st quarter) 21 points, 8/29 at Richmond (1st quarter) 26 points, 8/22 vs. Danville (2nd quarter) 21 points, 8/22 vs. Danville (1st quarter)
State leaders
New Palestine is among the leaders in Class 4A in scoring, defense and win margin. Among all schools, NP is 9th in the state in scoring, 3rd in scoring defense and 5th in victory margin. 4A scoring leaders: 1. Columbus East (54.2), 2. Beech Grove (48.4), 3. New Palestine (47.6), 4. New Prairie (44.6), 5. Hammond Morton (44.0) 4A scoring defense: 1. SB St. Joseph (5.0), 2. New Palestine (5.8), 2. Lebanon (5.8), 4. Leo (8.6), 5. Columbus East (9.2) 4A victory margin: 1. Columbus East (45.0), 2. New Palestine (41.8), 3. Evansville Reitz (28.8), 4. Chatard (26.4), 5. Plymouth (24.4)
Fast starts
The 2014 start marked the second-most points scored in the first two games in school history -- only eclipsed by the 2013 start to the season. Not only that, but the 103 points scored in the first two games are the seventhmost in back-to-back games. In addition, the 61-0 win over Danville was the third-biggest margin and seventh-biggest scoring game in school history. MOST POINTS, 1st 2 GAMES OF A SEASON 110: 2013 (64-8 Danville, 46-2 Richmond) 103: 2014 (61-0 Danville, 42-6 Richmond) 97: 1984 (48-0 Tri, 49-6 Beech Grove) 81: 1988 (47-0 Tri, 34-13 Mt. Vernon) 72: 1989 (32-0 Tri, 40-6 Mt. Vernon) MOST POINTS, 1st 3 GAMES OF A SEASON 156: 2013 (64-8 Danville, 46-2 Richmond, 46-7 Pendleton Heights) 151: 2014 (61-0 Danville, 42-6 Richmond, 48-13 Yorktown) 139: 1984 (48-0 Tri, 49-6 Beech Grove, 42-0 South Decatur) 105: 1988 (47-0 Tri, 34-13 Mt. Vernon, 24-16 Shenandoah) 101: 1987 (36-16 Tri, 24-8 Mt. Vernon, 41-0 Shenandoah) BIGGEST VICTORY MARGIN 64, 10/24/86 vs. Whiteland (64-0) 62: 9/19/03 vs. Rushville (62-0) 61: 8/22/14 vs. Danville (61-0) 57: 10/15/82 vs. Tri (57-0) 56: 8/23/13 at Danville (64-8)
Play fast, score faster
New Palestine has made a habit of scoring quick TDs under coach Kyle Ralph. In the first five weeks of 2014, the Dragons have scored twice in less than 150 seconds seven times, and have done so in each game. FASTEST 2 SCORES by NEW PALESTINE 2014 1:32: 8/22 vs. Danville. Noah Grable 27 pass from Alex Neligh, 7:40 2Q; Alex Neligh 41 run, 6:08 2Q 1:43: 9/12 at Mt. Vernon. Spencer Corey 32 FG, 6:17 2Q; Duke Blackwell 21 pass from Alex Neligh, 4:36 2Q 1:49: 8/22 vs. Danville James Young 2 run 9:29 2Q; Noah Grable 27 pass from Alex Neligh, 7:40 2Q 2:05: 9/5 vs. Yorktown. Garrett Kuhn 28 pass from Alex Neligh 8:35 1Q; Duke Blackwell 25 pass from Alex Neligh 6:30 1Q 2:27: 9/19 at Pendleton Hts. Duke Blackwell 9 pass from Alex Neligh 11:55 2Q; Noah Grable 48 pass from Alex Neligh 9:28 2Q 2:28: 8/29 at Richmond. James Young 1 run 1:23 1Q; James Young 1 run 10:55 2Q 2:30 8/29 at Richmond. Chaz Hill 39 run 9:49 1Q; Joe Izbicki 4 pass from Alex Neligh 7:19 1Q FASTEST 3 SCORES by NEW PALESTINE 2014 3:21: 8/22 vs. Danville. James Young 2 run 9:29 2Q; Noah Grable 27 pass from Alex Neligh, 7:40 2Q; Alex Neligh 41 run, 6:08 2Q. FASTEST SCORE FROM THE START OF A GAME :45: 9/5 vs. Yorktown. Noah Grable 65 pass from Alex Neligh, 11:15 1Q
New Palestine Athletics Commitment s Character s Class
We will run 500 yards
In the Week 5 victory over Pendleton Heights, the Dragons amassed 539 yards of total offense, their most since totaling a school-record 744 against PH in the 2013 sectional. Big-yardage games under coach Kyle Ralph have been the norm, with the team averaging 444 yards per game in 2013. MOST YARDS TOTAL OFFENSE (450 and up) since 2013 744: 10/25/13 at Pendleton Hts. (443 rush, 301 pass, W 62-40) 678: 9/6/13 vs. Pendleton Hts. (348 rush, 330 pass, W 46-7) 593: 8/23/13 at Danville (326 rush, 267 pass, W 64-8) 558: 11/1/13 at Muncie South (376 rush, 182 pass, W 53-0) 539: 9/19/14 at Pendleton Hts (337 rush, 202 pass, W 56-7) 497: 9/13/13 at Delta (326 rush, 171 pass, W 41-14) 496: 8/22/14 vs. Danville (309 rush, 187 pass, W 61-0) 479: 9/27/14 at Yorktown (255 rush, 224 pass, W 35-14)
Almost a double-century
Junior Alex Neligh becomes the Dragons’ starting quarterback this season. He nearly equaled a rare feat in his first start, running for 98 yards and throwing for 187 against Danville. 2013 senior Blake Luker hit the 100/100 milestone several times a year ago. Neligh had his first 200-yard passing game with 229 yards on 14-of-24 passing against Richmond. That game featured several explosive plays -- a 45-yard pass to Duke Blackwell, a 41-yard pass to Noah Grable, and a 30-yard pass to Logan Greene. ALEX NELIGH’S TOP PASSING GAMES 223: 8/29/14 at Richmond (14-of-24, 1 TD, W 42-6) 204: 9/12/14 at Mt. Vernon (15-of-21, 2 TD, W 31-3) 202: 9/19/14 at Pendleton Heights (8-of-12, 3 TD, W 56-7)
3-for-3-for-6
Junior QB Alex Neligh had a perfect start to the game against Yorktown. His first three pass attempts went for touchdowns -- a 65-yarder to Noah Grable, a 28-yarder to Garrett Kuhn and a 25-yarder to Duke Blackwell. They gave NP a 21-0 lead just 5:30 into an eventual 48-13 victory.
A Young millenium
Senior running back James Young hit the millenium mark a year ago, rushing for 1,250 yards over the season. It was the largest total for a New Palestine back since Eric Alcorn ran for 1,629 yards in 2005. Young topped the 100-yard mark five times in the last six games last season, and six times overall in 2013. His 266-yard game against Pendleton Heights in the sectional was the most since Nick Survant ran for 236 on Oct. 5, 2012. Young continued his run with two three-TD games in the season openers, then a 166-yard, 31-carry effort against Yorktown in Week 3. He now has eight 100-yard games, including two this season. In the Dragons’ four tournament wins last season, Young averaged 182 yards per game and scored eight touchdowns. James Young’s 100-yard rushing games 266 yards, 10/25/13 at Pendleton Heights (29 carries) 187 yards, 11/1/13 at Muncie South (25 carries) 166 yards, 9/5/14 vs. Yorktown (31 carries) 159 yards, 9/6/13 vs. Pendleton Heights (24 carries) 153 yards, 11/15/13 vs. Chatard (14 carries) 151 yards, 9/19/14 at Pendleton Heights (23 carries) 120 yards, 11/8/13 vs. Mt. Vernon (26 carries) 110 yards, 10/11/13 at Greenfield-Central (11 carries)
Mr. Touchdown
Senior RB James Young has been the Dragons’ closer. Through the first five weeks of the 2014 season, he has three games with at least three TDs, scoring three each in the first two games. He had four TDs in the Week 5 win over PH, the most since Nick Survant in 2012.
Return to sender
The New Palestine defense and special teams have managed to get 5 scores already this season, with a fake punt & a blocked punt TD vs. Richmond and three more scores, including two safeties, against Mt. Vernon. That builds off a 2013 season in which the Dragons had four return touchdowns and four safeties. 2014 defensive/special teams scores Safety: 9/12 at Mt. Vernon. Fumbled punt snap out of end zone Touchdown: 9/12 at Mt. Vernon. Nick Brickens 55-yard punt return Safety: 9/12 at Mt. Vernon. QB fumbled ball out of end zone Touchdown: 8/29 at Richmond. Chaz Hill 39-yard run on fake punt Touchdown: 8/29 at Richmond. Adam Kincaid rec blk punt in end zone 2013 defensive/special teams scores Touchdown: 11/22 vs. Columbus East. Garrett Kuhn 65 blocked FG Safety: 10/11 vs. Greenfield-Central. Nick Buckhorn tackled runner Touchdown 10/11 vs. Greenfield-Central. Nick Brickens 60 INT return Safety: 10/4 vs. Shelbyville. Nick Brickens tackled runner in end zone Touchdown: 8/30 vs. Richmond. Gabe Estes 35 fumble return Touchdown: 8/30 vs. Richmond. Garrett Kuhn 61 interception return Safety: 8/23 at Danville. Noah Grable sacked quarterback in end zone Safety: 8/23 at Danville. Nick Derheimer sacked QB in end zone
Red Rage pitching donuts
New Palestine’s defense earned the team’s first shutout in a season opener since the 1989 season, when the Dragons blanked Tri 32-0. That gave NP a run of five shutouts in its last nine games. The four shutouts put up by the 2013 team (vs. Shelbyville Oct. 4, Mt. Vernon Oct. 18, Muncie South Nov. 1, Mt. Vernon Nov. 8) are the most since the 2011 team hs three shutouts in a season. The school record for shutouts in a season is six, set by the 1990 state runner-up team. Most shutouts in a season 1990: 6 (9/14 vs. Zionsville, 9/21 at Beech Grove , 9/28 vs. Triton Central, 10/5 at Eastern Hancock, 10/12 vs. Franklin, 10/26 vs. Alexandria) 1983: 5 (8/26 at Lapel; 9/2 vs. Beech Grove, 9/9 vs. South Decatur, 10/7 vs. Eastern Hancock, 10/19 vs. Morristown) 1982: 5 (8/28 at Covington, 9/10 at Eastern Hancock, 10/8 at Wes-Del, 10/15 vs. Tri, 10/22 vs. Morristown) 1973: 5 (8/30 vs. Edinburgh, 9/13 vs. Eastern Hancock, 9/27 at South Decatur, 10/26 at Mt. Vernon, 11/2 vs. North Decatur) 2013: 4 (10/4 vs. Shelbyville, 10/18 vs. Mt. Vernon, 11/1 at Muncie South, 11/8 vs. Mt. Vernon) 1986: 4 (9/12 vs. Shenandoah, 9/19 vs. Knightstown, 10/3 vs. Triton Central, 10/24 vs. Whiteland)
Sack dances
Senior Noah Grable is the team’s sack king. He and teammate Brian Wagner had 18 sacks each last season, setting a school record for sacks in a single season. He added three to the total in Week 1 for 21. Sterling Curran had three sacks in the Week 2 win at Richmond. In Week 3, Curran and Grable had three sacks each, and Gabe Estes had five.
High-scoring streak
New Palestine is looking to equal a school record set in 1987 and tied a year ago if it can break the 40-point barrier. The Dragons have scored 40-plus points in each of their three games so far this season. A year ago, the Dragons tied a school record with four consecutive 40-point games. 40 points in back-to-back-to-back games 1987 vs. E.Hancock (40-13), Lapel (49-7), Batesville (48-0), Whtland (42-8) 2013 vs. Danville (64-8), Richmond (46-2), Pend. Hts (46-7), Delta (41-14) 2014 vs. Danville (61-0), Richmond (42-6), Yorktown (48-13) 2011 vs. Rushville (53-0), Yorktown (49-14), Shelbyville (49-13) 1987 vs. Shenandoah (41-0), Knightstown (50-0), Beech Grove (52-9) 1984 vs. Tri (48-0), Beech Grove (49-6), South Decatur (42-0) 1982 vs. Wes-Del (48-0), Tri (57-0), Morristown (55-0)
Meet Coach Ralph
Second-year NPHS head coach Kyle Ralph is the fifth head coach in NPHS history, and the third to lead the Dragons to an undefeated regular season, joining Marvin Shepler and Tim Able. He is the first to win his first 13 games as a Dragons head coach. Coach Ralph is a 2002 graduate of Cincinnati St. Xavier High School, where he was a standout offensive lineman. He played collegiately at the University of North Carolina for head coach John Bunting, where he was a two-time First Team All-ACC performer. In 2005, his senior season, he was the ACC’s Coastal Division Offensive Lineman of the Year. He has also participated in NFL training camps with the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers. He began his coaching career at St. Xavier in 2007, then became the co-offensive coordinator at Oak Hills High School near Cincinnati in 2008. He served there for three seasons, before becoming the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at Withrow University High School in Cincinnati in 2011 and 2012. At Withrow, Ralph’s team averaged 34.4 points and 335 total yards per game in 2012. In two years there, his teams went 14-6 overall. At Oak Hills, his 2010 offense broke or tied five school rushing records. His first New Palestine team rewrote the school record book, averaging more than 40 points per game and gaining 6,230 yards. Under his tutelage, the team produced its career and single-season total offense (Blake Luker) and receiving (Tyler Walden) leaders. In 2013, Luker, Walden and James Young became the first trio in NP history to give the team a 2,000-yard passer and a 1,000 yard rusher and receiver in the same season. Coach Ralph also has seven seasons of experience coaching track and field. He teaches world history and advanced PE at NPHS. New Palestine’s head coaches Kyle Ralph (2013-) 18-1 Charlie Hill (2012) 3-7 Tim Able (2009-11) 30-6 Doug Armstrong (2002-08) 49-31 Marvin Shepler (1968-2001): 200-146-2
New Palestine Athletics Commitment s Character s Class
Record-toppers
Last year’s Dragons rewrote the school’s record book. Among the records set in 2013 Tyler Walden: Career (2,134), single-season (1,231) and single-game (212) receiving yards; caeer (138), season (86) and single-game (14) receptions; career (22) touchdown receptions. Blake Luker: Career (4,494), single-season (3,761) and single-game (471) total offense; career (64) and single-season (54) total offense touchdowns. Career touchdown passes (40). Career (239) and single-season (176) completions. Noah Grable/Brian Wagner: Single-season sacks (18) Team: Most points, single-season (571); Most points in a game, both teams (102, 62-40 win over Pendleton Heights 10/25/13); most consecutive wins (13), most wins in a season (13), most total yards (6,230), single-game total yards (744 vs. Pendleton Heights)
About Kelso Stadium/Shepler Field
The Dragons’ home turf Is named for two New Palestine luminaries. Kelso Stadium was dedicated in honor of former NPHS principal Robert Kelso shortly after he passed away in 1983. The playing field itself is Shepler Field – named for NPHS teacher and Hall of Fame football coach Marvin Shepler. The only coach in Dragons history for the program’s first 34 years, Shepler led New Palestine to three sectional titles, three undefeated regular seasons and the 1990 State Finals.
Pronounciation guide New Palestine 11 Alex Neligh 19 Gunnar Large 33 James Crumlin 42 Joe Izbicki 44 Sterling Curran 55 Trent Mahaney 62 Nick Derheimer 65 Andrew Yazel 66 Nick Jassaud 73 Denny Alyea
2014 season highs
“New pal-uh-STEEN” “NEE-ly” “Gunner” “CRUM-lynn” “IS-bick-y” “CURR-un” “muh-HAIN-ee” “DARE-hime-ur” “YAY-zul” “JUS-oad” “AL-yay”
INDIVIDUAL Rushing yards: 166, James Young vs. Yorktown 9/5 Rushing attempts: 31, James Young vs. Yorktown 9/5 Rushing touchdowns: 4, James Young at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Passing yards: 229, Alex Neligh at Richmond 8/29 Pass completions: 15, Alex Neligh at Mt. Vernon 9/12 Pass attempts: 24, Alex Neligh at Richmond 8/29 Pass touchdowns: 3, Alex Neligh vs. Yorktown 9/5, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Receiving yards: 116, Duke Blackwell vs. Danville 8/22 Receptions: 8, Noah Grable at Mt. Vernon 9/12 Receiving touchdowns: 1, Noah Grable vs. Danville 8/22; Joe Izbicki at Richmond 8/29; Duke Blackwell, Garrett Kuhn and Noah Grable vs. Yorktown 9/5; Noah Grable, Duke Blackwell at Mt. Vernon 9/12; Noah Grable, Duke Blackwell and Garrett Kuhn at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Total offense: 285, Alex Neligh vs. Danville 8/22 (187 passing, 98 rushing) Yards from scrimmage: 166, James Young vs. Yorktown 9/5 Longest rush: 45 yards, Chaz Hill vs. Danville 8/22 Longest pass: 85 yards, Alex Neligh to Garrett Kuhn at Pend. Hts 9/19 Most sacks: 5, Gabe Estes vs. Yorktown 9/5 Most interceptions: 3, Garrett Kuhn at Mt. Vernon 9/12 TEAM Total yards: 539, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Rushing yards: 337, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Rushing attempts: 44, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Passing yards: 229 at Richmond 8/29 Pass completions: 15 at Mt. Vernon 9/12 Pass attempts: 24 at Richmond 8/29 Total plays: 60, vs. Danville 8/22 First downs: 20, vs. Danville 8/22 Pass touchdowns: 3, vs. Yorktown 9/5; at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Points: 61, vs. Danville 8/22 Points in a quarter: 28, 2nd quarter at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Points in a half: 47, 1st half vs. Danville 8/22 Fewest points allowed allowed: 0, vs. Danville 8/22 Fewest rushing yards allowed: -10, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Fewest passing yards allowed: 45, vs. Danville 8/22 Fewest total yards allowed: 119, vs. Danville 8/22 Fewest first downs allowed: 8, vs. Danville 8/22; at Mt. Vernon 9/12 Turnovers caused: 6, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Most interceptions: 3, at Mt. Vernon 9/12, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Most fumble recoveries: 3, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Turnover ratio: +6, at Pendleton Heights 9/19
Record when
Home: 2-0 Road: 3-0 vs. 5A: 1-0 vs. 4A: 3-0 vs. 3A: 1-0 vs. HHC: 3-0 vs. NCC: 1-0 vs. Sagamore: 1-0 Scoring at least 20: 5-0 30: 5-0 40: 4-0 Allowing less than 30: 5-0 20: 5-0 10: 4-0 300 yds offense: 4-0 400: 3-0 500: 1-0 Allowing
Commitment, Character, Class Friday, Sept. 26 vs. Greenfield-C., 7:30 p.m. The schedule Date Opponent Time/Score F 8/22 DANVILLE W 61-0 F 8/29 at Richmond W 42-6 F 9/5 YORKTOWN* W 48-13 F 9/12 at Mt. Vernon* W 31-3 F 9/19 at Pendleton Hts.* W 56-7 F 9/26 GREENFIELD-C.* 7:30 F 10/3 at Shelbyville* 7:00 F 10/10 at New Castle* 7:30 F 10/17 DELTA* 7:30 *-HHC game All games broadcast by Dragon Radio access at NewPalestineAthletics.com
The planner Friday, Sept. 26 FB: vs. Greenfield-C., 7:30 p.m.** Saturday, Sept. 27 CC: at Madison Invitational, 8:30 a.m. GSOC: vs. Lawrence C., 9 a.m. BSOC: vs. Delta, noon GO: Regional at New Castle Monday, Sept. 29 TE: vs. Rushville, 4:30 p.m. GSOC: at Shelbyville, 5:30/7 p.m. BSOC: at Yorktown, 5:30/7 p.m. VB: vs. Franklin C, 5:30 p.m. (9/JV/V) FB: JV at Greenfield-C., 6 p.m. FB: 9th vs. Greenfield-C., 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30 VB: vs. Yorktown, 5:30/7 p.m. VB: 9th vs. Hamilton SE, 5:30 p.m. GSOC: JV at Warren C. Inv., 5:30 Wednesday, Oct. 1 GSOC: vs. Wapahani, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2 BSOC: at Pendleton Hts., 5:30/7 p.m. GSOC: JV at Warren C. Inv., 5:30 VB: at Triton Central, 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3 FB: at Shelbyville, 7 p.m.** TE: Sectional at Mt. Vernon, 4:30 Saturday, Oct. 4 CC: HHC at NPHS, 10 a.m. VB: NP Freshman Inv., 9 a.m. TE: Sectional at Mt. Vernon, 10 a.m. **-Broadcast by Dragon Radio (access via Dragon HQ page at NewPalestineAthletics.com)
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Homecoming date
GREENFIELD-CENTRAL COUGARS (3-2, 1-2) at 4A #2/2 NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS (5-0, 3-0) Kelso Stadium, New Palestine, Indiana Broadcast: Dragon Radio Welcome to homecoming 2014! The Dragons enter tonight looking for their fifth consecutive homecoming victory as they host the county rival Greenfield-Central Cougars. Tonight’s game sees the Dragons looking to build to another milestone. Last week, their 56-7 victory over Pendleton Heights was the 300th in the program’s history. They also won their ninth straight HHC game and their 14th straight regular season contest with the Young Blackwell victory. NP did it with its traditional quick-strike offense. Running back James Young had four TDs, including a 1-yard run to put the Dragons up 7-0. He also had a 1-yard run in a 28-point second quarter, sandwiched around TD passes from Alex Neligh to Duke Blackwell (9 yards), Noah Grable (49 yards) and Garrett Kuhn (85 yards). Young also had two thirdquarter TDs, capping the period with a 67-yard romp. Sterling Curran had a 43-yard TD run in the third, as well. Young had 151 yards rushing and Neligh 202 yards passing, as the Dragons eclipsed the 500-yard mark with 539 total yards, a season high and the most since hitting 558 on Nov. 1, 2013 at Muncie South. Young’s four TDs were the most in a game since Nick Survant had four in 2012 against Greenfield-Central. The 85-yard pass from Neligh to Kuhn was the longest since an 81yard hookup from Blake Luker to Tyler Walden in Week 4 of the 2013 season. The Red Rage kept the opponent out of the end zone for the 11th straight quarter -- PH’s lone score came on a kickoff return -- and forced six turnovers. Blackwell, Adam Kincaid and Kyle Zehner had interceptions. Grable, Kuhn and Gabe Estes had fumble recoveries. Estes (11) anbd Kuhn (9) were top tacklers. PH was held to minus-10 rushing yards.
State polls Class 4A polls AP IFCA 1. Columbus East 1. Columbus East 2. New Palestine 2. New Palestine 3. Chatard 3. Chatard 4. Evansville Reitz 4. Evansville Reitz 5. FW Dwenger 5. FW Dwenger 6. SB St. Joseph 6. Plymouth 7. Plymouth 7. SB St. Joseph 8. Jasper 8. Jasper 9. New Haven 9. Roncalli 10. Roncalli 9. New Haven Other HHC teams Yorktown (Class 3A): AP Rec Votes, IFCA No. 9
Looking ahead
The Dragons hit the road for two straight weeks, with a game at Shelbyville next weekend. Note kickoff is 7 p.m. next week.
Tonight’s opponent
The Cougars enter tonight’s game with a 3-2 record, but fell 37-13 to Shelbyville last week. Under the tutelage of ninth-year coach Roger Dodson, G-C has been getting strong performances from its running game. A week ago, running back Cameron Nuckols had 116 rushing and 37 receiving yards, and quarterback Jeremiah Fields threw for 97. Two weeks ago, Drey Jameson’s kickoff return keyed a 34-21 victory over Pendleton Heights. This is the 22nd meeting between the two teams since 1994. NP leads the series 16-5.
300th win
Last week’s victory over Pendleton Heights gave the Dragons the 300th victory in program history. The all-time record is now 300-191-2 in 47 years of varsity football.
Elsewhere at NPHS
The girls golf team won the first sectional in the program’s history, outdistancing Greenwood and Pendleton Heights. Abby Poole was the individual sectional champ with a 73. The Dragons compete in the regional Saturday at New Castle. ... The volleyball team finished third at the tough Warren Central Invitational last weekend. ... The girls soccer team is in HHC contention after a 6-0 win over Greenfield-Central last week. ... Samuel Voelz was the runner-up and the boys CC team finished third at the FlashRock Invitational last Saturday ... the boys tennis team entered the week 12-1 with 10 straight victories.
On the air
Listen to all New Palestine football games on Dragon Radio. Join Andrew Smith and Mike Jackson for the play-by-play of NPHS football. Access Dragon Radio by clicking “Dragon HQ” on the athletics website.
JV update
The JV football team is now 4-0 after a 27-0 win over Pendleton Hts. The frosh are 2-2.
Around the HHC STANDINGS New Palestine Yorktown Mt. Vernon Shelbyville Greenfield-Central Pendleton Heights Delta New Castle Last week’s games (Sept. 19) New Palestine 56, Pendleton Hts. 7 Mt. Vernon 24, Delta 21 This week’s games (Sept. 26) Greenfield-C. at New Palestine, 7:30 Mt. Vernon at Pendleton Hts., 7:30 Next week’s games (Oct. 3) New Palestine at Shelbyville, 7 Pendleton Hts. at Delta, 7:30
Conf. 3-0 2-1 2-1 2-1 1-2 1-2 1-2 0-3
GB -- 1 1 1 2 2 2 3
Overall 5-0 4-1 3-2 3-2 3-2 3-2 2-3 1-4
Shelbyville 37, Greenfield-Central 13 Yorktown 39, New Castle 7 Delta at New Castle, 7:30 Shelbyville at Yorktown, 7:30 New Castle at Mt. Vernon, 7 Yorktown at Greenfield-Central, 7:30
New Palestine Athletics Commitment s Character s Class
The schedules
NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS (5-0, 3-0 HHC) 8/22 DANVILLE W 61-0 8/29 at Richmond W 42-6 9/5 YORKTOWN* W 48-13 9/12 at Mt. Vernon* W 31-3 9/19 at Pendleton Heights* W 56-7 9/26 GREENFIELD-CENTRAL* 7:30 10/3 at Shelbyville* 7:00 10/10 at New Castle* 7:30 10/17 DELTA* 7:30 *-Hoosier Heritage Conference game GREENFIELD-CENTRAL COUGARS (3-2, 1-2 HHC) 8/22 SHORTRIDGE W 48-18 8/29 NORTHWEST W 62-12 9/5 at Mt. Vernon* L 14-31 9/12 PENDLETON HEIGHTS* W 34-21 9/19 at Shelbyville* L 13-37 9/26 at New Palestine* 7:30 10/3 YORKTOWN* 7:30 10/10 at Delta* 7:30 10/17 NEW CASTLE* 7:30 *-Hoosier Heritage Conference game
Projected starters
NEW PALESTINE OFFENSE WR: 6 Duke Blackwell WR: 7 Adam Kincaid WR: 3 Garrett Kuhn TE: 22 Noah Grable LT: 62 Nick Derheimer LG: 63 David Judy C: 65 Andrew Yazel RG: 70 Matt Moeller RT: 50 Michael Woodall QB: 11 Alex Neligh RB: 32 James Young SPECIALISTS KO: 18 Spencer Corey PK: 18 Spencer Corey/30 Kyle Barton
Rankings
DEFENSE DE: 76 Alex Barnes DT: 74 Thaddeus Muse DE: 22 Noah Grable LB: 42 Joe Izbicki LB: 44 Sterling Curran LB: 45 Gabe Estes CB: 12 Chaz Hill CB: 14 Kyle Zehner S: 9 Nick Brickens S: 7 Adam Kincaid S: 3 Garrett Kuhn P: 9 Nick Brickens Ret: 6 Blackwell/9 Brickens
New Palestine broke into the Top 10 during Week 4 of the 2013 season and has been there since. The Dragons held station this week in the polls. The Dragons advanced a spot in the AP poll to No. 2 last week, their highest placement since the end of the 2013 regular season, where they were also No. 2. This week, they advanced two spots to No. 2 in the IFCA poll, as well, behind Columbus East and ahead of Chatard. CLASS 4A POLL RANK BY WEEK 2014 Preseason (8/19): IFCA No. 3, AP No. 3 Week 1 (8/26): IFCA No. 4, AP No. 3, Sagarin No. 1 Week 2 (9/2): IFCA No. 4, AP No. 3, Sagarin No. 4 Week 3 (9/9): IFCA No. 4, AP No. 3, Sagarin No. 3 Week 4 (9/16): IFCA No. 4, AP No. 2, Sagarin No. 2 Week 5 (9/23): IFCA No. 2, AP No. 2, Sagarin No. 2
Series history
SERIES HISTORY Tonight marks the 22nd meeting between New Palestine and Greenfield-Central since the series began. Despite the two schools being in the same county, they didn’t play each other until 1994 when they both formed the Hoosier Heritage Conference. NP has won 16 of the 20 regularseason matchups, including six straight regular-season games. Last year, the Dragons won 51-7 at Cougar Stadium behind two defensive scores. New Palestine leads 16-5 Regular season: New Palestine leads 16-4 At Kelso Stadium: New Palestine leads 5-2 10/11/13: NP 51-7 (at G-C) 10/11/03: NP 42-12 (at Dome) 10/5/12: NP 47-7 (at NP) 10/11/02: G-C 17-14 (at G-C) 10/7/11: NP 21-19 (at G-C) 10/5/01: G-C 28-6 (at NP) 10/29/10: G-C 7-0 (sect at G-C) 10/6/00: NP 9-3 (at G-C) 10/8/10: NP 32-0 (at G-C) 10/8/99: NP 48-12 (at NP) 10/10/09: NP 56-0 (at Lucas Oil) 10/9/98: NP 22-7 (at G-C) 10/10/08: NP 38-14 (at G-C) 10/10/97: NP 42-10 (at NP) 10/5/07: G-C 8-6 (at NP) 10/4/96: NP 14-0 (at G-C) 10/6/06: NP 35-10 (at G-C) 10/6/95: NP 17-6 (at NP) 10/7/05: NP 68-14 (at NP) 10/7/94: G-C 28-8 (at NP) 10/8/04: NP 34-0 (at G-C)
Reigning HHC champs
New Palestine is the defending Hoosier Heritage Conference champion, having run the table with a 6-0 record last season. The Dragons have now won five conference titles, tying them with Mt. Vernon for second-most in the league’s 20-year history. NP has won three of the last four championships and has won five titles since 2005, most among HHC schools. HHC HISTORY Most HHC titles (*-shared title) 7: Delta (2000, 2001*, 2002*, 2004, 2005*, 2008, 2009) 5: New Palestine (2005*, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013) 5: Mt. Vernon (1997*, 1999*, 2001*, 2003, 2012) 4: Hamilton Southeastern (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997*) 3: Pendleton Heights (1997*, 1998, 2002*) 1: Shelbyville (2007) 1: Greenfield-Central (2002*) 1: Yorktown (1999*) HHC champions by year 2003: Mt. Vernon 2013: New Palestine 2012: Mt. Vernon 2002: Delta/G-C/PH 2011: New Palestine 2001: Delta/Mt. Vernon 2010: New Palestine 2000: Delta 2009: Delta 1999: Mt. Vernon/Yorktown 2008: Delta 1998: Pendleton Heights 2007: Shelbyville 1997: HSE/MV/PH 2006: New Palestine 1996: Hamilton Southeastern 2005: New Palestine/Delta 1995: Hamilton Southeastern 2004: Delta 1994: Hamilton Southeastern
HHC lookahead
New Palestine remains the HHC leader, with Yorktown, Mt. Vernon and Shelbyville a game back at 2-1. The Dragons handed the first two their only conference losses, and play Shelbyville next week. Shelbyville meets Yorktown tonight in a matchup of two of the 2-1 teams. Also tonight, Mt. Vernon (2-1) is at Pendleton Heights (1-2); while New Castle (0-3) meets Delta (1-2).
Dragons on homecoming
Tonight is homecoming, the highlight of the fall season each year. This year, the school held a homecoming festival with a community festival, pep rally and parade. The Dragons have had success in recent homecoming tilts, winning five straight and nine of their last 12. New Palestine in homecoming games last 12 years 9/20/13: vs. Whiteland (W 35-10) 10/5/12: vs. Greenfield-Central (W 47-7) 9/30/11: vs. Shelbyville (W 49-13) 9/24/10: vs. Yorktown (W 49-6) 9/18/09: vs. Rushville (W 34-13) 9/26/08: vs. Yorktown (L 0-37) 9/28/07: vs. Shelbyville (L 19-34) 9/8/06: vs. Batesville (L 7-20) 9/30/05: vs. Shelbyville (W 35-21) 9/24/04: vs. Yorktown (W 34-9) 10/3/03: vs. Shelbyville (W 22-9) 9/27/02: vs. Yorktown (W 24-6)
Follow the traveling trophies
New Palestine regained the HHC’s Helmet trophy with a 35-14 victory at Yorktown on Sept. 27, 2013 and successfully defended it six times, most recently with a 56-7 win over Pendleton Heights on Sept. 19. The Dragons held the Helmet for an HHC record 14 consecutive weeks in 2010-11. NP and Mt. Vernon also play for the Boundary Rail, which the Dragons held for seven consecutive years before surrendering it to MV in 2012. The Dragons regained it in 2013 and defended it with a 31-3 win in Week 4. The piece of interurban track ran close to the rough boundary between the two school districts. NP holds a 9-1 record in the series.
Dragon streaks
New Palestine is in the midst of several streaks right now, having won 12 straight regular-season games and eight straight HHC contests. New Palestine records MOST CONSECUTIVE REGULAR-SEASON WINS 21: Aug. 19, 1983-Aug. 30, 1985 17: Aug. 27, 2010-Oct. 14, 2011 14: Aug. 23, 2013-present MOST CONSECUTIVE HHC WINS 20: Sept. 4, 2009-Oct. 14, 2011 (HHC record) 9: Sept. 6, 2013-present MOST CONSECUTIVE HOME WINS 38: Sept. 12, 1986-Oct. 2, 1992 8: Aug. 30, 2013-present
New Palestine Athletics Commitment s Character s Class
A perfect 300!
The Dragons won their 300th game in school history last Friday, beating Pendleton Heights 56-7. The 300 wins have come over a 47-year span. The 100th win came in the 18th season of varsity football (1985), the 200th came in the 33rd (2001), and the 300th in the 47th. . Milestone wins 1: 9/6/68: New Palestine 37, Hamilton Southeastern 13 50: 9/22/78: New Palestine 20, Mt. Vernon 14 100: 10/25/85: New Palestine 21, Brookville 0 (sectional) 150: 11/9/90: New Palestine 20, Chatard 12 (regional) 200: 9/21/01: New Palestine 14, Yorktown 10 250: 8/22/09: New Palestine 22, Whiteland 16, OT 300: 9/19/14: New Palestine 56, Pendleton Heights 7 QUEST FOR 300 WINS BY DECADE 1960s: 9 (9-9) 1990s: 57 (57-47) 1970s: 47 (47-48-2) 2000s: 63 (63-51) 1980s: 83 (83-25) 2010s: 41 (41-11) WINS BY OPPONENT (55 different schools) 30: Mt. Vernon 25: Triton Central 18: Eastern Hancock 16: Greenfield-Central, Rushville 15: Pendleton Heights, Tri 14: Yorktown 11: Indian Creek 10: Knightstown 9: Shelbyville 8: Beech Grove, Edinburgh 7: North Decatur 6: Batesville, Delta, Hamilton Southeastern, Whiteland, Zionsville 5: Greensburg, Lapel 4: Morristown, Richmond, South Decatur 3: Chatard, Frankton, Shenandoah 2: Alexandria, Brookville, Danville, Elwood, Franklin, Howe, Sheridan, Wes-Del, Westfield 1: Anderson, Anderson Highland, Arlington, Blackford, Brebeuf, Cathedral, Centerville, Covington, Crawfordsville, Eastbrook, Hamilton Heights, Lawrenceburg, Mississinewa, Mooresville, Muncie Central, Muncie South, Tell City, Tipton, Washington WINS BY HEAD COACH 200: Marvin Shepler (1968-2001) 49: Doug Armstrong (2002-08) 30: Tim Able (2009-11) 18: Kyle Ralph (2013-present) 3: Charlie Hill (2012) MOST WINS IN A SEASON (*-undefeated regular season) 13-1: 2013 (HHC, regional champs)* 12-2: 1990 (state runner-up) 11-1: 2011 (HHC champs)* 11-2: 1987 (regional champs) 10-1: 1983 (BBRC, cluster champs)* 10-1: 1984 (BBRC, cluster champs)* 10-1: 1988 (BBRC champs)* 10-2: 1989 (sectional champs) 10-3: 2009 (sectional champs) 10-3: 2005 (HHC, sectional champs) 10-3: 2004 (sectional champs) OTHER FACTS WIns at Kelso Stadium: 155 Away: 140 Wins at neutral sites: 5 (2-Lucas Oil Stadium, 2-RCA Dome, 1-Warren C.) IHSAA tournament wins: 43 HHC wins: 79 Sectional titles (7): 1987, 1989, 1990, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2013 Regional titles (3): 1987, 1990, 2013 Semistate titles (1): 1990 Conference titles (13): 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988 (Big Blue River Conference), 1992 (Rangeline conference), 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013 (Hoosier Heritage Conference) School closers: Brookville (1988), Anderson Highland (2009), Muncie South (2013) (last game for opponent before school closed/consolidated)
Coming off perfection
The 2013 season marked the fifth undefeated regular season in school history, the best start in school history and the most wins in school history. Undefeated regular seasons in New Palestine history 2013: Final record 13-1 (HHC, sectional champs) 2011: Final record 11-1 (HHC champs) 1988: Final record 10-1 (BBRC champs) 1984: Final record 10-1 (BBRC, cluster champs) 1983: Final record 10-1 (BBRC, cluster champs)
20 in 12
The Dragons’ potent offense also made a habit of scoring in bunches in 2013. They carried over the penchant for 20-point quarters into 2014, starting the season with 21 points in the first quarter of each of the first three games. The Dragons have had six 20-point quarters in the first five games this year. 20-point quarters in 2014 21 points, 9/19 at Pendleton Heights (3rd quarter) 28 points, 9/19 at Pendleton Heights (2nd quarter) 21 points, 9/5 vs. Yorktown (1st quarter) 21 points, 8/29 at Richmond (1st quarter) 26 points, 8/22 vs. Danville (2nd quarter) 21 points, 8/22 vs. Danville (1st quarter)
State leaders
New Palestine is among the leaders in Class 4A in scoring, defense and win margin. Among all schools, NP is 9th in the state in scoring, 3rd in scoring defense and 5th in victory margin. 4A scoring leaders: 1. Columbus East (54.2), 2. Beech Grove (48.4), 3. New Palestine (47.6), 4. New Prairie (44.6), 5. Hammond Morton (44.0) 4A scoring defense: 1. SB St. Joseph (5.0), 2. New Palestine (5.8), 2. Lebanon (5.8), 4. Leo (8.6), 5. Columbus East (9.2) 4A victory margin: 1. Columbus East (45.0), 2. New Palestine (41.8), 3. Evansville Reitz (28.8), 4. Chatard (26.4), 5. Plymouth (24.4)
Fast starts
The 2014 start marked the second-most points scored in the first two games in school history -- only eclipsed by the 2013 start to the season. Not only that, but the 103 points scored in the first two games are the seventhmost in back-to-back games. In addition, the 61-0 win over Danville was the third-biggest margin and seventh-biggest scoring game in school history. MOST POINTS, 1st 2 GAMES OF A SEASON 110: 2013 (64-8 Danville, 46-2 Richmond) 103: 2014 (61-0 Danville, 42-6 Richmond) 97: 1984 (48-0 Tri, 49-6 Beech Grove) 81: 1988 (47-0 Tri, 34-13 Mt. Vernon) 72: 1989 (32-0 Tri, 40-6 Mt. Vernon) MOST POINTS, 1st 3 GAMES OF A SEASON 156: 2013 (64-8 Danville, 46-2 Richmond, 46-7 Pendleton Heights) 151: 2014 (61-0 Danville, 42-6 Richmond, 48-13 Yorktown) 139: 1984 (48-0 Tri, 49-6 Beech Grove, 42-0 South Decatur) 105: 1988 (47-0 Tri, 34-13 Mt. Vernon, 24-16 Shenandoah) 101: 1987 (36-16 Tri, 24-8 Mt. Vernon, 41-0 Shenandoah) BIGGEST VICTORY MARGIN 64, 10/24/86 vs. Whiteland (64-0) 62: 9/19/03 vs. Rushville (62-0) 61: 8/22/14 vs. Danville (61-0) 57: 10/15/82 vs. Tri (57-0) 56: 8/23/13 at Danville (64-8)
Play fast, score faster
New Palestine has made a habit of scoring quick TDs under coach Kyle Ralph. In the first five weeks of 2014, the Dragons have scored twice in less than 150 seconds seven times, and have done so in each game. FASTEST 2 SCORES by NEW PALESTINE 2014 1:32: 8/22 vs. Danville. Noah Grable 27 pass from Alex Neligh, 7:40 2Q; Alex Neligh 41 run, 6:08 2Q 1:43: 9/12 at Mt. Vernon. Spencer Corey 32 FG, 6:17 2Q; Duke Blackwell 21 pass from Alex Neligh, 4:36 2Q 1:49: 8/22 vs. Danville James Young 2 run 9:29 2Q; Noah Grable 27 pass from Alex Neligh, 7:40 2Q 2:05: 9/5 vs. Yorktown. Garrett Kuhn 28 pass from Alex Neligh 8:35 1Q; Duke Blackwell 25 pass from Alex Neligh 6:30 1Q 2:27: 9/19 at Pendleton Hts. Duke Blackwell 9 pass from Alex Neligh 11:55 2Q; Noah Grable 48 pass from Alex Neligh 9:28 2Q 2:28: 8/29 at Richmond. James Young 1 run 1:23 1Q; James Young 1 run 10:55 2Q 2:30 8/29 at Richmond. Chaz Hill 39 run 9:49 1Q; Joe Izbicki 4 pass from Alex Neligh 7:19 1Q FASTEST 3 SCORES by NEW PALESTINE 2014 3:21: 8/22 vs. Danville. James Young 2 run 9:29 2Q; Noah Grable 27 pass from Alex Neligh, 7:40 2Q; Alex Neligh 41 run, 6:08 2Q. FASTEST SCORE FROM THE START OF A GAME :45: 9/5 vs. Yorktown. Noah Grable 65 pass from Alex Neligh, 11:15 1Q
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We will run 500 yards
In the Week 5 victory over Pendleton Heights, the Dragons amassed 539 yards of total offense, their most since totaling a school-record 744 against PH in the 2013 sectional. Big-yardage games under coach Kyle Ralph have been the norm, with the team averaging 444 yards per game in 2013. MOST YARDS TOTAL OFFENSE (450 and up) since 2013 744: 10/25/13 at Pendleton Hts. (443 rush, 301 pass, W 62-40) 678: 9/6/13 vs. Pendleton Hts. (348 rush, 330 pass, W 46-7) 593: 8/23/13 at Danville (326 rush, 267 pass, W 64-8) 558: 11/1/13 at Muncie South (376 rush, 182 pass, W 53-0) 539: 9/19/14 at Pendleton Hts (337 rush, 202 pass, W 56-7) 497: 9/13/13 at Delta (326 rush, 171 pass, W 41-14) 496: 8/22/14 vs. Danville (309 rush, 187 pass, W 61-0) 479: 9/27/14 at Yorktown (255 rush, 224 pass, W 35-14)
Almost a double-century
Junior Alex Neligh becomes the Dragons’ starting quarterback this season. He nearly equaled a rare feat in his first start, running for 98 yards and throwing for 187 against Danville. 2013 senior Blake Luker hit the 100/100 milestone several times a year ago. Neligh had his first 200-yard passing game with 229 yards on 14-of-24 passing against Richmond. That game featured several explosive plays -- a 45-yard pass to Duke Blackwell, a 41-yard pass to Noah Grable, and a 30-yard pass to Logan Greene. ALEX NELIGH’S TOP PASSING GAMES 223: 8/29/14 at Richmond (14-of-24, 1 TD, W 42-6) 204: 9/12/14 at Mt. Vernon (15-of-21, 2 TD, W 31-3) 202: 9/19/14 at Pendleton Heights (8-of-12, 3 TD, W 56-7)
3-for-3-for-6
Junior QB Alex Neligh had a perfect start to the game against Yorktown. His first three pass attempts went for touchdowns -- a 65-yarder to Noah Grable, a 28-yarder to Garrett Kuhn and a 25-yarder to Duke Blackwell. They gave NP a 21-0 lead just 5:30 into an eventual 48-13 victory.
A Young millenium
Senior running back James Young hit the millenium mark a year ago, rushing for 1,250 yards over the season. It was the largest total for a New Palestine back since Eric Alcorn ran for 1,629 yards in 2005. Young topped the 100-yard mark five times in the last six games last season, and six times overall in 2013. His 266-yard game against Pendleton Heights in the sectional was the most since Nick Survant ran for 236 on Oct. 5, 2012. Young continued his run with two three-TD games in the season openers, then a 166-yard, 31-carry effort against Yorktown in Week 3. He now has eight 100-yard games, including two this season. In the Dragons’ four tournament wins last season, Young averaged 182 yards per game and scored eight touchdowns. James Young’s 100-yard rushing games 266 yards, 10/25/13 at Pendleton Heights (29 carries) 187 yards, 11/1/13 at Muncie South (25 carries) 166 yards, 9/5/14 vs. Yorktown (31 carries) 159 yards, 9/6/13 vs. Pendleton Heights (24 carries) 153 yards, 11/15/13 vs. Chatard (14 carries) 151 yards, 9/19/14 at Pendleton Heights (23 carries) 120 yards, 11/8/13 vs. Mt. Vernon (26 carries) 110 yards, 10/11/13 at Greenfield-Central (11 carries)
Mr. Touchdown
Senior RB James Young has been the Dragons’ closer. Through the first five weeks of the 2014 season, he has three games with at least three TDs, scoring three each in the first two games. He had four TDs in the Week 5 win over PH, the most since Nick Survant in 2012.
Return to sender
The New Palestine defense and special teams have managed to get 5 scores already this season, with a fake punt & a blocked punt TD vs. Richmond and three more scores, including two safeties, against Mt. Vernon. That builds off a 2013 season in which the Dragons had four return touchdowns and four safeties. 2014 defensive/special teams scores Safety: 9/12 at Mt. Vernon. Fumbled punt snap out of end zone Touchdown: 9/12 at Mt. Vernon. Nick Brickens 55-yard punt return Safety: 9/12 at Mt. Vernon. QB fumbled ball out of end zone Touchdown: 8/29 at Richmond. Chaz Hill 39-yard run on fake punt Touchdown: 8/29 at Richmond. Adam Kincaid rec blk punt in end zone 2013 defensive/special teams scores Touchdown: 11/22 vs. Columbus East. Garrett Kuhn 65 blocked FG Safety: 10/11 vs. Greenfield-Central. Nick Buckhorn tackled runner Touchdown 10/11 vs. Greenfield-Central. Nick Brickens 60 INT return Safety: 10/4 vs. Shelbyville. Nick Brickens tackled runner in end zone Touchdown: 8/30 vs. Richmond. Gabe Estes 35 fumble return Touchdown: 8/30 vs. Richmond. Garrett Kuhn 61 interception return Safety: 8/23 at Danville. Noah Grable sacked quarterback in end zone Safety: 8/23 at Danville. Nick Derheimer sacked QB in end zone
Red Rage pitching donuts
New Palestine’s defense earned the team’s first shutout in a season opener since the 1989 season, when the Dragons blanked Tri 32-0. That gave NP a run of five shutouts in its last nine games. The four shutouts put up by the 2013 team (vs. Shelbyville Oct. 4, Mt. Vernon Oct. 18, Muncie South Nov. 1, Mt. Vernon Nov. 8) are the most since the 2011 team hs three shutouts in a season. The school record for shutouts in a season is six, set by the 1990 state runner-up team. Most shutouts in a season 1990: 6 (9/14 vs. Zionsville, 9/21 at Beech Grove , 9/28 vs. Triton Central, 10/5 at Eastern Hancock, 10/12 vs. Franklin, 10/26 vs. Alexandria) 1983: 5 (8/26 at Lapel; 9/2 vs. Beech Grove, 9/9 vs. South Decatur, 10/7 vs. Eastern Hancock, 10/19 vs. Morristown) 1982: 5 (8/28 at Covington, 9/10 at Eastern Hancock, 10/8 at Wes-Del, 10/15 vs. Tri, 10/22 vs. Morristown) 1973: 5 (8/30 vs. Edinburgh, 9/13 vs. Eastern Hancock, 9/27 at South Decatur, 10/26 at Mt. Vernon, 11/2 vs. North Decatur) 2013: 4 (10/4 vs. Shelbyville, 10/18 vs. Mt. Vernon, 11/1 at Muncie South, 11/8 vs. Mt. Vernon) 1986: 4 (9/12 vs. Shenandoah, 9/19 vs. Knightstown, 10/3 vs. Triton Central, 10/24 vs. Whiteland)
Sack dances
Senior Noah Grable is the team’s sack king. He and teammate Brian Wagner had 18 sacks each last season, setting a school record for sacks in a single season. He added three to the total in Week 1 for 21. Sterling Curran had three sacks in the Week 2 win at Richmond. In Week 3, Curran and Grable had three sacks each, and Gabe Estes had five.
High-scoring streak
New Palestine is looking to equal a school record set in 1987 and tied a year ago if it can break the 40-point barrier. The Dragons have scored 40-plus points in each of their three games so far this season. A year ago, the Dragons tied a school record with four consecutive 40-point games. 40 points in back-to-back-to-back games 1987 vs. E.Hancock (40-13), Lapel (49-7), Batesville (48-0), Whtland (42-8) 2013 vs. Danville (64-8), Richmond (46-2), Pend. Hts (46-7), Delta (41-14) 2014 vs. Danville (61-0), Richmond (42-6), Yorktown (48-13) 2011 vs. Rushville (53-0), Yorktown (49-14), Shelbyville (49-13) 1987 vs. Shenandoah (41-0), Knightstown (50-0), Beech Grove (52-9) 1984 vs. Tri (48-0), Beech Grove (49-6), South Decatur (42-0) 1982 vs. Wes-Del (48-0), Tri (57-0), Morristown (55-0)
Meet Coach Ralph
Second-year NPHS head coach Kyle Ralph is the fifth head coach in NPHS history, and the third to lead the Dragons to an undefeated regular season, joining Marvin Shepler and Tim Able. He is the first to win his first 13 games as a Dragons head coach. Coach Ralph is a 2002 graduate of Cincinnati St. Xavier High School, where he was a standout offensive lineman. He played collegiately at the University of North Carolina for head coach John Bunting, where he was a two-time First Team All-ACC performer. In 2005, his senior season, he was the ACC’s Coastal Division Offensive Lineman of the Year. He has also participated in NFL training camps with the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers. He began his coaching career at St. Xavier in 2007, then became the co-offensive coordinator at Oak Hills High School near Cincinnati in 2008. He served there for three seasons, before becoming the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at Withrow University High School in Cincinnati in 2011 and 2012. At Withrow, Ralph’s team averaged 34.4 points and 335 total yards per game in 2012. In two years there, his teams went 14-6 overall. At Oak Hills, his 2010 offense broke or tied five school rushing records. His first New Palestine team rewrote the school record book, averaging more than 40 points per game and gaining 6,230 yards. Under his tutelage, the team produced its career and single-season total offense (Blake Luker) and receiving (Tyler Walden) leaders. In 2013, Luker, Walden and James Young became the first trio in NP history to give the team a 2,000-yard passer and a 1,000 yard rusher and receiver in the same season. Coach Ralph also has seven seasons of experience coaching track and field. He teaches world history and advanced PE at NPHS. New Palestine’s head coaches Kyle Ralph (2013-) 18-1 Charlie Hill (2012) 3-7 Tim Able (2009-11) 30-6 Doug Armstrong (2002-08) 49-31 Marvin Shepler (1968-2001): 200-146-2
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Record-toppers
Last year’s Dragons rewrote the school’s record book. Among the records set in 2013 Tyler Walden: Career (2,134), single-season (1,231) and single-game (212) receiving yards; caeer (138), season (86) and single-game (14) receptions; career (22) touchdown receptions. Blake Luker: Career (4,494), single-season (3,761) and single-game (471) total offense; career (64) and single-season (54) total offense touchdowns. Career touchdown passes (40). Career (239) and single-season (176) completions. Noah Grable/Brian Wagner: Single-season sacks (18) Team: Most points, single-season (571); Most points in a game, both teams (102, 62-40 win over Pendleton Heights 10/25/13); most consecutive wins (13), most wins in a season (13), most total yards (6,230), single-game total yards (744 vs. Pendleton Heights)
About Kelso Stadium/Shepler Field
The Dragons’ home turf Is named for two New Palestine luminaries. Kelso Stadium was dedicated in honor of former NPHS principal Robert Kelso shortly after he passed away in 1983. The playing field itself is Shepler Field – named for NPHS teacher and Hall of Fame football coach Marvin Shepler. The only coach in Dragons history for the program’s first 34 years, Shepler led New Palestine to three sectional titles, three undefeated regular seasons and the 1990 State Finals.
Pronounciation guide New Palestine 11 Alex Neligh 19 Gunnar Large 33 James Crumlin 42 Joe Izbicki 44 Sterling Curran 55 Trent Mahaney 62 Nick Derheimer 65 Andrew Yazel 66 Nick Jassaud 73 Denny Alyea
2014 season highs
“New pal-uh-STEEN” “NEE-ly” “Gunner” “CRUM-lynn” “IS-bick-y” “CURR-un” “muh-HAIN-ee” “DARE-hime-ur” “YAY-zul” “JUS-oad” “AL-yay”
INDIVIDUAL Rushing yards: 166, James Young vs. Yorktown 9/5 Rushing attempts: 31, James Young vs. Yorktown 9/5 Rushing touchdowns: 4, James Young at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Passing yards: 229, Alex Neligh at Richmond 8/29 Pass completions: 15, Alex Neligh at Mt. Vernon 9/12 Pass attempts: 24, Alex Neligh at Richmond 8/29 Pass touchdowns: 3, Alex Neligh vs. Yorktown 9/5, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Receiving yards: 116, Duke Blackwell vs. Danville 8/22 Receptions: 8, Noah Grable at Mt. Vernon 9/12 Receiving touchdowns: 1, Noah Grable vs. Danville 8/22; Joe Izbicki at Richmond 8/29; Duke Blackwell, Garrett Kuhn and Noah Grable vs. Yorktown 9/5; Noah Grable, Duke Blackwell at Mt. Vernon 9/12; Noah Grable, Duke Blackwell and Garrett Kuhn at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Total offense: 285, Alex Neligh vs. Danville 8/22 (187 passing, 98 rushing) Yards from scrimmage: 166, James Young vs. Yorktown 9/5 Longest rush: 45 yards, Chaz Hill vs. Danville 8/22 Longest pass: 85 yards, Alex Neligh to Garrett Kuhn at Pend. Hts 9/19 Most sacks: 5, Gabe Estes vs. Yorktown 9/5 Most interceptions: 3, Garrett Kuhn at Mt. Vernon 9/12 TEAM Total yards: 539, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Rushing yards: 337, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Rushing attempts: 44, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Passing yards: 229 at Richmond 8/29 Pass completions: 15 at Mt. Vernon 9/12 Pass attempts: 24 at Richmond 8/29 Total plays: 60, vs. Danville 8/22 First downs: 20, vs. Danville 8/22 Pass touchdowns: 3, vs. Yorktown 9/5; at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Points: 61, vs. Danville 8/22 Points in a quarter: 28, 2nd quarter at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Points in a half: 47, 1st half vs. Danville 8/22 Fewest points allowed allowed: 0, vs. Danville 8/22 Fewest rushing yards allowed: -10, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Fewest passing yards allowed: 45, vs. Danville 8/22 Fewest total yards allowed: 119, vs. Danville 8/22 Fewest first downs allowed: 8, vs. Danville 8/22; at Mt. Vernon 9/12 Turnovers caused: 6, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Most interceptions: 3, at Mt. Vernon 9/12, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Most fumble recoveries: 3, at Pendleton Heights 9/19 Turnover ratio: +6, at Pendleton Heights 9/19
Record when
Home: 2-0 Road: 3-0 vs. 5A: 1-0 vs. 4A: 3-0 vs. 3A: 1-0 vs. HHC: 3-0 vs. NCC: 1-0 vs. Sagamore: 1-0 Scoring at least 20: 5-0 30: 5-0 40: 4-0 Allowing less than 30: 5-0 20: 5-0 10: 4-0 300 yds offense: 4-0 400: 3-0 500: 1-0 Allowing
