NEW PALESTINE — Home Sweet Home.
Back at New Palestine High School in front of the friendly fans at Kelso Stadium, the Dragons football team extended one streak and ended one it wants to put in the rearview.
Friday’s 42-14 victory over Yorktown was the program’s 19th in a row on its home turf. It was the first win of the season, following losses at Class 5A No. 7 Decatur Central and Class 3A No. 2 Brebeuf. It was New Palestine’s first 0-2 start in 13 years.
“It feels good. (Yorktown) is a good team,” New Palestine head coach Kyle Ralph said. “I think a lot of people think we’re a wounded animal right now after being 0-2. We haven’t lost regular season games very often, let alone two. We’ve played two really good football teams and came out on the short side.
“We talked to the kids this week that they can make a choice,” Ralph added. “You can lay on the ground and let the predators circle or you can pick yourself up off the floor and have some fight. I was real proud of our guys’ heart, intensity and effort. It’s great to be in the win column and it’s great to see a young team, hopefully, turn the corner.”
Sophomore running back Grayson Thomas turned some corners, ran up the middle and did a little everything, leading the Dragons offense with four touchdown runs. He rushed 18 times for 207 yards.
“The big things is he practices hard,” Ralph said of Thomas. “He gets the most out of himself Monday through Thursday. We’ve been trying to get him those seams where he can get in the second level and beyond to show how dynamic he is. We just haven’t be able to get him loose this year and tonight we finally were able to in a couple of different ways. He ran hard.”
Senior quarterback Damon Hockett threw for 145 yards, hitting 9 of 14 tries, to four different receivers, with a touchdown. Junior Blaine Nunnally had a touchdown reception and helped seal the game with a second-half interception return for a touchdown.
We’ve got a lot of weapons,” Ralph said. “Week 1, we used our weapons, but we turned the ball over. Week 2, we didn’t execute so our weapons were ineffective. Tonight, we showed a good display of when everyone is in sync and execute the plan good things can happen. We’ve got some really explosive players out here. We just have to execute properly to get them the football.”
After the teams traded interceptions on their respective opening drives, the Dragons got on the scoreboard first.
Senior Madix Johnson picked off a halfback pass attempt from Yorktown’s Blair Webster. After Johnson’s 16-yard return, New Palestine, at the Yorktown 31, needed only two plays to take a one-touchdown lead.
On the first play, Thomas went 19 yards. On the second, Hockett found Nunnally — helped by a block from wide receiver Caleb Byers — for a 12-yard score. Brendan Tanskley added the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 7:22 left in the opening quarter.
The lead grew to 14-0 after the Tigers failed to convert on fourth down inside the Dragons 10.
Starting from their own 6, the Dragons needed only three plays to double their lead. On a third-and-4 from the 12, Thomas went 88 yards for six points. It was the longest run of the sophomore’s career. He had a 76-yard run as a freshman.
It was also the longest run from scrimmage since a 90-yard run from Dragon back DuRon Ford in 2016.
Again, after the Tigers failed on fourth down in the red zone, the Dragons needed just four plays to go 85 yards. All four plays were 12 yards or more. From the 15, Hockett connected with Isaiah Thacker on a 22-yard pass play. Hockett took off on his own for 20 yards, then found Thacker again for a 12-yard gain. From the Yorktown 13, Thomas scored his second TD of the night.
After Yorktown quarterback Mason Moulton cut the Dragons margin to 14, with a 1-yard touchdown run, the Dragons got it right back up to 21. Starting from their own 20, the Dragons went 80 yards in 12 plays and knocked 5:12 off the clock. Thomas, untouched and running straight up the middle, finished the series with a 5-yard scoring play.
At halftime, Thomas had 13 carries for 194 yards.
Nunnally added a defensive score to go with his touchdown reception. On Yorktown’s opening possession of the third quarter, he picked off a Moulton pass and went 35 yards for a touchdown.
Thomas added his fourth score of the game to give New Palestine a 42-7 lead.
Along with being 1-0 at Kelso Stadium. The win gives the Dragons a 1-0 start in the Hoosier Heritage Conference.
“It was nice to have it packed tonight with all of our fans. It really gave us energy,” New Palestine’s 6-7, 276-pound junior offensive lineman Luke Burgess said. “It meant a lot to play at home and get a good win.”
“Dragon nation is incredible,” Ralph added. “Everyone loves a winner and when you’re 0-2 to see our fans still come out, shows how much football means to this community. I’m super proud of that.
“To be on a relaxed schedule not being on a 750-degree bus, was definitely nice (Friday).”
Yorktown came in 2-0 overall, but are now 0-1 in league play.
“It’s big,” Hockett said of the victory. “We can get momentum off this game. Also coming to the hometown and getting the ‘W’ is always nice.”
Friday’s game was the first of three straight at Kelso Stadium, the Dragons welcome rival Mt. Vernon next week and follow up with Pendleton Heights on Sept. 17.
New Palestine 42, Yorktown 14
YORKTOWN (2-1, 0-1);0;7;0;7;—;14
NEW PALESTINE (1-2, 1-0);14;14;14;0;—;42
NP—Blaine Nunnally 12 pass from Damon Hockett (Brendan Tanksley kick), 7:22
NP—Grayson Thomas 88 run (Tanksley kick), 1:03
NP—Thomas 13 run (Tanksley kick), 10:11
Y—Mason Moulton 1 run (Joey Hazen kick), 6:51
NP—Thomas 5 run (Tanksley kick), 1:39
NP—Nunnally 35 interception return (Tanksley kick), 1:39
NP—Thomas 5 run (Tanksley kick), 1:39
Y—Kaden Phillips 26 pass from Moulton (Hazen kick), 4:13
