Under head coach Kyle Ralph, the New Palestine Dragons have rarely experienced losing. In his 12 seasons at the helm, the Dragons have suffered just 14 losses — with 10 of those coming in the last four years.

This season, after a brief absence from Lucas Oil Stadium, the Dragons put it all together to claim their fourth undefeated state championship under Ralph.

“[Winning state] is a dream,” junior running back Caden Jacobia said. “It’s something we’ve been working year-round for as our number-one goal. This group of guys is amazing.”

Jacobia showcased his talent with 188 all-purpose yards, including two rushing touchdowns, one of which was a spectacular 61-yard dash in the second half.

East Noble Starts Hot

While the Dragons ultimately claimed the victory, East Noble came out of the gate strong. The Knights forced a three-and-out on New Palestine’s opening drive, then capitalized with an 80-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Rylee Biddle to senior receiver Logan Hatton. The play set a new 4A state championship record for the longest passing touchdown.

However, New Palestine quickly responded, leaning on junior running back Josh Ranes. Ranes powered through for three goal-line touchdowns in the first half, helping the Dragons seize control.

Senior receiver Austin McMahan added a touchdown reception, pushing New Palestine to a 28-7 lead late in the second quarter. East Noble managed to close the half with a pair of big completions from Biddle to senior receiver Landon Swogger, setting up a score to make it 28-13 at halftime.

Second Half Domination

East Noble’s hopes for a comeback faded early in the third quarter as their opening drive sputtered, forcing a punt. From there, New Palestine’s ground game took over.

Ranes and Jacobia combined for a staggering 329 rushing yards and six touchdowns, showcasing a punishing run attack that East Noble couldn’t contain.

“Run game is a huge part of our offense,” Jacobia said. “It’s great to be able to accomplish what we needed to do and win the game for us.”

On defense, the Dragons were equally dominant, smothering East Noble’s rushing attack. A unit that averaged 242 rushing yards per game was held to just 61 total yards. Knights’ leading rusher, Dylan Krehl, managed only -2 yards on seven carries, highlighting the Dragons’ defensive prowess.

Historic Performance

Ranes tied the 4A state championship record for rushing touchdowns in a game with four, becoming the first to achieve the feat since Josh Ringer did so for East Central in 2022. Junior quarterback Jacob Davis added a rushing touchdown of his own, contributing 50 yards on the ground.

The Dragons set a new 4A state championship record with seven rushing touchdowns as a team, breaking their own record from 2014. New Palestine cruised to a dominant 56-26 victory.

“[The records] mean a lot,” Ranes said. “The o-line works their butts off every day.”

Looking Ahead

With a wealth of offensive talent returning next season, New Palestine appears poised to extend their winning ways. After an undefeated season capped by another state title, the Dragons have their sights set on continuing their dominance in Indiana high school football.