New Palestine (0-0) at Lawrenceburg (0-0)
GAME TIME: 7 p.m., Neary Memorial Field.
COACHES: Kyle Ralph, 28-1 in 3rd year at New Palestine. Ryan Knigga, 30-14 in 5th year at Lawrenceburg.
LAST YEAR’S SAGARIN RATINGS: New Palestine, 102.59, 4th overall, 1st in Class 5A. Lawrenceburg, 59.78, 100th overall, 22nd in Class 3A.
SERIES LAST 30 YEARS: Tied, 1-1.
LAST MEETING: Lawrenceburg won, 1988, sectional.
NOTES: The New Palestine Dragons were unstoppable in 2014. An undefeated Class 4A state champion at 15-0, head coach Kyle Ralph’s program rewrote the record books by becoming the most prolific offense in state history, scoring more points (851) and gaining more yards (6,635) in a single season than any other high school team of all time … New Palestine set a record for wins in a single season in 2014, but they remain three victories away from the school record for consecutive regular-season wins … The last time New Palestine and Lawrenceburg collided was in the 1988 “Mud Bowl” game when the Dragons lost to the host Tigers 20-0 in the Class 3A sectional title game. They met in 1987 sectional championship with New Palestine winning 36-14 at home … The two programs have never met in the regular season … Senior quarterback Alex Neligh fuels the Dragons’ offense, passing for 2,469 yards and 28 touchdowns and rushing for 1,185 yards and 19 touchdowns last season … The Dragons return their entire offensive line of Nick Derheimer, David Judy, Andrew Yazel, Matt Moeller and Michael Woodall … The Tigers have gone 7-3 in consecutive seasons and were 11-2 in 2012 … Gone are Tigers’ quarterback Sam Fette (1,403 yards passing) and running back Zach Steuer (1,616 yards, 24 touchdowns) … Sophomore Mason Harris returns at linebacker where he led the Tigers with 83 total tackles (5.5 for a loss). Senior Trevor Rolfes led the team with 5.5 sacks in nine games.
