NEW PALESTINE — When New Palestine needed a big play, Maxen Hook was there.
A big hit on Center Grove running back Carson Steele popped the ball out as the Trojans tried to match the Dragons opening-drive touchdown Friday night, a huge blow to the 6A school attempting to regain momentum. A big pass deflection in the third quarter helped stall a Center Grove drive.
Hook finished with 18 total tackles, two tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and a pass deflection against Center Grove.
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On the biggest of stages, the junior stepped up. That’s nothing new for a player who is quickly etching his name in New Palestine football lore.
“He’s incredible. Every year we have one of those kids that is kind of that signature defensive player of our Red Rage defense, and we’ve got some great ones on the defense this year,” New Palestine coach Kyle Ralph said. “Every great defense needs a kid who has a serious mental and physical edge to them, and Maxen gives that to us. He is a spark on our defense, a spark on the offense as well.”
The Dragons had two all-state defenders last year — Josh Glover, a now-graduated linebacker, and Hook, who was one of five total sophomores to earn all-state honors in Class 5A.
He led the Dragons in tackles a year ago and was tied for second on the team with three interceptions. This year looks to be more of the same, as he helped New Palestine shut out Kokomo and then made his presence known, over and over again, against the Trojans.
His efforts certainly were noticed by his coach, and it wasn’t just on the defensive side of the ball. Hook played safety, had three catches at wide receiver for 44 yards and was on kick coverage as well.
“I challenged our guys on a kickoff tonight to play like him,” Ralph said after the game. “He’s coming down there on kickoff and just laying waste to people.”
Hook attributes the passion he plays with to a variety of factors. He loves the game of football and has played for a long time.
He loves the New Palestine community and getting to play for the team and his coach. Being able to do that while surrounded by his friends and teammates just makes it that much more special.
“The love of this game that I built, just growing up around it, growing in it, you learn so many lessons from this game,” Hook said. “I’ll be friends with these guys for the rest of my life. I would not want to do this with any other guys. This is so fun.”
His family moved to New Palestine from Lawrence when he was in kindergarten. A year later, Hook started playing football in New Palestine.
He started to develop bonds, started to build his passion for the game. It helped that he was around a winning program for much of his youth.
New Palestine hasn’t lost a regular-season game since Hook was in fifth grade.
That made an impact on him.
“Just growing up, just watching this program continue to grow and grow and grow, and to be a part of it and to be coached by Coach Ralph, it’s one of the greatest things that’s ever happened to me,” Hook said.
Hook got to showcase his skillset, and the dominance of his team, in front of friends, family and coaches from the past on Friday.
All of the coaches that Hook had growing up in New Palestine were at the Center Grove win, which he said made it even more special.
“It’s the greatest feeling to perform in front of all of them,” he said.
The Dragons defense is designed for the safeties to find holes and make plays, Hook said after the game. He knows that means he’s supposed to make a lot of tackles, make a lot of plays.
He does. The junior consistently is exactly where he needs to be, which played a big part in his all-state selection last year and a big part in the team’s impressive 2-0 start to 2018, outscoring two ranked opponents 108-9.
He steps up, whether on offense, defense or special teams. He sets an example and helps lead the Red Rage with big plays in big moments.
The impact he has had on the Dragons program thus far is huge. Only a junior, with most of his third high school season ahead of him, there is plenty more to come for a player who is etching his name in Dragons history.
“We have those iconic players over the years, and we actually show our kids film of them over time,” Ralph said. “Part of your goal is to be one of those iconic players for us. Though he’s young, he is definitely finding his way into that legendary status at this age already, where you set the bar for how a Dragon is supposed to play football.
“He’s a special player.”