NEW PALESTINE — The outcome was what the Dragons were used to seeing.
How the two-time defending state champions got there, well, it wasn’t what the head coach was used to seeing — and he didn’t like it.
“Lack of execution. Lack of discipline. Lack of effort. Lack of toughness,” New Palestine head coach Kyle Ralph, not mincing words, said, after the team’s 28-8 victory over Brebeuf Jesuit.
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“Pretty much all the things you need to win a football game, we lacked tonight,” added Ralph. “Luck, essentially, is how we won. I think (Brebeuf) got a little more tired (in the fourth quarter) and the ball bounced our way tonight.”
It was the season-opener for the Dragons, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A by the The Associated Press and No. 3 in the Indiana Football Coaches Association Poll.
Due to COVID-19 related quarantine and players not having enough practices to participate, New Palestine had to cancel its scheduled regular-season opener last week against Decatur Central.
Brebeuf, ranked No. 8 in Class 3A by the The Associated Press and No. 5 by the Indiana Football Coaches Association, lost 27-14, at home, to Bishop Chatard last week.
One of the fortunate “bounces” went to senior lineman Matt Brown.
Brebeuf had gained momentum after cutting New Palestine’s lead to 14-8. The Braves were lining up to kick a 35-yard field goal on the opening play of the fourth quarter.
The snap was poor and kicker Ryan Kersteff picked up the loose ball and tried to pass to a teammate, but the 6-foot-3, 238-pound Brown picked off the pass and went 75 yards for a touchdown.
A fumbled lateral on the next Braves’ drive was recovered by New Palestine senior Aidan Ewers.
“I had just come off the field and defensive line coach John Horan told me to go back in and make a play,” Brown said of his interception return. “Next thing I know, I’m running (75) yards down the field. That’s a long way, especially if you’re a lineman.”
The Dragons capped it off with the second touchdown run of the night for freshman running back Grayson Thomas, one of a number of new faces on this year’s team.
New Palestine graduated over 20 seniors from last year’s unbeaten state championship team, including seven starters on each side of the ball.
Thomas was replacing running back Charlie Spegal, who graduated as the state’s all-time leading rusher.
In his high school debut, Thomas scored twice and had, unofficially, 24 carries for 112 yards.
He opened and closed the game’s scoring.
With just 38 seconds left in the first quarter, Thomas scored on a 12-yard run, capping off a nine-play, 51-yard drive. The Dragons had good field position after Brebeuf was flagged for a personal foul after it had failed a fourth-down conversion.
After Ewers recovered the fumble, New Palestine had to go just 34 yards for the final score. Thomas had 26 of the yards on the ground, including a 3-yard touchdown run on first-and-goal with 7:56 left in the game.
“I was pretty nervous until after the first drive,” Thomas said. “(Replacing Spegal) those are big shoes to fill. I’ll do the best I can behind a great team.”
The Dragons took a 14-0 lead when veteran quarterback Lincoln Roth connected with Andrew Tschaenn on a 15-yard touchdown pass with only 31.2 seconds left until halftime.
Brebeuf got close when quarterback Drake Hagerman connected with Brendan Petrie on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 3:49 left in the third quarter. There was a bad snap on the PAT, but this time it benefited the Braves. Hagerman threw to Braeden Sanders for a two-point conversion.
Roth rushed 16 times for 73 yards, but completed just 4-of-15 passes for 44 yards and one interception.
The win was the Dragons 64th-straight regular season win, second most in state history and 29th win overall, currently the longest streak in the state.
New Palestine opens Hoosier Heritage Conference play next week at Yorktown.
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New Palestine 28, Brebeuf Jesuit 8
Brebeuf Jesuit (0-1);0;0;8;0;-;8
New Palestine (0-0);7;7;0;14;-;28
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
NP – Grayson Thomas 12 yd run (Brendan Tanksly kick), :38.2
2nd Quarter
NP – Andrew Tschaenn 15 yd pass from Lincoln Roth (Tanksly kick), :25.2
3rd Quarter
BJ – Brendan Petrie 10 yd pass from Drake Hagerman (Braden Sanders pass from Hagerman), 3:49
4th Quarter
NP – Matt Brown 75 yd interception return (Tanksly kick), 11:46
NP – Thomas 3 yd run (Rory Barnard kick), 7:56
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