By James Howell Jr./For Daily Reporter
INDIANAPOLIS — The last time New Palestine and Decatur Central met on the football field, the night ended with a large celebration throughout the streets of southern Hancock County as the Dragons were once again state champions.
That game, back in 2018 went the way of the Dragons by a score of 28-14. On Friday night when the two teams met to open their 2021 seasons, it was the Decatur Central Hawks’ faithful cheering on a 31-29 win.
Damon Hockett opened up the night when he broke free for a 47-yard run for a score on the Dragons’ second drive.
Quickly, both teams showed their ability to light up the scoreboard.
On their second play of their following drive, Dragons sophomore Grayson Thomas scored on a 29-yard run.
Ahead 14-3, the Dragons faithful watched the game’s momentum swing entirely in the favor of the host Hawks.
Over the course of the next 13 minutes of game action, the Hawks broke the goal line four times in a myriad of ways.
The run began with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Hawks quarterback Aycen Stevens then scored back-to-back touchdowns with 1-yard runs.
Just before half, the Hawks scored again on a 53-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Only a 26-yard Brendan Tanksley field goal kept the Dragons from a second quarter shutout.
Prepared to kickoff the second half, the Dragons were looking at a 31-17 deficit.
“At half I just told the guys about cleaning up our mistakes,” Dragons head coach Kyle Ralph said. “I mean we literally had one play turn into 14 points for them. You can’t do that and expect to win games.”
Even without quarterback (Hockett) in the second half, the Dragons cleaned up a lot of first-half errors.
With three minutes left in the third quarter, Thomas took the ball 25 yards to the end zone to bring his Dragons back within a score. It was his second of the night.
Thomas finished the night with 22 carries for 151 yards.
The Dragons defense continued to hold strong in the fourth quarter, giving their offense ample opportunities.
With 7:11 remaining in the game, the Dragons found themselves at the Hawks 1-yard line, but a fumble on third down gave the Hawks the ball back with a 31-23 lead.
Yet another defensive stand bought the Dragons one more chance to bring the game back to a tie. A bomb pass from Eian Roudebush to Blaine Nunnally gave the Dragons what they needed — a score.
Down two, the Dragons elected for a 2-point conversion attempt, but the attempt fell incomplete and left them with a 31-29 deficit.
Facing no other options, New Palestine elected to use an onside kick to get the ball back. The attempt worked, and with 1:19 remaining and a two-point deficit the Dragons offense went back to work to take the win back home with them.
With 1.6 seconds remaining, Ralph sent kicker Tanksley back out on the field. His 38-yard kick attempt was deflected on its way up and fell just left and short of good.
“I’m proud of our team in the second half,” Ralph said. “We shut them down entirely. If we play like the team we were in the second half, it’s going to be hard to stop us. I told the team, ‘It’s your choice. Do you want to be that first half team or the second half team?’”
After giving up 214 offensive yards in the first half, the Dragons held the Hawks to just 14 in the second half.
Up next for the Dragons is another tough road test against the Brebeuf Braves.
Decatur Central 31, New Palestine 29
NP (1-0);14;3;6;6;29
DC (0-1);10;21;0;0;31
First Quarter
NP – Damon Hockett 47 yd run (Brendan Tanksley kick), 7:31
DC – Jackson Galovic 26 yd FG, 1:04
NP – Grayson Thomas 29 yd run (Tanksley kick), :39
DC – William Starks 88 yd kickoff return (Galovic kick), :25
Second Quarter
DC – Aycen Stevens 1 yd run (Galovic kick), 6:03
NP – Tanksley 26 yd FG, 1:19
DC – Stevens 1 yd run (Galovic kick), :43
DC – Javon Tracy Interception return TD (Galovic kick), :13
Third Quarter
NP – Thomas 25 yd run (PAT failed), 3:00
Fourth Quarter
NP- 48 yd pass Roudebush to Blaine Nunnally (PAT failed), 1:23
