When Tim Able took over New Palestine's football program in May, there wasn't a lot of time to get everything put in before the season began.
Learn new personnel. Put in a new defense. Move new players to new positions to maximize talent. And kickoff was only a couple of months away.
The Dragons rapidly became one of the top teams in the area -- and became a sectional champion in the process.
NP had a first quarter for the ages in a 48-22 victory over Anderson Highland, starting from the opening kickoff, to win the Sectional 13 title. It was the Dragons' first sectional title as a 4A school after winning a handful in Class 3A (most recently in 2004-05). NP was barely challenged -- winning by margins of 41-21, 33-0 and 48-22 -- in the sectional.
The Dragons are 10-2 heading into a regional matchup with No. 1 Cathedral.
The first quarter was sparked on the opening kickoff, when Brett Jackson broke free and ran 73 yards to the 3-yard line of Anderson Highland. Pat Feeney ran one in from there, and after 18 seconds, NP led 7-0. The Dragons kept rolling. Feeney's 59-yard run set up a 6-yard pass from Jackson to Feeney on a halfback option.
Next play, a Highland fumble, and a short run by Austin Cahoy to make it 21-0. After a Highland punt, Feeney went 61 yards for his third TD of the night -- on his fourth touch. On NP's next offensive snap, Feeney broke a TD 46 yards.
NP led 35-0. Pat Feeney had five touches -- the four TDs and a 59-yard run to set up another. All told, he had 175 yards in those five touches, an average of 35 yards.
And the first quarter wasn't over.
Feeney finished the night with 190 rushing yards on eight carries, and the six-yard TD reception. Brett Jackson added 3-yard TD runs in the second and third quarter, and Highland rallied a bit after the second TD made it 48-7, as the Scots scored two TDs in the final five minutes to make the score respectable.
The Dragons had 317 rushing yards and had over 330 yards of total offense -- more than half coming in the first quarter. NP went more conservatively later, but still managed to grind out yards and points.
It's been an incredible run for the Dragons, who have now won eight consecutive games to go 10-2. They finished second in the HHC, and their two losses are both to undefeated sectional champions -- Delta and Batesville. They've done their damage with an offense that has been very efficient, and a defense that has allowed very little in the second half of the year.
Next week, it's a trip to No. 1 Cathedral (12-0), a team against which NP will be an underdog.
It wasn't the only sectional title for the HHC, as Delta (12-0) knocked off Fort Wayne Wayne 18-6 on Friday night in Sectional 12. The Eagles have continued to roll, and they'll have a tough contest against unbeaten Fort Wayne Dwenger on the road next Friday night.
Shelbyville nearly made it 3-for-3 tonight, but the Golden Bears (9-3) fell on a late touchdown to East Central 21-17. Shelby led until the closing minutes.
Next Friday is regional night. It should be enjoyable!
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