Week 8 recap

The New Palestine Dragons did what they do tonight -- and it led to the school's first Hoosier Heritage Conference championship since 2006.

They came out, established themselves with an outstanding defense, ran the ball with Austin Cahoy and Matt Siergiej, got some big special-teams play from Tyler Peper, and just put together a workmanlike, methodical 32-0 victory over Greenfield-Central.

It happened pretty quickly. NP needed five plays to score on its second drive -- a 1-yard plunge by Cahoy for a TD. The Dragons would score on their next two possessions, taking advantage of a short G-C punt to set up Cahoy's 25-yard gallop on fourth down, and a long punt return by Peper to set up Brandon Wiggins' 1-yard run that quickly made it 19-0. NP added two more scores in the third on a 42-yard pass from Connor Simmons to Brandon Collins -- just the Dragons' second TD pass of the year -- and another TD from Cahoy, making 21 on the season and the seventh straight game where he's notched at least two scores.

Siergiej led the Dragons with 127 yards rushing on 29 carries, while Cahoy had 95 yards and three TDs, in addition to playing solid defense. Peper did it all -- two long punt returns that set up scores, one of the Dragons' two interceptions and he took over the punting duties after regular punter Brett Jackson was injured on the game's first play. NP outgained G-C 255-84.

NP's defense was difficult to move on -- G-C had 12 possessions, 10 of which ended in punts and two in interceptions, and four first downs. The Cougars ran one play inside the Dragon 30 -- the result of a short punt, and the next play was Peper's interception. NP has allowed four TDs in the last six games -- two of which were scored late in games with a lot of reserves on the field.

The Dragons (7-1, 6-0) clinch a piece of the HHC championship with the win. They can win it outright next week in the Boundary Rail game against Mt. Vernon. Delta also still has a shot at tying NP for the title, but that can only happen if NP loses to MV and Delta beats Shelbyville. G-C is 5-3 and finishes HHC play with a 4-3 record. The Cougars host Chatard next week.

Elsewhere:
Delta 35, Mt. Vernon 0: The Marauders fell behind 21-0 at the half and found themselves Delta's sixth consecutive victim. Delta keeps itself in the HHC title hunt -- although it will need help -- by improving to 7-1/5-1, while MV is now 5-3/4-2.

Pendleton Heights 45, Rushville 21: The Arabians win their second straight and finish HHC play with a 4-3 conference record. At 5-3 overall, they'll step out of league play to face Fort Wayne Concordia next week. Rushville falls to 2-6/0-6.

Shelbyville 38, Yorktown 17: The Golden Bears pulled away in the second half to win their second conference game of the year. Shelby is now 3-5/2-4, while Yorktown is 1-7/0-6.

Next week:
Mt. Vernon-New Palestine
Shelbyville-Delta
Rushville-Yorktown
Greenfield-Central-Chatard
Pendleton Heights-Fort Wayne Concordia

Elsewhere in Hancock County
Shenandoah 73, Eastern Hancock 0: The Royals dropped their eighth-straight game to No. 6 Shenandoah, and saw why the powerful Raiders are the state's top-scoring team. EH finishes with Edinburgh next week.