Poll time: Dragons ranked No. 1 by AP

Class 4A's top football team resides in the southwestern corner of Hancock County.

Armed with a passing attack that has rolled up more than 1,500 yards in six games, the New Palestine Dragons are Class 4A's No. 1 team, according to the Associated Press media poll.

The poll was released earlier this evening and the Dragons vaulted both Cathedral and Evansville Reitz -- which dropped games over the weekend -- into the top spot.

The AP poll is voted on by a panel of media members in the state.

The Dragons are also No. 4 in the Indiana Football Coaches Association poll and No. 3 in the Sagarin computer rankings. Fellow HHC rival Pendleton Heights is also ranked in both polls -- No. 10 by the AP and No. 9 by the IFCA. The Dragons defeated PH 34-21 in Week 3 to open conference play, handing the Arabians their only loss of the season.

New Palestine quarterback Connor Simmons ranks fourth in the state in passing yards with 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns. With 562 receiving yards and 13 TDs, wideout Josh Penley ranks eighth in receiving yards, while running mate Brandon Collins is 11th with 540 yards.

The No. 1 ranking is indicative of the Dragons' hottest start since 1992, when the team started with seven straight victories.

The Dragons won their 17th straight HHC game and 14th straight regular season game. With the victory, they retained possession of the Helmet. In three seasons under head coach Tim Able, the Dragons are 25-5 overall, 17-1 in HHC play and 15-0 at Kelso Stadium.

New Palestine will host Senior Night this week against Shelbyville (1-5, 1-3 HHC), then travel to face county rivals Greenfield-Central and Mt. Vernon in the season's final two weeks. 

Associated Press football poll
Week of Sept. 26
1. New Palestine (6-0)
2. Evansville Reitz (5-1)
3. Cathedral (3-3)
4. Columbus East (5-1)
5. East Central (6-0)
6. Leo (6-0)
7. Hammond Morton (5-1)
8. Fort Wayne Dwenger (4-2)
9. South Bend Washington (4-2)
10. Pendleton Heights (5-1)

Indiana Football Coaches Association poll
Week of Sept. 26

1. Cathedral (3-3)

2. East Central (6-0)

3. Columbus East (5-1)

4. New Palestine (6-0)

5. Evansville Reitz (5-1)

6. Leo (6-0)

7. Hammond Morton (5-1)

8. Fort Wayne Dwenger (4-2)

9. Pendleton Heights (5-1)

9. New Haven (5-1)

Sagarin computer rankings
Through games of Sept. 24
1. Cathedral (3-3)
2. Columbus East (5-1)
3. New Palestine (6-0)
4. Roncalli (4-2)
5. Pendleton Heights (5-1)
6. Evansville Reitz (5-1)
7. Mishawaka (4-2)
8. East Central (6-0)
9. South Bend Washington (4-2)
10. Greenwood (4-2)