After failing behind 7-0 to East Noble, New Palestine scored on four of its next five possessions to win the Indiana Class 4A championship at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, on Friday. The 56-26 win gives the Dragons their fourth overall high school football state championship.
“I’m proud of our kids. I’m proud of our coaches and our community,” head coach Kyle Ralph, who is 141-12 in 12 years at New Palestine and 4-1 in state title games, told IHSAA.org. “What these boys do is special. It never gets tiring. It is tiring to do this, but you never get tired of winning, especially at this level and at a high level like we have. It’s hard to do. You have to be proud.”
The Dragons never deviated from their identity, collectively rushing for 384 yards on 57 carries and a 4A state finals record seven touchdowns led by junior Josh Ranes’ 166 yards and four scores.
East Noble’s Dylan Krehl named Eskew Mental Attitude Award winner
During the awards ceremony, Dylan Krehl (#32) of East Noble High School was announced by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A Football.
The award is annually presented to a senior who is nominated by his principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability during his four years of high school.
Dylan ranks in the top 15 percent of his senior class, is a member of the National Honor Society at East Noble, and earned Academic All-State distinction this season.
Dylan has been an All-State selection by the Indiana Football Coaches Association (IFCA) the last two seasons. He also wrestles for the Knights, was part of a sectional and regional championship team in 2023 and also advanced to the semi-state round as an individual that year. He has also participated in baseball at East Noble.
He is the son of Jason and Kari Krehl of Corunna, IN and is undecided on where he will attend college but is interested in studying Education.
The award is named in honor of Commissioner Phil N. Eskew, who served as the IHSAA’s third commissioner from 1962-76. Under his leadership, the IHSAA football state tournament was initiated in 1973.
The Indianapolis Colts, the presenting sponsor of the state tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to East Noble High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Dylan Krehl.
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