INDIANAPOLIS — New Palestine has repeated as state champions on the gridiron.

The Dragons scored 21 fourth-quarter points to defeat Merrillville, 38-17, for the Class 5A title, a year after winning the state championship in Class 4A.

Connor Jacobia and Josh Ranes each ran for scores and Landon Maddox caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from senior Jacob Davis in the victory, the 28th straight win for the Dragons.

Merrillville got on the scoreboard first when junior Michael Hill scored from a yard out, but New Palestine answered with the next 17 points — including the pass to Maddox and a 3-yard run by Jacobia — to take a 17-7 lead.

The Pirates edged closer just before halftime, when Darnell Bowles found Mikel Smoot for a 55-yard touchdown with 29 seconds remaining. Benito Gonzalez tied t

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