PENDLETON — It isn’t often a game featuring 65 total points and nearly 800 yards of total offense is won by the defense, but that is what happened Friday, Sept. 1, as the Arabians played host to their first Hoosier Heritage Conference game of the year.
In the second half, Pendleton Heights intercepted three passes deep in its own end of the field to turn away New Castle scoring threats, including the potential game-winning drive in the closing seconds, as the Arabians held on for a 34-31 win against the Trojans.
The Arabians are 3-0 for the first time since 2014, a season that saw Pendleton Heights lose seven of the next eight games.
Coach Jed Richman believes this team may be different.
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“We’re growing up,” he said. “Last year, we would have lost that game. The kids rose up.”
Arabian junior Evan Douglas started the game with a bang. He took the handoff and broke loose for a 74-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage to give the Arabians the early 7-0 lead.
After the Trojans took a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter, it was Taylor White’s turn to make the big offensive play, as the junior rambled 62 yards for a touchdown to give the Arabians the lead at 14-10.
But the passing game of New Castle caused Pendleton Heights fits all night. The Trojans responded as Niah Williamson connected with Tytus Ragle on a 35-yard score, and they were back in front.
Williamson completed 28 of 58 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite target, Luke Bumbalough, had eight catches for 99 yards and a touchdown. Both drew praise from Richman for their play.
“They’re getting better and better,” Richman said of New Castle. “They’re going to be a pain in the butt for people to deal with. Bumbalough is a stud, and (Williamson) is legit.”
The Arabians took the lead back just before halftime. Christian Conkling found junior receiver Eli Pancol for an 11-yard touchdown with just 32 seconds remaining in the half to send Pendleton Heights to the locker room with a 21-17 lead.
Early in the third quarter, the Trojans pinned the Arabians inside their own 10 and took advantage of a rare Conkling mistake. He overthrew his intended receiver, instead finding Nicholas Grieser of New Castle, who returned the ball 15 yards for a touchdown, giving the Trojans a 24-21 lead.
After the teams exchanged punts, Douglas found pay dirt again. He capped an 11-play, 82-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown as the Arabians retook the lead at 28-24.
Douglas nabbed the first interception of Williamson on the next Trojan possession. He picked off the pass at the Arabian 25 to stop the drive. After a Pendleton Heights three and out, Williamson and the Trojans went on the march again.
Williamson completed five consecutive passes, including two to Bumbalough, to get New Castle inside the Arabian 20. But Pancol picked off a pass intended for Bumbalough in the end zone to keep the Arabians in the lead.
Again, the Arabians could not move the ball and were forced to punt. This time, the Trojans cashed in as Williamson escaped from pressure and hit Triston Chesher for a seven-yard touchdown to give New Castle the lead at 31-28.
Following a 15-yard completion to Tristen Spinks to open the next PHHS drive, the Arabians turned back to Douglas, who carried the ball the next four plays, totaling 50 yards, including the final 23 for a touchdown to give the Arabians the lead at 34-31 with 2:20 left.
Quickly, Williamson marched the Trojans down the field, including a 31-yard pass completion to Bumbalough to put New Castle on the Pendleton Heights 26-yard line. Following an incomplete pass, Williamson threw for the end zone and Bumbalough, but instead Douglas came up with his second interception of the game at the goal line. He returned the ball to near midfield, where the Arabians ran out the clock on a hard-fought win.
Douglas finished the game with 211 yards rushing on 27 attempts with the three touchdowns and two key interceptions.
“He’s a competitor,” Richman said. “He’s got some swagger and some grit to him. He’s a gamer; he makes the plays. He plays his butt off. He’s why we’ve got a good ball club.”
Pendleton Heights will try to go 2-0 in the HHC as it plays host to Greenfield-Central at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8.
“They’re big and physical, and they’re going to run the football,” Richman said of the Cougars. “Every week, we have to be ready.”
