NEW CASTLE — Pendleton Heights set the tone in the first quarter and never looked back in its first Hoosier Heritage Conference game of the season against New Castle.

The Arabians scored 28 points in the opening quarter en route to a 49-14 win Friday, Aug. 31. The victory pushed Pendleton Heights to 3-0 overall.

The Trojans, 2-1 overall (0-1, HHC) came into the game with a high-powered passing scheme that was grounded thanks to the Arabians’ smothering and hard-hitting defense.

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Head coach Jed Richman said he thought his team did a great job in all three phases of the game.

“The kids played extremely hard, and we got better last week,” he said.

Quarterback Christian Conkling got the Arabians on the board when he found his favorite target — receiver Eli Pancol — for a 67-yard touchdown pass play early in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.

Pendleton Heights added another touchdown three minutes later when Conkling took it into the end zone for a three-yard run and a 14-0 advantage. Conkling added a six-yard touchdown scramble to make it 21-0 at the five- minute mark of the first.

After New Castle got on the board with a Drew Barber pass to Nicholas Grieser to make it a 21-7 game, Conkling and Pancol quickly countered with a 23-yard TD pass to make it 28-7 after one quarter.

In the second quarter, Pendleton Heights went to its ground game with running back Anakin Allison, who ran 22 yards to give his team a 35-7 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, the Trojans scored first with a 67-yard pass play from Barber to Luke Bumbalough to make the score 35-14.

But the Arabians got the seven right back, when Conkling went to the air again, this time hitting Allison on a 29-yard pass.

Pendleton added one more score in the fourth on a one-yard Jack Elijah run up the middle for the 49-14 win.

Conkling had a strong night and was 8-for-14 for 174 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception, along with two TD runs.

Pancol caught three passes for 101 yards and two TDs.

Nick Taylor, kicker, connected on all seven of his extra point attempts.

Kamden Early led the Arabians in rushing, gaining 61 yards on 14 carries. He was one of eight Arabians who ran the ball 46 times for a total of 166 yards on the ground.

All of the Arabian running backs play defense, too, so the coaching staff tries to give them a break on offense and share the responsibility on offense, which is why there are so many players carrying the ball, Richman said.

Offensively, the coach said he likes the direction the team is headed.

“Our offense continues to improve week by week, and we are able to evolve because of those fundamental improvements,” Richman said.

The Arabians head into another conference showdown when they travel to Greenfield-Central to take on the Cougars at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7.

“Greenfield-Central is a scary team,” Richman said. “They are young and talented.

“We must stay focused and continue to improve to give ourselves an opportunity for success Friday night.”