PENDLETON — For the Pendleton Heights football squad, there are no off games and no time for a breather this season.
Their schedule is packed with competition who will test them.
Coach Jed Richman said his Arabians worked all summer prior to the first official day of practice.
“Still, that first day has a little more zip and intensity. I’ve been real proud of how we’ve progressed.”
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The Arabians’ first test comes early as they face ranked Mississinewa for opening night at home Aug. 23.
“Our senior class is kind of an unknown in some way,” Richman said, “and they like that. That’s their style.”
According to Richman, the seniors are humble and hungry: “They’ve really done a good job, and I’m excited to see how we come out and play.”
Senior Kirby Hess is the Arabians starting quarterback who will also start as a safety.
“He’s a very good leader,” Richman said. Hess started as a safety last year and started a few games as quarterback the last two seasons in place of Christian Conkling.
“While he hasn’t had the quarterback stats, he’s been a big part of this team his whole career” and is well respected by his teammates, Richman said.
Miller Smith is the senior center for the Arabians.
“When you have those two guys offensively, that sets the tone for everyone else,” Richman said.
Joining Smith on the line is senior Cade Campbell.
Richman said while Hess has different strengths than the Arabians have had, the offensive system remains the same. He said Hess will open some things up and allow different opportunities both on the ground and in the air.
“It might change our menu a little, but we expect a very similar offense,” Richman said.
The Arabians lost three of their top receivers from last season, but senior Tommy Long will step in as well as senior Tristan Ross, who at 6 foot 6 will give the Arabians height as a receiver.Junior Tyler McKinley is another receiver, and senior David Stahly has returned as tight end.
“Those guys have done a really good job, and there’s lots of weapons there,” Richman said.
In the backfield, seniors Joe Rios and Kamden Earley, who was last season’s leading rusher, are back. Earley averaged more than six yards per carry and scored 10 TDs for the Arabians. They will also start on defense.
Juniors Luke Bays, Caden McClain and Jack Elijah are defensive backs who will see some carries this year.
“We’re deep in those positions, and they all are going to get their touches,” Richman said.
Several Arabians will play both sides of the field, but Richman said their commitment to conditioning will keep the energy up. Rios is a three-year starter as is Earley. Defensive lineman senior Austin Heigle is another returning starter. More than half of the defensive squad returns from last season.
Richman said his returnees are really bringing the others along, but even those players have some experience from either big games or just being rotated in.
The Arabians sectional has changed and they will be in the mix with rival and favored Mt. Vernon.
“According to others, there’s a lot of momentum in Fortville and not much for us, but we kind of like that,” Richman said.
The Arabians are an unknown, he said, and being under the radar is a good thing.
Along with Mt. Vernon, Pendleton Heights’ Hoosier Heritage Conference (HHC) opponents include Delta and New Palestine.
New Palestine is last year’s state champion, and both are ranked in pre-season polls.
The Arabians’ first HHC game is at home Sept. 6 with New Castle.
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2 Evan McMillan 11 QB/DB
3 Luke Candiano 10 QB/DB
4 Kirby Hess 12 QB/DB
5 Nick Taylor 11 K
7 Tyler McKinley 11 WR/DB
8 Jake Ehrgott 10 WR/DB
9 DeMarco Cooley 11 DL
10 TJ Swimford 12 WR/DB
11 Ethan Summerall 11 WR/DB
12 Ryan Graham 10 RB/DB
13 Justin Ayers 11 WR/DB
14 Marvin Jones 10 WR/DB
15 Kip Mankhwala 10 WR/DB
16 Brennan Jones 12 K
17 Jalen Trent 11 WR/DB
18 Quinton Devault 9 WR/DB
20 Kamden Earley 12 RB/DB
21 Zach Sanford 12 TE/LB
22 Gavin Schug 11 TE/LB
23 Joseph Rios 12 RB/LB
24 Tommy Long 12 WR/DB
25 Ethan Ross 10 RB/DB
26 Braden Gustin 11 RB/LB
28 Luke Bays 11 RB/LB
30 Devon Jones 10 RB/DB
31 Ricky Howell 9 WR/DB
32 Chaston Green 11 RB/DB
33 Caden McClain 11 RB/LB
34 Jack Elijah 11 RB/DB
35 Anmol Signh 9 WR/DB
36 Max Herrberg 9 WR/DB
37 Jordan Green 9 WR/DB
40 Christian Roberts 11 RB/LB
42 Austin Heigle 12 DL
44 Schyler Altherr 10 RB/LB
45 David Stahly 12 TE/LB
46 Caige Williams 12 DL
48 Javon Cole 9 RB/LB
50 Gavin Kempner 9 OL/DL
51 Parker Marling 9 OL/DL
52 Tucker Barnes 9 OL/DL
53 Karson Petty 9 OL/DL
54 Rett Lewis 11 OL/DL
55 Connor Huffman 11 OL/DL
56 Nic Burkett 9 OL/DL
57 Sam Mossoney 9 OL/DL
58 Kyle Canaday 11 OL/DL
59 Justin Beeler 9 RB/LB
60 Clayton Turner 9 OL/DL
61 Braden Duncan 11 OL/DL
62 Tristan Bragg 11 OL/DL
63 Landon Fulk 9 OL/DL
64 MIller Smith 12 OL/DL
65 Cameron Cummins 12 OL/DL
66 Josh Schoger 9 OL/DL
67 Sidiki Traore 9 OL/DL
68 Riley SImons 10 OL/DL
70 Jerod Lephart 11 OL/DL
72 Derek Lowder 10 OL/DL
73 Tony Charlton 9 OL/DL
74 Kaleb O’Sullivan 9 WR/DB
75 Cade Campbell 12 OL/DL
76 Ian Stephens 9 OL/DL
77 Donavon Harless 11 OL/DL
78 Andrew Stanley 11 OL/DL
79 Isaac Lowder 12 OL/DL
80 Owen Wise 9 WR/DB
81 Clay Britt 12 WR/DB
82 AJ Hopkins 11 TE/LB
83 Brennen Adams 9 WR/DB
84 Carter Aldredge 11 TE/LB
85 Tristan Ross 12 WR/LB
86 Ethan Childers 10 TE/LB
87 Kyle Guthrie 9 TE/LB
88 Will Kaster 10 TE/LB
89 Jace Souders 10 WR/DB
7 Tyce Tomey 9 QB/LB
21 Cliffton Van Duyn 9 WR/DB
26 Crew Boles 9 WR/DB
42 Aiden Clay 9 RB/LB
57 John Larcom 9 WR/LB
23 Ty Patterson 9 WR/DB
61 Spencer Reed 9 WR/DB
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