PENDLETON — It is far from business as usual, but the Pendleton Heights High School football team is getting things done in anticipation of starting the season, as scheduled, on Aug. 21.
“We’ve got great kids and a great community that wants it to happen,” fifth-year Pendleton Heights head coach Jed Richman said. “The kids are doing what they can do. They’re following guidelines to be ready to play if we get the chance.
“Our school corporation, football families with parents and kids, they have focused on taking care of each other and being healthy. It’s a team effort like I’ve never seen.”
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The COVID-19 pandemic has shut down a lot of sports. Richman’s Arabians are trying to do their part not to have high school football on that list.
“The kids want to play sports,” Richman said. “We’re doing our best to keep it going. I’m proud of our coaches and players. The new normal is challenging, but the alternative is no sports.
“Our No. 1 team goal is to play a game, and we’ll do everything we can to do that.”
The Arabians had contact practices at the end of last week and an intrasquad scrimmage on the stadium’s new synthetic turf. They welcome Mooresville at 10 a.m. Saturday for another scrimmage before opening the season the following Friday at Mississinewa.
When the season gets underway, the Arabians will have a mix of veterans and new faces in the lineup.
They’re coming off a very good 2019 season that saw them reach the sectional championship, losing to Mt. Vernon, an eventual Class 4A regional winner.
On the offensive side, quarterback Kirby Hess, leading rusher Kamden Earley and bruising back Joe Rios have graduated, along with the team’s top three receivers, Clay Britt, Tommy Long and Tristan Ross.
Junior Luke Candiano will take over quarterback duties, though senior Evan McMillan could see some time there, as well as other positions in the offense.
Richman said they’ll be running back by committee. Senior Jack Elijah is the top returning rusher, gaining 108 rushing yards last season. Veterans Luke Bays and Cade McClain will also be in the mix along with senior Braden Gustin, who missed much of last season because of injury.
The top three receivers, reception-wise, are gone, but the leader in touchdowns is back. Tyler McKinley had 14 catches last year and three touchdowns, one-half of the team’s TD receptions. He averaged 31.4 yards per catch.
Will Kaster, Ethan Childers and Kyle Guthrie are expected to step into roles at the tight end position. McKinley should get some help at wide out from Keegan McClure, Nick Taylor, Jake Ehrgott and Marvin Jones.
While the skill positions will see plenty of newcomers, the Arabian offensive line looks pretty familiar.
Four of the five spots will be manned by returning starters. Braden Duncan moves from guard to center, while both Jerod Lephart and Carter Aldredge return to their tackle spots. Tristan Bragg is back at one guard position, and sophomore newcomer Sam Mossoney is expected to have the other.
Derek Lowder and Connor Huffman are also expected to be in the hunt for playing time.
The middle of the defense also has experience and talent in linebackers Bays and McClain.
Both are three-year starters. Bays led the Arabians in tackles last season with 123, while McClain was tops in tackles for loss with 9.5. Another linebacker, senior Gavin Schug, was third on the club in stops with 84. Gustin rounds out the strong starting crew.
Up front on defense, DeMarco Cooley is the top returning tackler among the linemen. He’ll be joined in the Arabians 3-4 defense by Huffman and Donavon Harless.
McMillan and Elijah return at the secondary’s safety positions. Gavin Greer and Cooper Cochran, both seniors, are slated to have spots at cornerback, but Richman added all four are interchangeable in the backfield.
Taylor, who handled kicking duties last year, will do both kicking and punting this season.
All the uncertainty that has surrounded the season hasn’t held the Arabians back.
Richman said he had 98 kids, his largest group, from grades 9 to 12 when football camp began. They have 360 kids from kindergarten through 12th grade in the program.
“We’ve got a lot of great people and great energy,” Richman said.
The goal is to play. Once that mark is hit, the goal will change.
“If we get a chance to compete, we’re going to compete like we want to win,” he said. “That will never change.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Pendleton Heights Varsity Football Schedule” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Date;Opponent;Time
Aug. 21;at Mississinewa;7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28;vs. Anderson;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4;at *New Castle;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11;at *Greenfield-Central;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18;vs. *New Palestine;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25;vs. *Mt. Vernon;7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2;at *Delta;7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9;vs. *Yorktown;7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16;at *Shelbyville;7:30 p.m.
*Hoosier Heritage Conference game
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#;Name;Grade;Pos.
2;Evan McMillan;12;QB/DB
3;Luke Candiano;11;QB/DB
4;Tyce Tomey;10;QB/LB
5;Nick Taylor;12;WR/K
7;Tyler McKinley;12;WR/DB
8;Jake Ehrgott;11;WR/DB
9;DeMarco Cooley;12;DL
10;Javon Cole;10;RB/LB
11;Ethan Summerall;12;WR/DB
12;Jalen Jordan;10;QB/DB
13;Justin Ayers;12;WR/DB
14;Marvin Jones;11;WR/DB
15;Jaylan Seeko;10;WR/DB
16;Owen Wise;10;WR/DB
18;Jordan Green;10;WR/DB
20;Peyton Stewart;10;WR/DB
21;Crew Boles;10;WR/DB
22;Schyler Altherr;11;RB/LB
23;Cooper Cochran;12;WR/DB
24;Cliffton Van Duyn;10;WR/DB
25;Ethan Ross;11;RB/DB
26;Braden Gustin;12;RB/LB
28;Luke Bays;12;RB/LB
30;Justin Beeler;10;RB/LB
32;Chaston Green;12;RB/DB
33;Caden McClain;12;RB/LB
34;Jack Elijah;12;RB/DB
35;Quinton Devault;10;RB/LB
36;Brennen Adams;10;WR/DB
37;Josh Mamaaza;10;TE/LB
40;Christian Roberts;12;RB/LB
42;Ricky Howell;10;WR/DB
44;Gavin Schug;12;TE/LB
46;Max Herrberg;10;WR/DB
48;Aiden Clay;10;RB/LB
50;Gavin Kempner;10;OL/DL
52;Parker Marling;10;OL/DL
53;Karson Petty;10;OL/LB
54;Will Logan;11;OL/LB
55;Connor Huffman;12;OL/DL
57;Sam Mossoney;10;OL/DL
58;Justis Garrett;11;OL/DL
61;Braden Duncan;12;OL/DL
62;Tristan Bragg;12;OL/DL
64;Landon Fulk;10;OL/DL
65;Josh Schoger;10;OL/DL
67;Tony Charlton;10;OL/DL
68;Riley Simons;11;OL/DL
70;Jerod Lephart;12;OL/DL
72;Sidiki Traore;10;OL/DL
73;Jerimah Dickey;12;OL/DL
74;Carter Aldredge;12;OL/LB
75;Ian Stephens;10;OL/DL
77;Donavon Harless;12;OL/DL
78;Andrew Stanley;12;OL/DL
79;Derek Lowder;11;OL/DL
80;Clayton Turner;10;TE/LB
84;Keegan McClure;12;WR/DB
86;Ethan Childers;11;TE/LB
87;Kyle Guthrie;10;TE/LB
88;Will Kaster;11;TE/LB
89;Jace Souders;11;WR/DB
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