PENDLETON — Pendleton Heights didn’t get the big plays when it needed to.

New Palestine did.

The Arabians, for the third time in four years, saw their undefeated season end at the hands of the Dragons.

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Friday at John Broughton Field, Pendleton Heights lost 13-3 to the two-time defending Class 5A state champions.

It was the third time in head coach Jed Richman’s five seasons his Arabians began the year 4-0. In 2018, after a 4-0 start, they lost at home, 42-21, to the Dragons. In 2017, the streak of unbeaten games stopped with a 41-21 loss at New Palestine.

The points were harder to come by this time.

The Arabians’ opening drive of the game ended on downs at the New Palestine 28. It was the only scoring threat for either team in the opening quarter.

Pendleton Heights got on the board first. In the second period, the Arabians drove down as far as the NP 6, before settling for a Nick Taylor 23-yard field goal. It gave Pendleton Heights a 3-0 advantage.

Unfortunately for the Arabians, New Palestine answered quickly. On the first play from scrimmage after the ensuing kickoff, Dragon quarterback Lincoln Roth connected with Blake Austin for a 70-yard touchdown pass.

At the time, New Palestine had not converted a first down. Pendleton Heights had seven, but just three points to show for it.

The Dragons defense took charge the rest of the way, halting both the Arabians’ point (3) and first-down totals (7) for the remainder of the game.

With the score still 6-3 and plenty of time for the Arabians to rally, the Dragons made it a two-score game in the fourth quarter. New Palestine freshman running back Grayson Thomas scored on a 9-yard run with 8:06 remaining.

“We were pretty dialed — it’s just a matter of that’s a really good football team,” Pendleton Heights coach Jed Richman said of the Dragons. “I don’t care how many guys they have out. I don’t care what Coach (Kyle Ralph) says, that guy can coach. You don’t lose five games in eight years and roll the dice and figure out what you’re doing.

“That’s a great program, not a good one — that’s a great program. I’ve coached some ball now for 20 years. I’ve seen some good ones, and that’s as good as I’ve ever coached against. They adjusted very well. Their kids are extremely well-coached, and we have nothing but respect for those guys.”

New Palestine coach Kyle Ralph said his club was playing without 10 starters. It had 33 players in uniform. Ralph added two more starters had to leave due to injury on Friday.

Caden McClain led the Arabians’ offense with 81 rushing yards on seven carries, including a long run of 41 yards. Quarterback Luke Candiano had 32 yards on 17 rushes. Luke Bays had seven attempts for 30 yards.

The Arabians passing game was held in check. Candiano completed 2-of-14 attempts for 18 yards. Taylor punted eight times for a 38.8 yard average.

On defense, Bays had a team-high 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss. Braden Gustin had nine stops.

The game marked the second of three straight against Hancock County opponents. The Arabians were coming off a 35-18 win at Greenfield-Central.

This week, they will play host to Class 4A No. 1 Mt. Vernon. The Marauders beat Pendleton Heights in two close games last year, including a 21-14 decision in last year’s sectional title game. In the regular-season matchup, Mt. Vernon edged Pendleton Heights 18-14.

It’s just a seven-plus-mile drive up State Road 67 from Mt. Vernon’s home in Fortville to Pendleton.

“It’s a rivalry game,” Richman said. “They’ve got it rolling. We’ve got to pick ourselves up and do better at blocking and tackling. That’s what it comes down to. On offense, we have to do better blocking and picking up pressures. Mt. Vernon is really good on defense, too. They’ve got playmakers all over the field. We have to have our ‘A’ game.”

Mt. Vernon, after beating Pendleton Heights in the championship game last year, advanced all the way to the Class 4A semistate before losing to eventual state champion Evansville Memorial.

This season, the Marauders are off to a 5-0 start, including a win against New Palestine two weeks ago, which ended the Dragons’ 65-game regular-season winning streak.

It’s a big game in the Hoosier Heritage Conference, too.

Mt. Vernon leads the HHC with a 3-0 record in conference games. Pendleton Heights, New Palestine, New Castle and Delta are all 2-1.