PENDLETON — Trying to top off a Homecoming night with an upset win against the top-ranked rival didn’t come to fruition for Pendleton Heights Friday.

Leading 14-0 in the first half and taking a 14-7 lead into the final quarter, Pendleton Heights’ bid to beat Class 4A No. 1 Mt. Vernon fell short, with the Arabians falling to the Marauders 27-21 at John Broughton Field.

The Arabians led 14-7 until the final five minutes of the game, when the teams combined to score four touchdowns in the final minutes. Unfortunately for Pendleton Heights, three of those scores came from Mt. Vernon.

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Mt. Vernon cut the lead to 14-13 when Gehrig Slunaker connected with Jake Stank on an 84-yard touchdown pass. The Marauders missed the PAT.

Mt. Vernon followed with a pair of Keagan LaBelle 5-yard touchdown runs to take the lead and extend it to 27-14.

Pendleton Heights senior Luke Bays, who had a 64-yard touchdown run in the first half, broke free for an 80-yard score with 2:29 left to cut it to 27-21, but the Arabians were unable to threaten again.

Mt. Vernon ranked No. 1 in both the The Associated Press and Indiana Football Coaches Association Class 4A polls, improved to 6-0 on the season (4-0, Hoosier Heritage Conference).

It was the second-straight loss for Pendleton Heights. The Arabians are 4-2 (2-2, HHC).

It was also the Arabians fourth-straight loss to their Fortville rivals.

Tight games have been the norm in recent games in this series. Mt. Vernon won twice last season, 18-14 in the regular season and 21-14 in a Class 4A sectional championship game.

Pendleton Heights led late in both of the 2019 contests. In the regular season game, the Arabians turned the ball over inside the MV 5 in the final minutes of the game. The Arabians led into the fourth quarter of last year’s elimination game, too.

In 2017, Pendleton Heights defeated Mt. Vernon 23-21. Mt. Vernon won in 2018, 28-14.

On Friday, quarterback Luke Candiano connected on 15-of-29 passes for 142 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Tyler McKinley had six catches for 87 yards, opening scoring with an 8-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the second quarter.

Bays had nine carries for 161 yards.

It was Pendleton Heights’ third-straight game against a Hancock County team. It beat Greenfield-Central two weeks ago at G-C’s Clayton Myers Field 35-18. Last week, in Pendleton, the Arabians lost 13-3 to New Palestine.

Mt. Vernon plays host to New Castle next week in another matchup of HHC teams and potential sectional opponents. Pendleton Heights travels to HHC-foe Delta.

After winning the first four games of the season, the Arabians will be trying to snap a two-game losing skid.

Delta comes into the game as another strong opponent. The Eagles are 4-1 overall (3-1, HHC), tied for second with New Palestine.

Pendleton Heights won last year’s game, in Pendleton, 28-22.