Pendleton, Mudsock Lead Indiana
Pendleton, Mudsock Lead Indiana
Pendleton remains the top boys HS team in Indiana after a 45-12 win over Royal Irish.
Pendleton spread the scoring around the team with Jayvith Kissick, Peyton Pollock, Steven Devault, and Jacob Rowley all scoring tries. No. 8 Dresden Roberts scored two while Nick Trout, lining up at fullback, converted five.
While it was a convincing win for Pendleton it’s worth noting that the 12 points from Royal Irish was more than 3-0 Pendleton’s other two games combined.
So, yes, Pendleton’s defense is good. An early score by JJ Kissick gave the Arabians an early 5-0 lead. Royal Irish answered almost immediately with an interception and try. But after that the Arabians controlled things. Several Irish penalties allowed the Arabians to advance the ball inside the visitor’s 22 and then Sam Rhea fed an onrushing Pollock for Pendleton’s second try. for the club’s second score. The next visit to the Royal Irish 22 saw Pollock setting up Roberts for his first. Now Pendleton led 17-5.
Feeling more comfortable now, the Arabians began to put pressure on the visitors. From a scrum, Reese Reddington found Rowley on the burst. He broke two tackles before offloading to Trout, who immediately got the ball to Elijah Pimental. Pimental weaved through to find a seam and race in to score. Trout converted from the touchline and it was 24-7.
In the second half penalties and kicks to touch once again put the Arabians inside the RI 22. Off of the second attacking lineout, Roberts found paydirt for his second score.
Steven DeVaut found the tryline with a short and powerful run, and that was followed by Rowley scoring his team-leading eighth try breaking tackled and racing down the sideline.
Royal Irish finally got their second try but it was Pendleton’s day.
Meanwhile, Mudsock moved to 2-0 after a 27-19 defeat of Bishop Dwenger. Mudsock left the field feeling like they should have scored a lot more, but got two tries from wing Micah Derrer.
So all of that sets up what is probably the game to decide the #1 seed in Indiana. That happens this Wednesday. Mudsock has been able to find space out wide and their wide game could well challenge Pendleton
