Pendleton, Westside on a Collision Course in Indiana

04.25.2023HS Boys

Pendleton looks to be the strongest team in Indiana after they defeated Penn over the weekend.

After beating Mudsock last week, Pendleton followed that up with a 17-12 victory over Penn.

The game was back-and-forth, and a try from Penn put them up 12-10 with five minutes to go.

Pendleton charged back and got a penalty in kickable range—flyhalf Nick Trout is a very good goalkicker and you might have expected him to slot that. Instead they took the lineout, and worked their way to the Penn line.

Finally Penn was penalized, Pendleton tapped quickly and Trout was over for the try.

There was still time for Penn. They kicked deep on the restart, put on pressure, and got a penalty. Opting for a scrum, Penn ran a weakside move but the key pass sailed into touch and the game was over.

Hailed is a well-played and exciting game by both coaches, this was a nice preview of two teams slated to play at the HS National Championships.

Trout scored all of Pendleton's points with two tries, two conversions, and a penalty.

In league play now Pendleton is 3-0 in league play and overall 7-1. Penn is now 1-1 in league play.

Meanwhile, Westside Black Swarm continue to put in good performances and are 2-0 in league play and 5-0 overall after beating Carmel and Bishop Dwneger in the last week.

This was a forwards battle and it waspretty chippy, too, with several penalties for hgh tackles. Twice Dwenger got yellow cards.

Westside broke the deadlock after getting a free kick off a scrum—prop Alex Canales powered ahead and the backs sent it to lock Blake Fincher, who dove into the corner.

Dwenger tied it up after a long period threatening the Black Swarm line, getting a penalty, tapping, and piling it over.

Fincher got his second for Westside, breaking several tacklers on an 80-meter run that took him under the posts. Gage Poland converted and it was 12-5.

Moments later Westside wing Dailon Zeigler got the ball deep inside his own half and showed his elusiveness and speed to break through before passing to Jaiden Jones, who scored.

Dwenger looked to respond but were chasing the game now. A pass was intercepted by Westside wing TJ Gamble and he was in under the sticks.

Dwenger got one back but the game was done by then.

Next week, Westside is at Pendleton.