Pendleton Heights secured a thrilling 43-42 overtime victory over Lebanon in their season opener, marking an impressive start to their campaign.
The game saw both teams trade blow after blow, with Pendleton Heights eventually emerging victorious in the first overtime period. Senior quarterback Brandt Gray delivered the winning conversion, a two-point play, at the end of the first overtime.
The teams were evenly matched throughout the game, with Pendleton Heights scoring the first touchdown on a 3-yard run by Gray. Lebanon responded quickly, with quarterback Jacob Linton connecting with Tannon Monden on a swing pass for a 22-yard score.
The second quarter saw both teams add touchdowns, with Gray connecting with Sam Behrendt from two yards out, and the Tigers tying it before the half on a 6-yard run from Jenson Waite. The fireworks continued in the second half, with each team scoring a touchdown in the third quarter, before Pendleton Heights went up 28-21 with 9:21 to go on an 11-yard pass from Gray to Behrendt.
However, Lebanon responded immediately, with Monden returning the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a score. The Tigers defense then got a stop on fourth down in Arabians territory, and scored a few plays later on an 11-yard run from Waite. This time it was the Arabians turn to respond, and they needed just one play for Joel Weaver to score from 68 yards out to tie the game.
Neither team scored on their final possession of the game, setting up the thrilling overtime period. In the end, Pendleton Heights emerged victorious, with Gray's two-point conversion securing the win.
The victory was all the more impressive given the challenges the team had faced in the lead-up to the game. Severe storms and flooding had affected the area, forcing the team to abandon their practice schedule and instead focus on helping those in need recover from the flooding.
Pendleton Heights head coach Jed Richman praised his team's resilience and determination, saying, "I say it all the time, 'someone else always has it worse.' So you can do something about it, or be the victim. And these guys are not the victims. They're tough kids, and I couldn't be more proud of them."
The team will now look to build on this momentum as they host Guerin Catholic next week, seeking to go 2-0 on the season.
Source: Yahoo Sports