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Pendleton Heights has been streaky. The Arabians won two straight early on before losing three in a row to state-ranked Hoosier Heritage Conference foes.
Entering Friday’s clash with Shelbyville at McKeand Stadium, Pendleton Heights (4-4, 3-3 HHC) has won two straight again at Delta (27-10) and over Yorktown (28-20).
“I think they are good just like everybody we play in the conference,” said Shelbyville head coach Brian Glesing. “They are real good. They spread you out and try to run you inside and out to spread you out.
“We have to be at the top of our game if we want to be competitive.”
Glesing wants to see a more focused defensive effort to shut down plays after allowing Mt. Vernon to rack up nearly 500 yards of offense last week.
I want to see us tackle better defensively,” said Glesing. “Our depth is going to be a problem this week because a couple of the guys are banged up. That will be an issue.”
Shelbyville had just 35 players at practice Tuesday. Eliminate the freshmen that typically do not play on Friday nights and limit the quarters of players slated for Monday’s final junior varsity contest at Pendleton Heights, and the options are limited.
“We have to tackle better,” he reiterated. “That’s one thing defensively we need to do better.”
The Arabians are averaging 21.5 points per game this season without an established star on offense.
Junior quarterback Isaac Wilson has completed 53% of his pass attempts for 620 yards and four touchdowns. He has thrown six interceptions. Wilson also is the team’s leading rusher at 436 yards and five TDs.
Pendleton Heights has a trio of receivers that need to be accounted for during the game – senior Jalen Jordan (27 receptions, 252 yards, four TDs), junior Reese Reddington (15 receptions, 128 yards) and sophomore Nate Derolf (19 receptions, 217 yards).
Shelbyville has amassed 1,236 yards rushing this season with six different players between 131 and 329 yards. Axel Conover (photo) continues to lead the Golden Bears with 329 yards rushing and four TDs.
Cael Lux and Jackson Parker have combined for nearly 400 receiving yards.
Quarterback Eli Chappelow (photo) has completed 40 of 88 pass attempts for 635 yards and four TDs.
Lux (photo) enters the regular-season finale with a team-leading 101 total tackles and one interception.
Jordan Marcum (photo) has 48 tackles, including four for a loss, two quarterback sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Shelbyville will celebrate Senior Night at McKeand Stadium. Parker, Lux, Marcum, Riley Fortune and Carson Linville will suit up with the knowledge there will be at least one more home game this season after the IHSAA state tournament draw was announced Sunday.
The Golden Bears will host Bedford North Lawrence (4-4) in the sectional opener on Oct. 21 at McKeand Stadium.
“I am very familiar with them as a program after being in the Hoosier Hills Conference for 11 years,” said Glesing. “From what little I’ve seen so far, they are well coached and have some athletes.
“The good news is we have them at home. They are not New Pal. They are not Mt. Vernon but they are still talented. The good news is I think we can compete.”
QUICK FACTS
Pendleton Heights at Shelbyville
Game Time: 7 p.m. at McKeand Stadium in Shelbyville, Ind.
Media coverage: 6 p.m. pregame show live from McKeand Stadium with Johnny McCrory and Jeff Brown on GIANT fm (96.5 fm, 106.3 fm, 1520 am) or on the GIANT fm app.
Student Section Theme: Whiteout.
SHS Promotion: Senior Night.
Head coaches: Jed Richman, 40-33 in 7th year at Pendleton Heights, 75-63 in 13th year overall; Brian Glesing, 2-13 in 2nd year at Shelbyville, 120-107 in 20th year overall.
2022 record: Pendleton Heights 4-4, 3-3 HHC; Shelbyville 1-7, 1-5 HHC.
2021 record: Pendleton Heights 5-5; Shelbyville 1-6.
Sagarin ratings: Pendleton Heights 64.68, 82nd overall, 18th in Class 4A; Shelbyville, 31.56, 225th overall, 49th in Class 4A.
Point spread: Pendleton Heights is favored by 31 points.
Last meeting: Pendleton Heights shut out the Golden Bears, 42-0.
Last 10 meetings: Shelbyville has won six of the last 10 meetings but the Arabians have won four straight in the series.
Around the HHC Friday: Delta (3-5, 1-5 HHC) at Class 4A, No. 1 New Palestine (8-0, 6-0 HHC); Class 4A, No. 12 Mt. Vernon (5-3, 5-1 HHC) at Yorktown (6-2, 4-2 HHC); and New Castle (1-7, 1-5 HHC) at Class 4A, No. 13 Greenfield-Central (5-3, 3-3 HHC).
Sectional 23 lookahead: Bedford North Lawrence (4-4) at Shelbyville (1-7); Class 4A, No. 10 Martinsville (6-2) at Greenwood (1-7); Silver Creek (3-5) at Jennings County (2-6); and Edgewood (1-7) at Class 4A, No. 3 East Central (7-1).
