Pendleton Heights edges Lebanon 43-42 in overtime thriller

Gray’s two-point conversion provides winning margin after teams finish regulation tied

By Staff Report

LEBANON, Ind. — Pendleton Heights and Lebanon matched one another score for score through four quarters before the Arabians used a successful two-point conversion to claim a 43-42 overtime victory in its Indiana high school football season opener

The teams were tied 7-7 after the opening quarter, 14-14 at halftime and 21-21 entering the fourth. Each side scored twice in the final period, sending the game to overtime deadlocked at 35. Both teams added touchdowns in the extra period, but Pendleton Heights quarterback Brandt Gray ran in the Arabians’ two-point conversion to provide the deciding margin. Lebanon converted an extra point for its final point.

Pendleton Heights leaned heavily on its running game, rolling up 335 of its 416 offensive yards on the ground. The Arabians averaged 7 yards across 48 rushing attempts and had two players surpass 100 yards. Joel Weaver led the attack with 177 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. His 68-yard run was the team’s longest play from scrimmage. Weaver finished with 184 total yards after adding a 7-yard reception.

Gray was equally dangerous as both a runner and passer. The senior carried 20 times for 147 yards and a touchdown while completing 9 of 13 passes for 81 yards and three touchdowns. All three touchdown passes went to Sam Behrendt. The junior tight end caught five passes for 56 yards, including a 29-yard reception.