Shelbyville closes out HHC era with 49-7 loss at Class 4A, No. 6 Pendleton Heights

PENDLETON – Joel Weaver ran wild on the Golden Bears and Class 4A, No. 6 Pendleton Heights secured a runner-up finish in the Hoosier Heritage Conference standings with a 49-7 win Friday over Shelbyville at John Broughton Field.

Weaver needed just six carries to amass 207 yards rushing and three touchdowns – all in the opening quarter of the final HHC meeting between the Arabians (8-1, 6-1 HHC) and Shelbyville (4-5, 2-5 HHC).

Quarterback Brandt Gray added two touchdown throws and Talan Foster had a 4-yard scoring run to make it 42-7 midway through the third quarter which started a running clock.

“I was disappointed in some of the things we did tonight. I think we made (Pendleton Heights) look a lot better than what they were,” said Shelbyville head coach Scott Fitzgerald. “Missed assignments is all it was. We were going places we weren’t supposed to go to. We were making calls and kids were going to the wrong assignments. There were a couple of alignment issues.”

Shelbyville had success offensively, including 233 yards of offense in the first half but the defense allowed Pendleton Heights to score touchdowns on six straight possessions.

“We had a great week of practice,” said Fitzgerald. “Our alignment was great. Guys were reading their keys and going where they were supposed to go, and it was like once we hit the field we completely lost all of that. It started from the get-go for us and it snowballed.”

Shelbyville put together an 80-yard scoring drive in the second quarter highlighted by a Donavon Martin 49-yard gain on a screen pass. Grantland Fitzgerald followed with two rushes to get into the end zone to make it 28-7.

Gray connected with C.J. Mitchem for 47 yards on the first play of Pendleton Heights’ next possession. Gray then ran for nine yards and Foster finished the drive to extend the lead to 35-7 at halftime.

Weaver finished the game with 213 yards rushing on eight carries. Gray passed for 187 yards.

Martin totaled 144 yards of offense (66 yards rushing, 78 yards receiving). Fitzgerald had six catches for 93 yards.

Shelbyville returns to McKeand Stadium next Friday for its Sectional 23 opener against Connersville (4-5), a 41-34 winner over Batesville in its regular-season finale Friday.

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