SOUTH MADISON COUNTY — When five of the eight teams in the sectional are part of the same conference, there’s a good chance the Indiana High School Athletic Association Football State Tournament draw is going to pit a first-round rematch.

That’s exactly the case for Pendleton Heights.

Lapel is not in a conference, but the Bulldogs’ eight-team sectional has four members from Madison County. There was a good chance they would open with a nearby rival.

That’s exactly the case for Lapel.

The IHSAA conducted its annual football tournament draw on Thursday, Oct. 8.

In a rematch of a Week 4 game, Pendleton Heights (5-3) will return to Hoosier Heritage Conference rival Greenfield-Central (2-4) for a Class 4A Sectional 21 first-round game against the Cougars, scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 23.

The Arabians defeated the Cougars 35-18 in a game that was closer than the score indicates. It was 21-18 going into the fourth quarter.

Pendleton Heights is in the upper portion of the bracket and if it beats Greenfield- Central a second time, it could find itself in a similar situation as the Cougars, seeking revenge from a tough regular-season loss.

The winner of the Arabians-Cougars matchup will take on the victor in the matchup between top-ranked Mt. Vernon (8-0) and Richmond (1-6), an expected win for the Marauders.

Pendleton Heights had the top-ranked conference-rival Marauders on the ropes in Week 6, leading late in the fourth quarter before falling 27-21.

Mt. Vernon eliminated Pendleton Heights last year in the sectional championship and advanced to the Class 4A semistate before losing to eventual state champion Evansville Memorial.

The bottom half of the eight-team bracket has New Castle (3-4) taking on Shelbyville (0-8) in a contest between two more HHC schools. In the final first-round contest, Connersville (1-5) takes on Muncie Central (2-3).

Lapel not only drew another Madison County school, but the Bulldogs will also have a rematch against the school they share a school district with.

In a rematch of a Week 2 game, Lapel will travel to Frankton to open play in Class 2A Sectional 36 on Oct. 23. The Bulldogs won the first meeting, also played at Frankton, 48-14.

Lapel (6-2) and Frankton (1-7) share the upper portion of the bracket with Alexandria (2-6), which will have its work cut out against undefeated Eastern (8-0).

Lapel was eliminated by Eastern, which finished 2019 with an 11-1 record, in last year’s first round, 34-31

The bottom section has Tipton (5-2) against Elwood (1-6) and Blackford (3-4) taking on Class 2A state runner-up Eastbrook (7-1).