PENDLETON — The 2024 high school football season has been filled with weather-affected games so far this year.

Week six was no different.

With weather from Hurricane Helene causing issues and forcing postponements around the state, in Pendleton, Friday night’s game went on as scheduled.

In a game with steady rain and strong winds for all 48 minutes, Pendleton Heights fell to Mt. Vernon 14-10 in the meeting between Hoosier Heritage Conference foes.

The 50-plus-mph winds made it an old-fashioned, hard-nosed game that was both won and lost at the line of scrimmage. With just six combined passes thrown, it was all about what run game could move the ball and what defense could make the big play.

It was the Marauders doing a little of both those things in the opening quarter.

Five minutes into the game, a fumbled snap by Pendleton Heights quarterback Colton Frank rolled into the end zone, and the Mt. Vernon defense was there to dive on it for the first points of the night. Rylan Vinard added the extra point to put the Marauders ahead 7-0.

After a quick three-and-out forced by the Arabians offense following the score, the Mt. Vernon running attack went to work.

Playing with the wind at their back, in three plays, they pushed the lead to 14-0.

Running back Joliba Brogan broke off a 16-yard run and a 19-yard run on consecutive plays to set up quarterback Mason Meyer for the score on a 1-yard keeper.

On the next drive, it was Brogan making a big play on the defensive side of the ball to thwart a Pendleton Heights drive.

After Pendleton Heights running back Keaton Jones broke off runs of 19 and 20 yards to put the Arabians in a position to get points, later in the drive, Brogan stuffed Jones for a 3-yard loss to force a punt.

A 35-yard field goal by Pendleton Heights’ Wyatt DeBertrand with eight minutes to go in the half were the only points scored in the second quarter. The Arabians punted on their only other drive, and the Marauders turned the ball over on downs and punted in the period.

The only other score of the night came early in the third quarter.

After a pass interference by the Marauders kept a Pendleton Heights drive alive, Jones found a gap in the Marauders front and scampered in for the score from 19 yards out on fourth and two.

The teams traded punts the rest of the way, but the Arabians had their chances to score.

Down four late, the Arabians got the ball back with just over five minutes to go, but a quick three-and-out forced a punt with 3:18 on the clock.

One minute later, the Arabians got the ball back beyond midfield after a bad snap on a Mt. Vernon punt attempt.

Starting at the Marauders 41-yard line, Jones was stopped after a 3-yard run, Frank threw an incomplete pass, and Davon Williams sacked Frank for a big loss to set up fourth down.

Needing to reach the first down marker, Frank threw one up downfield that was intercepted by Kolten Anderson to seal the win.

Jones ran the ball 28 times for 131 yards and a touchdown, Nate DeRolf broke off a 58-yard run and Garrett Pederson carried the ball three times for nine yards.

Pendleton Heights continues conference play tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. on the road at Delta.

The Eagles are 3-3 on the season and 1-3 in the HHC.

After opening the season 3-0, they have dropped three straight games, losing to Yorktown 28-14, Mt. Vernon 49-20 and New Castle 16-14.

They are led at quarterback by senior Bronson Edwards who has completed 30 of his 52 pass attempts for 490 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

Zane Cline leads the receiving group with nine catches for 149 yards and three scores.

On the ground, the Eagles are led by seniors Nolan Carpenter and Bryce Stroble.

Carpenter has 37 carries on the season for 256 yards and thee touchdowns and Stroble has 27 carries for 199 yards and one score.