Pettit takes control of the pigskin

By Scott Collins
    When you think about Wildcat Football history Kyle Pettit has to be a name discussed from the start as a player, college recruit and assistant coach. Now Pettit is starting a new chapter to that story as he assumes the reins of the Wildcat Football program as head coach.
    Coach Pettit is a focused individual that through his experience hopes to instill that same kind of drive and determination into his players. The steps he has taken preseason to prepare his team is a reflection of that process,
    “We have been practicing all summer since school got out. We have participated in multiple 7 on 7s in July and a couple Big Man Challenges that the kids loved. We have been putting in a new defense and the extra practice against good competition has made us better going into the season.”
    As with every new year, the focus will be on the players and their execution of the game plan, who are the returning players that Coach Pettit will build around, and the new names that will impact the team’s success.
    “Returning will be Vinnie Nocero at wide receiver, he is the best hands guy on the team. The offensive line returns seniors Ross Barlow and Dakota Dunn. Junior linebacker Brett Morgan is our most disruptive guy on defense and is backed up by senior Chance Pollard at Safety who plays sideline to sideline.
    Watch out for a couple sophomores making an impact this year. New to the quarterback spot is Sophomore Mark Wayne Grant leading the offense and sophomore Tyler Redden carrying the rock at tailback.”
    Coach Pettit realizes his team is young and still needs the experience that only live action can bring, but that hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm or lessened his expectations at the Varsity level or below,
    “We are a very young team, but I hope to be competitive in every game on our schedule. You will see a lot of young guys playing on Friday nights, gaining a lot of experience. Hopefully, we are quick learners and teach some lessons to our opponents as well.
    My real goals are for the program as a whole and we have a lot to celebrate already. Changes that we have made have already contributed to over 100 kids playing recreation flag football, the middle school team fielding its largest ever team of 40, and our varsity roster reaching 41 as well. The future is bright for Pendleton Football.
    Looking at the coaching staff Coach Walt Hornbeck returns from last year’s staff bringing back his years of experience while moving up to the position of Assistant Head Coach. The rest of the staff will be in their first year of serving as a coach, Koby Leazer, Ethan White and Austin Stull, but are no strangers to football as they all are former Wildcat players returning to help build the program
    Looking ahead at the schedule the Wildcats will face are some good match-ups,
    “We are fortunate that we have six home games this season. Most in the month of September. We also have a full nine game JV schedule as well, with five of those at home too. Without restrictions and covid hanging over our head, I’m optimistic that Friday nights will look like they used to.”
Last season the district ended in a three way tie that was decided by the toss of a coin and left the Wildcats on the outside looking in,
    “After our three way tie broken by RPI last year, we are anxious to meet Lewis Co and Powell Co again to prove we are not at the bottom of our district. Mason is the team to beat and Fleming is always tough competition.”
    The Wildcats will play their first game on August 20 down in Eastern Kentucky at Pike County Central. Their first home game will be August 26 against Dayton at 7:30 p.m.
    Get out and support Coach Pettit and his Wildcats this season as they take the field.