Pender picks up first win of season over Wakefield

The Pender Pendragons won their first game of the season Friday night, 46-22 at home against Wakefield.

The Trojans led 8-6 after one before Pender doubled up Wakefield 16-8 in the second quarter to take a 22-16 lead into the locker room.

The Pendragons won the third quarter 8-0 to go up 30-16 at the end of three.

Pender outscored Wakefield 16-6 in the fourth quarter.

Dylan Roth was 13-19 passing for 235 yards and five touchdowns. James Bensen hauled in 3 passes for 120 yards with three touchdowns. Tyler Nelson brought in 2 passes for 58 yards, and scored once.

Bensen added 72 yards rushing on 10 carries, scoring once.

Jesse Thompson made 12 tackles while Braden Peters notched 8. Roth and Layne Heese totaled 7 apiece.

The Pendragons recorded 323 yards of offense, 235 coming through the air.

It had to be a good feeling for Pender to finally get that monkey off their back. The Pendragons got the job done in a big way.

Pender (1-2) is at Homer (0-3) Friday night.

The Knights lost 38-34 at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge last time out, and fell 60-28 at Wakefield the week before.

The Pendragons shouldn't have much trouble with Homer I wouldn't think. Pender should be able to win with relative ease.

The Pendragons have to bring the same intensity and focus they did against the Trojans though. The last thing Pender can afford to do is take Homer lightly.

This really is a game the Pendragons need to win. There's no reason Pender should lose this game, and I don't think they will.

Roth, Bensen, and Nelson all need to have big games for the Pendragons.

As much as Pender struggled in the early part of the season, winning a district title is still possible.

All the Pendragons have to do is win their first three district games and then knock off GACC at the end of the regular season.

I really think this district is going to come down to Pender and GACC so the Pendragons have to make sure they don't slip up against the Knights Friday night.

Pender has to come out and be ready to take care of business from the start against Homer. The Pendragons can't start off slow, and let the Knights hang in there.

The last thing Pender wants is Homer gaining momentum and believing they can win. The Pendragons have to put to rest any thoughts of the Knights thinking they have a shot to win the game.

Pender needs to start district play off on the right foot with a big win.