If you want a student who can exemplify Ridge Point High School’s motto of “Break the Rock,” look no further than junior Will Pendergrass.
“The motto basically means hard work will get the job done,” said Brett Sniffin, athletic director of the Fort Bend Independent School District. “That’s what he does. He works hard in practice and in the classroom and will sacrifice for the betterment of the team.”
An example of Pendergrass’ spirit occurred Nov. 16 during the first-round playoff game against Seven Lakes High School. The Ridge Point Panthers took a 14-10 victory, but it came at a cost for Pendergrass.
“We needed to pick up a first down and we asked Will to fake a run and kick the ball down and go around the right end,” Sniffin, also Ridge Point’s head football coach, recalled in an interview with the Texas Scorecard. “He lowered his shoulder and ended up breaking his collarbone in two places. He didn’t come out. He finished the game and quarterbacked for us. He’s a very tough kid.”
Pendergrass is one of those athletes skilled in two sports, the other being baseball. The 6-foot-2, 182-pounder has been on the school’s varsity baseball team from freshman year on, and served as starting quarterback beginning junior year.
“He’s a very coachable kid and does exactly what we ask him to do,” Sniffin said. “He’s the leading hitter on the baseball team and has committed to playing baseball for the University of Houston when he graduates.”
Maxpreps.com lists Pendergrass’s baseball batting average as .333 and ranks him No. 109 as a Texas high-school quarterback.
His athletic prowess and academic skill – Will is in the top 10 percent of his class, academically – has earned him a baseball scholarship to the University of Houston when he graduates in 2020.
“He’s just an outstanding young man,” Sniffin added.
