Eighth-ranked Hawks loaded, return 21 seniors
Eighth-ranked Pleasant Grove’s greatest strength, among many this season, is leadership.
The Hawks boast 21 seniors on the roster in one of its biggest senior classes in past years. Expectations are high, and Pleasant Grove is ready to show that it belongs at the top of Class 4A.
Last season, Pleasant Grove reached the reginoal semifinals where it lost to Celina, 23-19. The Hawks defeated Gladewater in their last regular season game, and defeated Rusk and Wills Point in the playoffs.
“We are seasoned, experienced, and are playing with a lot of 3-year starters,” Pleasant Grove head coach Josh Gibson said. “They are physically and mentally more mature overall than last year’s team. All of our seniors are leaders.”
The Hawks have set many goals for the new season, in which it hopes to make a deep playoff run.
“I would like to see us reach our full potential, grow the players, grow the coaching staff, be the best that we can be, and enjoy the journey,” Gibson said.
‘Heart and soul’ is the team motto, and it means that each player will put everything he has into what he does for the team.
Last season, Gibson was satisfied with how the team grew and was pleased with the steps it took toward success.
Pleasant Grove will run a wing-T offense, which centers around running the football and misdirection.
Seniors Nick Gavriel (6-3, 310), Hunter Druhan (6-3,
240), Zach Wrinkle (6-2, 245), Drake Fowler (6-6, 306), and Austin Toler (6-0, 301) anchor the offensive line. The average weight of the line is 280.4 pounds with an average height of nearly 6-foot-3.
“It’s a veteran-laden offensive line that is very physical,” Gibson said. “It’s a really good group of kids.”
Sophomore Ben Harmon (6-1, 180) is the starting quarterback. Harmon also plays varsity basketball and baseball.
“Ben is a young, special kid, and there was a reason why we went 17-1 in 7-on-7 football,” Gibson said. “He is a great competitor, has a good arm for his age and is a good leader.
“He throws well on the run and is a good decision maker. Ben is a very hard worker and has a great work ethic.”
Xavier Benson (6-3, 200), who stars at outside linebacker, will play tight end. Last season, Benson grabbed eight passes for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He averaged 15.5 yards per catch.
“Xavier has great hands,” Gibson said. “He will be good at blocking, but he will be great at running routes. He has quick feet and will stretch the field. Xavier will go up and grab a pass, and he will be a tough matchup. He will keep defenses honest.”
Senior TJ Cole (5-11, 186) makes the transition from quarterback to fullback. Cole has strong legs and squats 465 lbs.
“TJ is physical, strong and has great hands,” Gibson said. “He is a good all-purpose back, and he’ll be a great blocker too. I think he will be one of the best running backs in East Texas.”
Senior tailbacks Chauncey Martin (5-11, 184) and Luke Harmon (5-9, 176), along with sophomore Bruce Garrett (5-10, 178) will split time running the ball, along with seven others.
Martin only got 16 totes last year, but averaged 6.6 yards per touch. Garrett had eight carries for 75 yards, an average of 9.3 yards per tote.
“Chauncey is a playmaker,” Gibson said. “He runs with a lot of strength and really good balance. He has great hands out of the backfield and is a dual threat as a runner and receiver.”
Pleasant Grove is deep at receiver. Senior Carson Cox (6-3, 183) is a 4-year starter and senior Cameron Wells (6-0, 170) is a 3-year starter. Senior Aaron Harmon (6-2, 170) is a starter for the Hawks’ varsity basketball team and helps add depth.
“Carson is a very tall kid with great hands,” Gibson said. “He has good speed, is extremely smart, and knows our offense well. Carson will give us an opportunity to stretch the field as a big time target. He is a Division I athlete and has a scholarship in baseball.”
In a run-heavy offense, Cox made eight catches for 190 yards and two TDs last year. He averaged 23.8 yards per catch.
Josh Roberts (6-0, 188) is a senior wingback and is always a threat out of the backfield. Along with the tailbacks, Roberts will also get totes and averaged a little over eight yards per carry last season. Roberts totaled 617 yards on 75 carries and six touchdowns.
“All of those kids are important and are good football players,” Gibson said. “They are all leaders and will be super productive.”
PG is traditionally a running team but looks to open up the passing game this season in order to become more balanced.
“We have yet to become a balanced football team in running the ball and throwing the ball effectively,” Gibson said. “Our challenge is to become extremely efficient in the passing game. We think Ben will help with that along with our receiving corps. Xavier is a big presence at tight end and is a tough matchup. We are a run team, and once teams start worrying about our passing game, it will open up the running game.”
The Hawks run a 3-4 defense and sometimes go into a 3-3 stack.
“Our motto on defense is
play fast and play physical,” Gibson said. “In our last six games we had to go through a gauntlet. Last season we played three state-ranked teams and five playoff teams. We held opponents to 17.5 points per game. Our defense last year held Gladewater to its season low, Gilmer to its low at the time, and Atlanta to its low at the time.
“Celina was averaging right at 50 points per game, and we held them to just 17. Seven of those points came on an interception return. We return many of our starters from that defense.”
In 13 games last season, the Hawks held opponents to an average of 25.4 points per game.
Pleasant Grove’s defense is loaded with play makers. Division I recruit Benson spearheads the defense at outside linebacker.
Last year, Benson led the Hawks with three fumble recoveries, made 89 tackles, and had one interception with a 16-yard return.
“Xavier is a freaky athlete,” Gibson said. “He is a great kid, an awesome football player and a great leader. Xavier is one of the best linebackers in the state. He is a top-6 kid in the state and is one of the hardest working kids that I have been around. Xavier is phenomenal and has a lot of athleticism. He is versatile and makes a lot of plays.”
Senior Caleb Porchia (6-0, 195) returns at inside linebacker.
“Caleb has a knack for the football and reads plays really well,” Gibson said. “He plays extremely physical, is impressive in his pass defense, and does a good job of getting us set up. Between Xavier and Caleb, we have a great linebacker tandem.”
Anchoring the defensive line are seniors Fowler, Austin Toler and Gavriel. The Hawks will alternate players into the game for the line.
Junior Dillon Toler (5-11, 200), Autin Toler’s younger brother, will get in the mix on the defensive line. Senior William Klierwer (5-10, 235) and senior Dalton Greenlee (6-1, 239) will also get rotated onto the defensive front.
Freshman Landon Jackson is expected to help out at defensive end.
Martin, senior Tyler Allen (6-1, 210) and junior Ryan Pickelman (5-11, 155) will split time at two safety spots. Wells, Aaron Harmon, and junior Tyler Kelley (5-6, 140) will get most of the playing time at cornerback.
“Chauncey Martin is a ball hawk,” Gibson said. “He was a first team All-District free safety last season, and he will be one of the best safeties in our area. Chauncey is a play maker and good tackler.”
Part of Pleasant Grove’s success lies in avoiding injuries. Injuries are part of football, but the Hawks will have better success if they can stay off the injured list.
“The main challenge that we have on defense is just staying healthy,” Gibson said. “We had one of the best defenses in the
state last year, and we return so many that I believe staying healthy will be important.”
Even though there are 21 seniors on the team, chemistry is important. The Hawks worked on strength and conditioning over the summer, and many of the players would later return to workout on their own in the afternoon and at night.
“This is the closest, hardest working group that I’ve been around in my 17 years of coaching,” Gibson said. “They are driven and put their hearts and souls into it and into each other. I am impressed with this group.
“I look forward to the whole journey of the new season. I have enjoyed watching the players grow in the past three years. I like seeing our program grow. I want everyone to enjoy the journey and have fun along the way.”