Pleasant Grove routs Paris for 45-13 win

A big statement was made on the gridiron in a Class 4A clash of top teams.

Austin Toler, Josh Roberts and TJ Cole each scored two touchdowns as Pleasant Grove routed Paris, 45-13, at Hawk Stadium Friday.

“This is one of the best wins since I have been here because Paris is a very good football team,” Hawk head coach Josh Gibson said. “They play well every year, and they are extremely athletic. I am proud of our kids and where we're at in how we won convincingly.

“No matter what the score is, we want to grow and get better each week. I was proud of the way we finished the game too. Our defense and offense did a great job.”

Pleasant Grove's defense held standout Wildcat running back Donovan Williams, who rushed for over 1,800 yards a season ago, to just 44 yards on 18 carries.

After taking a 28-7 halftime lead, the Hawks came out and stopped the Wildcats on a fourth down try early in the third quarter.

The teams traded possessions, and Dillon Williams hit a 38-yard field goal to put PG up, 31-7.

Jaylen Henderson returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a Paris touchdown, but the Hawks held the Wildcats on a 2-point attempt to make it 31-13.

But PG's Cole returned the next kickoff 59 yards, and teammate Josh Roberts capped the 23-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 37-7 early in the fourth quarter. The point after made it 38-7.

On Paris' next possession, Toler made a tackle for the Hawks in the backfield on a fourth down.

Toler caught a 32-yard pass from Ben Harmon, and, after the extra point, Pleasant Grove was up 45-13.

Pleasant Grove dominated the first half and took a 28-7 lead into the locker room.

The Hawks had 13 first downs in the first half, compared to just five for Paris.

On the fourth play of the game, Ben Harmon threw a 46-yard pass to Aaron Harmon as PG set up on Paris' 25-yard line. Five plays later, Cole ran the ball in for an 8-yard touchdown.

The Wildcats' Dylan Savage hit receiver Montavius McCarty for passes of 40 and 23 yards, and two plays later Savage scampered into the end zone from 10 yards out to make it 7-7.

Austin Toler scooped up a fumble on a backwards pass late in the first quarter and returned it 35 yards to put the Hawks up 13-0.

Roberts weaved his way into the end zone on a 38-yard run, and, after the extra point, Pleasant Grove was up 21-7.

On the next Paris possession, PG linebacker Caleb Porchia forced a fumble and the Hawks recovered.

Cole rushed for 29 yards on just three totes during the ensuing drive and capped

it off with a 3-yard TD for the last score of the first half.

The Wildcats received the kickoff with just over a minute to go in the second quarter and were forced to punt. PG freshman Landon Jackson blocked the punt. Later, the Hawks fumbled, and Paris recovered with 20 seconds left in the second.

PG churned out 237 yards of offense in the first half and held the Wildcats to just 120 yards.

Paris PG

First Downs 8 17

Yards Rushing 35-83 48-266

Yards Passing 63 97

Passes A-C-I 8-2-0 12-5-0

Fumbles-Lost 3-2 4-2

Penalties 3-17 0-0

Punts-Avg. 2-29.0 225.5

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Paris, Donovan Williams 18-44, Dorian Williams 2 (-4), Wesley Gage 2 (-3), Kobe Savage 13-46. Pleasant Grove, TJ Cole 21-133, Josh Roberts 7-66, Chauncey Martin 2 (-3), Ben Harmon 4-15, Bruce Garrett 4-20, James Wiggins 4-15, Sergio Rodriguez 3-10, Luke Harmon 2-12, Tristen Thompson 1 (-2). PASSING—Paris, Savage 2-8-0-63, Gage 0-10-0. Pleasant Grove, Ben Harmon 5-12-0-97. RECEIVING—Paris, Montavius McCarty 2-63. Pleasant Grove, Cole 2-9, Austin Toler 1-32, Aaron Harmon 2-56. Paris 7 0 6 0 — 13 PG 14 14 3 14 — 45 First Quarter

PG-TJ Cole 8 run (Dillon Williams kick), 8:22 PARIS-Kobe Savage 10 run (Antonio Saavedra kick), 6:40

PG-Austin Toler 35 fumble return (Williams kick), 1:58

Second Quarter

PG-Josh Roberts 38 run (Williams kick), 7:41 PG-Cole 3 run (Williams kick), 1:28

Third Quarter

PG-Williams 38 field goal, 1:38

PARIS-Jaylen Henderson 96 kickoff return

(run failed), 1:25

Fourth Quarter

PG-Roberts 3 run (Williams kick), 11:15 PG-Toler 32 pass from Ben Harmon (Williams kick), 9:08