Pleasant Grove
LAST WEEK: The Hawks rolled past Class 5A Frisco, 43-13, at Toyota Stadium and improved to 3-0. THIS WEEK: Pleasant Grove travels across the city to take on rival Liberty-Eylau.
OFFENSIVE STANDOUTS: TJ Cole led all rushers with 86 yards on just 11 carries and one touchdown. Four other Pleasant Grove runners—Chauncey Martin, Ben Harmon, Bruce Garrett and James Wiggins—scored a TD each. Martin had 54 yards on just four totes, and Xavier Benson caught a 43-yard pass for a score.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS: Linebacker Caleb Porchia had a game-high 15 tackles, while linebacker Benson had 13 stops and a fumble recovery. Caleb Hemphill made nine tackles and caused a fumble, and defensive lineman Austin Toler made seven tackles and caused a fumble. Landon Jackson made five stops, caused a fumble and recovered a fumble.
COACH JOSH GIBSON’S COMMENTS: “I was thrilled about the win. We took a step and got better in each spot on offense. We are having some growth, and had a lot of different backs touch the ball. Our running backs are blocking better, but we still have a ways to go. We played with a short field a lot in the game. I think Frisco outgained us, but
we executed and scored on those short fields.
“I think the big reason for Frisco’s turnovers was our quick reaction and playing physical. I think our defense was playing fast, and that helps create turnovers. Caleb Porchia had a huge game and was ball-hawking a lot. Xavier Benson had 13 tackles, and Austin Toler, a lineman, had seven tackles. As a unit we played well, but those three guys stuck out.”