Pleasant Grove at Pittsburg
TEAMS: Pleasant Grove (7-0, 2-0) at Pittsburg (5-2, 2-0)
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m., Pirate Stadium LAST WEEK: The Hawks rolled past Atlanta, 48-17, while the Pirates edged Spring Hill, 57-56. LAST YEAR: Pleasant Grove defeated Pittsburg, 31-18.
GAME FACTS: The Hawks are ranked No. 9 in the AP poll in Class 4A in the state. The teams are tied atop District 7-4A, Division II with 2-0 records each. Pittsburg won 2015's contest, 35-19. The Hawks are 2-3 against the Pirates in the last five meetings. Pleasant Grove averages 45.4 points per game and gives up just 16.4 points. Pittsburg is averaging 34.6 points per contest and gives up 32.4 points.
COACHES’ COMMENTS: Pittsburg's Brad Baca—“Pleasant Grove has had a lot of success this year and are playing at a high level. They run an offense that is multiple and the ball goes to different play-
ers. They lull you to sleep, then they'll throw one over the top on you. On defense, they play a 3-4 and are very aggressive. They will bring blitzes from any place. We are seeing an offense that we don't see a lot. They have a couple of 300-pounders on the defensive line, and they have Xavier Benson at outside linebacker. Overall, they are a very good football team. It will be a challenge and a test for our team.
“It's going to be a 48-minute battle. We'll have to block and tackle better than them; that is what it comes down to. We'll have to win the turnover battle. The team that is tougher and wants it more is the team that will come out on top. It's going to be cold, and it's our first cold game of the year. Nobody cares about the guys on the field, if you're hot or cold or sick. It's going to be the guys who wants to be first place in the district; that is the team that is going to win.”
Pleasant Grove's Josh Gibson— “Pittsburg is a good team and are well coached. Coach Baca does a great job with them offensively. His dad is the defensive coordinator, and they have been successful since they've been there. We just prepare for their schemes, and Pittsburg has been doing well running the football. Our defensive coaches have put together a plan to stop the run and limit their big plays. They will run some reverses, and we are preparing for that.
“Offensively, we just keep trying to get better, and we continue to grow. We are adding more plays. We are able to add more plays because we have the fundamentals down now. Hopefully, we can throw them off some with our new plays.” RADIO: KTRG 94.1 FM, 7:15 p.m.