PG @ Atlanta
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m., Rabbit Stadium
LAST YEAR: The Hawks rolled past the Rabbits, 48-17, at Hawk Stadium.
GAME FACTS:
Pleasant Grove (2-0) is the defending Class 4A, Division II state champions and is coming off a 33-24 win over Henderson. With the win, the Hawks have won 18 consecutive games. Atlanta (0-2) looks for its first win after facing two traditional football powerhouses in Gilmer and Gladewater. The Rabbits fell to the Buckeyes, 47-41, and to the Bears, 37-21. Pleasant Grove is averaging 31.5 points per game while giving up 17.0. Atlanta has scored an average of 31.0 points per game, while giving up 42.0 points.
COACHES’ COMMENTS:
Pleasant Grove’s Josh Gibson—“This will be a big game for both teams. We have a great rivalry with Atlanta and both teams always play extremely hard against each other.
“Atlanta has great speed and the ability to make big plays on both sides of the ball. They are one of the fastest teams in the state every year. They put up over 560 yards of offense in week 1 against Gilmer. They’ve lost two games to state-ranked foes. This will be Friday night football at its best. Atlanta has the home field advantage and will have great support with the home crowd. But I know that our Pleasant Grove fans will pack the stands and be there to support us.
“We have to limit mistakes. Turnovers have killed us in the first two games. On offense, we must do a better job protecting the football, as well as dominating the line of scrimmage. On defense, we have to create turnovers and limit the big play, which we have done in the past two weeks.
Atlanta’s Matt McClure—“Pleasant Grove has a good team. They have won 18 straight games. They are the defending state champion, and they play like it. Coach Gibson has done a great job keeping those guys going and focused.
“Defensively, we have to good a good job with our eyes in reading our keys, and our reaction to the run and the pass. Their quarterback, Ben Harmon, is a really special player. Offensively, we are going to have to do a good job of blocking their front linemen. They have two big defensive ends who are really good players and run to the ball well. We are going to have to do the best that we can in trying to control the front.
“We’re expecting a good atmosphere. We are doing our first inducted class for our athletic Hall of Fame. We are ready to get back on the field and get the bad taste out of our mouth from losing last week. We are really excited to play those guys.”
RADIO: KTRG, 94.1 FM, 7:15 p.m.