Hawks are edged by Carthage in epic game

CARTHAGE, Texas—The clash between two defending state champions lived up to all expectations.

Carthage scored 15 unanswered points and defeated Pleasant Grove, 28-21, in a battle between Class 4A Division I and II champions.

“I felt like we were in position to win the game,” Hawks’ head coach Josh Gibson said. “We made a great call on a third-and-1, but then we made a mistake. The kids played their hearts out tonight and put us in a position to win the game.”

With just over two minutes in the game with the score tied at 21-all, Pleasant Grove fumbled on a third down to give the Bulldogs the ball.

Carthage quarterback Gunner Capps led his team down the field and went 5 for 7 passing. Kelvontay Dixon ran the ball in on a sweep to the left for the game winner with three seconds left.

The Hawks held a 21-13 lead going into the fourth quarter and out-rushed the Bulldogs, 275-13.

Ben Harmon had the lone Pleasant Grove score on a 1-yard plunge into the end zone in the third quarter. Harmon finished with 98 yards passing and 61 yards

rushing on 15 attempts.

James Wiggins led all rushers with 136 yards on 19 totes and a score for the Hawks.

With the win, the Bulldogs (5-0) have won 31 consecutive games, and Pleasant Grove moves to 4-2 on the year.

Carthage capped a 64-yard, seven-play drive in 3:11 when Kelvontay Dixon caught a pass from Capps and sped 47 yards to the end zone on the game’s first possession.

Pleasant Grove had to punt on its first possession, but, on the Bulldogs’ fourth play, the runner fumbled and the Hawks recovered.

Landon Jackson caught a 41-yard pass from Harmon to set Pleasant Grove up on Carthage’s 5-yard line. Bruce Garrett ran it in from four yards out to knot the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter.

Tyler Kelley tackled Tucker Smith after a yard gain on a fourth-andthree to give the Hawks back the ball.

Pleasant Grove drove down to the Bulldog’s 11-yard line, but were stopped on a fourth down.

Smith caught a pass from Capps and blazed down the sideline on an 86-yard score to give Carthage a 13-7 lead. The extra point sailed wide.

Wiggins scored a 33-yard touchdown run for the Hawks on the ensuing possession, and PG took back the lead 14-13.

The Bulldogs attempted a 28-yard field goal with under a minute left in the second quarter, but it went wide right.

Pleasant Grove hosts Pittsburg on Friday in both team’s district opener.

Pleasant Grove 0 14 7 0 — 21

Carthage 7 6 0 15 — 28

First Quarter

CAR-Kelvontay Dixon 47 pass from Gunner Capps (Luis Piedra kick), 8:41

Second Quarter

PG-Bruce Garrett 4 run (Dillon Williams kick), 11:53 CAR-Tucker Smith 86 pass from Capps (kick failed), 4:40

PG-James Wiggins 33 run (Williams kick), 2:54 Third Quarter PG-Ben Harmon 1 run (Williams kick), 5:55 Fourth Quarter

CAR-Kaden Holcomb 9 pass from Capps (Capps pass to Holcomb), 6:28

CAR-Dixon 12 run (Piedra kick), 0:03

PG CAR

First Downs16 14

Yards Rushing 50-275 12-13

Yards Passing 98 421

Passes A-C-I 9-5-0 30-21-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 3-3

Penalties 3-25 2-20

Punts-Avg. 2-35.5 0-0.0 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Pleasant Grove, James Wiggins 19-136, Bruce Garrett 11-69, Ben Harmon 15-61, Nick Martin 4-17, team 1-(minus 8). Carthage, Tucker Smith 10-7, team 1-(minus 6), Dixon 1-12.

PASSING—Pleasant Grove, Harmon, 5-9-0-98. Carthage, Gunner Capps 21-30-0-421.

RECEIVING—Pleasant Grove, Landon Jackson 1-41, Martin 1-9, Cobb 3-48. Carthage, Smith 4-132, Holcomb 4-27, Kelvontay Dixon 5-156, Roshabrius Garrett 2-29, Kel Williams 6-77.