PG face Cadets in playoff clash
ROYSE CITY, Texas—Shopping deals won’t be the main attraction in Royse City on Black Friday.
Pleasant Grove (9-2) battles Waco Connally (8-3) in a Class 4A, Division II area playoff football game at 1 p.m. today at Royse City ISD Stadium.
“Connally reminds me of Paris in that they are very athletic and talented,” Hawks’ head coach Josh Gibson said. “They have one of the best running backs in the state in Jay’veon Sunday. He’s been offered by several SEC and Big 12 schools, including Arkansas and Baylor. Their offensive line is talented and aggressive, led by one of the state’s best in Trent Pullen who has received offers from LSU, Texas A&M and a dozen others schools.”
Bruce Garrett racked up 163 yards of rushing, and James Wiggins accounted for three touchdowns in Pleasant Grove’s 56-12 thumping of Dallas Roosevelt in the bi-district round last week. QB Ben Harmon threw for three touchdowns, two of which went to Jackson Cobb.
Pleasant Grove averages 37.3 points per game and gives up just 18.3.
The Cadets are coming off a 57-31 victory over Bullard last week. Connally averages 33.9 points per game and have given up 26.8.
“We are going to have to stop the run,” Gibson said. “Connally is one of the best rushing teams in the state of Texas. To do this, we are going to have to play extremely physical and pursue the football very well.”
Inside linebacker Bladen Reaves is the Hawks’ leading tackler this season with 95 stops. OLB Nick Martin has 80 tackles and ILB Caleb Hemphill has 76 stops.
Tyler Kelley and Kamren Woods each have five interceptions, while Ryan Pickelman has made four for the Hawks.
“Offensively, we cannot turn the ball over,” Gibson said. “We have to win the battle in the trenches and be physical.”
Garrett leads the Hawks in rushing with 1,104 yards on 167 carries and 11 touchdowns. Wiggins is second on the list with 907 yards on 135 totes and eight scores.
Harmon has thrown for 1,436 yards on 66-of-119 passing and 21 TDs. He has thrown just two interceptions.
Cobb is the leading receiver for Pleasant Grove with 20 grabs for 402 yards and five scores. Brett Walker is second with 15 catches for 376 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Hawks have a solid leg in Dillon Williams, who has booted in 52 PATs and has hit on 6 of 7 field goals. Williams is second on the scoring list, behind Garrett’s 78 points, with 70 points.
Royse City ISD Stadium is not a strange place to Pleasant Grove. The Hawks have already played there once this year.
“We are very comfortable playing at Royse City,” Gibson said. “We’ve traveled there the last three years and really enjoy the venue. We scrimmaged there earlier in the year, so this will be our second trip there this season.
“When both teams play at a neutral site, I don’t think either team has the home field advantage. All things will be equal in this environment and venue. I think one thing that is in our favor is we have played a lot of playoff football the last three years and we are used to playing away more so than most teams we play.”
The 1 p.m. kickoff time is the earliest that the Hawks will have started play. Gibson said that the team feels good about that.
“We practice every day in the afternoon so we are comfortable with the start time,” Gibson said. “If anything, I like the afternoon start because it will be warmer than a night game.”
The winner will take on Gilmer (5-6) or Fairfield (9-2) next week in the Class 4A, Division II regional round.