PLAYOFFS FOLLOW-UP
Pleasant Grove
LAST WEEK: Pleasant Grove defeated district rival Pittsburg, 44-41, in a Class 4A, Division II regional championship/state quarterfinal playoff game at The Star in Frisco.
THIS WEEK: Pleasant Grove (12-2) clashes with Iowa Park (9-5) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at The Star in Frisco in a Class 4A, Division II state semifinal playoff game.
OFFENSIVE STANDOUTS: WB Bruce Garrett rushed for 218 yards on 26 carries and three touchdowns. Jackson Cobb caught two passes for 56 yards and a score. The offensive line of Connor Stanfill, Landon Watlington, Brock Bingham, Jaxson Cartright, Jamie Lewis, Cole Slade and blocking back Bladen Reaves helped the Hawks rack up 297 rushing yards on 48 carries. Kicker Dillon Williams was 5 for 5 on PATs and hit a 22-yard field goal.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS: FS Tyler Kelley made two interceptions, one of which went for a 47-yard pick-6. Kelley made
six tackles. OLB Nick Martin led the team in tackles with 10. SS Ryan Pickelman, ILB Caleb Hemphill and ILB Reaves had eight stops apiece.
COACH JOSH GIBSON’S
COMMENTS: “I was proud to get a fourth-round playoff win. This has only happened two times in school history and is a huge accomplishment for any team. I was also proud of the way our kids fought back after getting down 14-0.
“Bruce (Garrett) is extremely talented and special. His has all the tools to be an elite running back. He’s powerful, versatile, fast and can catch the ball really well.
“Our offensive line is playing well, and we’d like to think we are more physical than most teams we play. Brock Bingham is our only returning starter and senior on the line. He played his best game of the year. Bladen Reaves is the most physical running back that I’ve coached in 18 years. He does the dirty work and punishes linebackers and safeties. The rest of our offensive line continues to get better and better each week.”