Hawks collect bi-district crown
TEXARKANA, Texas — Eight may seem like a small number, but it was big on Friday.
Eight different Pleasant Grove players scored a touchdown, and the Hawks trounced Nevada Community, 55-14, in a Class 4A, Div. II bi-district playoff game at Hawk Stadium.
“I am thankful and happy that so many kids got the opportunity to play in this home playoff game,” Pleasant Grove head coach Josh Gibson said. “Many kids produced, and we came out healthy. The effort and the way the kids were cheering on each other was big. Our jayvee and freshmen team scored two touchdowns on a playoff team; that was awesome and special.”
Bruce Garrett rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on seven carries for the Hawks. Bruce eclipsed 1,000 yards on the season.
Pleasant Grove quarterback Ben Harmon hit on 7 of 8 passes for 78 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
“Winning the bi-district title is extraordinary and special,” Harmon said. “Once we got a substantial lead, I was happy to see the younger guys get to play. I was proud of the way we played defensively and offensively.”
Pleasant Grove (10-1) will take on Salado (8-3) in the Class 4A, Div. II area round next week.
Five different players scored for Pleasant Grove in the first half.
Garrett broke free and got to the edge on a 31-yard run that put the Hawks up 7-0 with 5:18 left in the first quarter.
KJ Hicks plunged into the end zone off the left side to pad PG’s lead, 14-0, with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.
Shayne Nelson found a gap and got into the end zone from a yard out to spice things up even more for the Hawks, 21-0.
Logan Johnson broke free around the right edge and turned on the jets for a 29-yard TD run. The score tacked onto PG’s big lead to make it 28-0 with 4:15 left in the second quarter.
With time running out in the second quarter, the Black Hawk defense forced an incomplete pass by flushing out the Nevada quarterback. Pleasant Grove took over on downs.
Sergio Rodriguez snagged a 22-yard touchdown pass from Harmon with 12 seconds left in the second quarter. The Hawks jogged into the locker room up 35-0.
Corbin Shine caught an 11-yard pass from Harmon to give Pleasant Grove a 42-0 lead early in the third quarter.
Coach Gibson played the second-team defense and other reserves after Shine’s score.
Nevada Community got on the board when Parker Simpson hit Ty Simpkins on a 16-yard TD pass.
The Hawks’ Reese Elrod got his first varsity carry and rushed into the end zone from 10 yards out to make it 49-7.
Tyson Neighbors had an 8-yard touchdown run for the Braves with 49 seconds left in the third. The Hawks were still up big, 49-14.
Imahd Hicks scored with 3:42 left in the fourth for Pleasant Grove, which took a 55-14 lead.