PG looking to pick up where it left off in ’19
A shot at back-to-back state titles is at stake.
Pleasant Grove, the defending Class 4A, Division II state champions, have a tough schedule ahead. The Hawks will play eight, state-ranked teams over their 10-game schedule. For Pleasant Grove, it all comes with the job of defending a state title. The Hawks hold a record of 44-4 within the past three seasons.
“We have two goals every year,” Pleasant Grove head coach Josh Gibson said. “We want to grow as much as we can and we want to make an impact on our school and our community.
“The way the kids do that is becoming the best students they can be and the best football players that they can be. They can become the best servant-leader that they can possibly be. All of those aspects relate to the growth part of our goals. When we do all of those things the right way, we become leaders in our school and our community.”
The Hawks’ team motto is “Heart and Soul.”
“We are going to put our hearts and souls into each other and into the program,” Gibson said. “If we do that and come up short, then we don’t have any regrets.”
OFFENSE
Pleasant Grove returns seven starters on offense. The Hawks are sticking with the Wing-T scheme, which was used over the past two years in which they were state champion and state runner-up, respectively.
Junior quarterback Jalen Woodside will be the starter. Woodside replaces Ben Harmon, who graduated last season.
“I think Jalen has the intangibles to be the best quarterback in our district,” Gibson said. “He’s had a heckuva fall camp. He has a strong work ethic and worked his tail off in the spring and summer. Jaylen comes to practice each day to work hard and invest in his teammates.
“He is a big kid and has a great frame. Jalen has an incredibly strong arm and throws a really pretty football. He can really spin it.”
Nick Martin (6-1, 197) returns for his senior season at fullback. Senior Logan Johnson (5-10, 183) returns at running back after totaling 836 yards on 94 carries and eight touchdowns a season ago. Martin had 440 yards on just 60 totes and seven TDs last season. Johnson averaged 8.8 yards, while Martin gained an average of 7.3 yards per touch.
“Nick is one of the most physical players that I have ever coached,” Gibson said. “He has some big time Division I college offers and is a big time player. He is a power back, but he has good speed too.”
Pleasant Grove has many running backs that will get carries this season. Others include freshman sensation Jaylen Boardley, Gage Stivers, Corbine Shine, Ahmad Hicks and Hayen Kohler.
Standout senior player Landon Jackson (6-6, 258) is back to start at tight end. Jonah Bates and Rylon Hopkins will also see time at tight end.
“Landon is a freak,” Gibson said. “He is one of the best football players in the state of Texas along with Marcus Burris, Nick Martin and Tori Phillips (6-7, 295). All four of those kids are in the Texas Top 300. They are all special talents.
“Landon is long, athletic, aggressive and strong. Marcus is huge, he is physical and his strength levels are off the charts. Tori has great size and has a lot of colleges looking at him.”
Cameron Weekly is back at left tackle, Alex Murphy is left guard, Jackson Cartwright is center and Jordan Stuart is right tackle. Each of those linemen are 3-year starters. Starting at right guard is Chase McClure and Tyler Foreman.
Quinn Bingham, Jaylon Pascal, Jonathan Ketchum, Alex Galvan and Sam Bradshaw will see playing time at receiver. Junior Enrique Rios is the starting kicker.
DEFENSE
Pleasant Grove runs a multiple-look defense based out of a 3-4 front.
Jackson and Phillips will start at defensive end and Weekly starts at nose. Rotating in on the defensive line is Tamir Turner.
Martin, Boardley, Stivers and Drew Mason start at linebacker. Seniors Stivers and Mason play on the inside while Martin and Boardley are the outside linebackers.
The secondary is not yet set. Players expected to contribute as starters are Bingham, Shine, Kohler, Ketchum and Pascal.
APPRECIATING WHAT WE HAVE
“I am just thankful that we get to play,” Gibson said. “A lot of people are cancelling games, but Texas is not doing that. We are ready to take another journey with our kids. We ranked in the top 2 in the state, and we feel like we have a really strong team. Getting back to state is a goal of ours. It is not the most important thing, but we feel like we have a team that can do that.
“We are going to take it day by day. We are going to try to always have our best day and take advantage of it. We’ll be playing in a game soon, and we’ll be ready for it.”