‘A’ FOR EFFORT
Hawks play well, but fall to Jefferson on Homecoming night
Putting together one of its best games of the season, Pleasant Grove saw a Homecoming victory slip right through the Hawks' talons in an 18-13 loss to Jefferson on Friday at Hawk Stadium.
Hunter Hatfield scored twice, but another score was nullified by a holding penalty and two missed field goals cost PG against the Bulldogs, whose last two scores came on long pass plays.
The Hawks (1-4) put together a potential game-tying—and possible go-ahead PAT—drive that covered 68 yards on 15 plays and ate up 6:22 off the clock. On fourth-and-goal from the 2, Kayin Cooks' 2-yard sweep to the left was called back on a holding call.
Pleasant Grove sophomore kicker Dalton Hinton's 29-yard field goal attempt just missed to the left. Jefferson QB Brayden Varnell hit Devin Hodge deep for an 80-yard catch-and-run to put the Bulldogs up 18-6 just 15 seconds after the missed field goal.
Six plays later, Hatfield raced 11 yards around the left side, and Hinton nailed the extra point to make it 18-13. PG got
the ball back with 2:07 left at their own 10, needing 90 yards for the winning score. However, the Bulldogs (3-2) held and were able to take a knee twice to spoil the Hawks' Homecoming.
Pleasant Grove rushed for 200 yards, and Hatfield threw for 57 yards on 4-of-12 passing. The Hawks didn't have a turnover, something that has plagued PG in its first four games.
Makale Hawkins had 62 yards on 11 rushes, Cooks had 50 yards on 13 totes, and Hatfield added 47 on 14 carries.
Varnell connected on 10 of 15 passes for 231 yards and also rushed for 49 yards and a TD. Terrance Whitaker ran for 57 yards on 10 carries before leaving the game with an injury.
The Hawks started sluggish but came alive late in the first half. Jefferson forced a threeand- and took over at its own 21 just 1:39 into the first period.
Varnell orchestrated an 11-play, 79 yard campaign and kept the football on a 3-yard scoring run over the right side. PG linebacker Jacob Smith made a solid open-field tackle of Jonathan Mathis as the Bulldogs failed on a 2-point conversion.
The Hawks drove to Bulldog territory before a fourth-andthree pass fell incomplete, but Jayland James got the ball right back as he made a leaping circus interception at the PG 33.
Jefferson forced another punt and Varnell hit Ty Lafayette deep across the middle, and Lafayette raced 59 yards down the left sideline for a 12-0 lead with 10:45 left in the half.
Pleasant Grove chewed up 6:14 on its ensuing possession. Hatfield connected with Kantrun Pemberton-Haley on a 17-yard gain, the QB raced 16 yards, and Pemberton-Haley ran 11 yards on consecutive plays to move into the red zone.
Hawkins ran for 5 and then 6 yards, and Cooks set up Hatfield's 1-yard keeper with an 8-yard sweep around the left end. Hatfield punched it in with 4:25 left, and the Hawks weren't done yet threatening to slice further into their deficit.
Cooks broke up a potential first-down pass to force a punt, and 10 plays later Hinton's 40yard field goal attempt had the distance but barely missed wide right. Jefferson took a 12-6 lead into the locker rooms.
Varnell connected on his first 4 passes and was 5-of-8 passing for 1-4 yards and a pick in the first half. Hatfield threw for 56 yards, and PG rushed for 103 yards on 27 totes before intermission.
Prior to kickoff, Brenda Awauh was announced as the Homecoming Queen.