Pleasant Grove’s record-setting night was final tune-up for playoffs
Third-ranked Hawks will host Rusk in bi-district round on Friday
TEXARKANA, Texas — Pleasant Grove fans will have one more chance to cheer on the undefeated and No. 3-ranked Hawks when they host a bi-district game against Rusk at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Hawk Stadium.
When PG coach Josh Gibson and Rusk coach Thomas Sitton called each other to discuss things like coin flips over stadium selection and on what day to play the game, Gibson convinced Sutton the best thing to do was pack up his team and make the 147-mile, 2-hour, 37-minute hour drive to Texarkana.
“We haven’t had a sold-out stadium this year, and one in the playoffs would help make this season special,” Gibson said.
Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Seating will be on a first-come, firstserved basis.
The Hawks gave the crowd its money’s worth Friday night when they broke open a close game in the second and third quarters to run away from playoff-bound Spring Hill, 70-30.
Senior quarterback Ahkhari Johnson hit on 12 of 14 passes for 187 yards and six touchdowns, which tied a school record. His best friend, senior receiver Jackson Gibson, caught four of those TD passes, which set a school record.
Also setting a school record was senior placekicker Caleb Jones, who converted all 10 of his PAT attempts.
For the night, the Hawks ran for 304 yards and three TDS and threw for 220 yards and seven TDS. Johnson’s backup, Walker Wright, took over midway through the third period. He hit on two of three passes, one a 33-yard strike to Lance Jackson on a deep post route; the other a 4-yard TD toss to give Gibson the record.
For the second time in three games, defensive tackle BJ Rochelle earned the defensive player of the game honors, recording seven tackles, three for loss, a quarterback pressure, and two sacks. He caused an interception and fumble and recovered a fumble.
“That is a huge game for an interior lineman,” Gibson said.
Kaden Mcfadden led all rushers with 114 yards and two TDS on just two explosive carries, one from 62 yards out, the other from 52. Jaylen Boardley had another productive night with 86 yards on 10 carries. Krystian Wrightner helped kill the fourth-quarter clock with nine carries for 85 yards.
Jackson Gibson led all receivers with 93 yards on five receptions. He now leads the team with 497 receiving yards and 12 TDS. Torion Phillips follows with 389 yards and three TDS; followed by Boardley with 342 yards and three TDS; and Lance Jackson with 232 yards and five TDS.
Johnson leads the rushers with 603 yards and 11 TDS; followed closely by Boardley with 598 yards and 10 TDS, and Nick Bell with 579 yards and eight touchdowns. The running game also gets significant contributions from Mcfadden (381 yards, 6TD), Wrightner (149 yards, 1 TD), and Jordan Patterson (137 yards, 2TD).
The Eagles (6-4, 3-3) finished fourth in District 8-4A Division II, losing handily to the three teams above them but beating the three below. Rusk runs an up-tempo spread offense that throws twice as often as it passes. The Eagles have rushed for 1,017 yards and passed for 1,017. Pleasant Grove has rushed for 2,603 yards and passed for 1,934 yards.
The Eagles average 32.4 points per game on offense and yield an average of 32.0 points on defense.
Pleasant Grove blew through five district opponents by a combined score of 294-98. For the season, the Hawks average 48.4 points per game on offense while surrendering an average of 16.