PREVIEW: Pittsburg Looks to Spoil Pleasant Grove’s Perfect Season

DISTRICT 7-4A Division II

Pleasant Grove Hawks (7-0, 2-0)

vs.

Pittsburg Pirates (5-2, 2-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday

Pirate Stadium, Pittsburg

Coaches

• Pleasant Grove: Josh Gibson
• Pittsburg: Brad Baca

Last week

• Pleasant Grove: def. Atlanta, 48-17
• Pittsburg: def. Spring Hill, 57-56 (OT)

Next week

• Pleasant Grove: at Spring Hill, Nov. 3
• Pittsburg: at Gladewater, Nov. 3

Playmakers

Pleasant Grove

• ATH Xavier Benson, Sr., 6-3, 200 (6 catches, 129 yards, 2 TDs; 46 tackles, 4 for loss, 2 sacks, 4 QB pressures, 1 forced fumble, 2 recoveries, 1 blocked kick; committed to Texas Tech)
• RB TJ Cole, Sr., 6-0, 200 (112 carries, 772 yards, 11 TDs; 11 catches, 191 yards, 3 TDs)
• RB Bruce Garrett, Soph., 5-10, 178 (45 carries, 411 yards, 5 TDs; 2 catches, 17 yards, 0 TDs)
• LB Caleb Porchia, Sr., 6-0, 210 (79 tackles, 3 for loss, 4 QB pressures, 1 forced fumble, 1 PBU)
• RB/DB Chauncey Martin, Sr., 6-0, 192 (45 carries, 461 yards, 4 TDs; 38 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 INTs, 1 PBU, 2 fumble recoveries)
• DB Caleb Hemphill, Jr. (48 tackles, 5 for loss, 3 sacks, 3 QB pressures, 1 forced fumble)
• QB Ben Harmon, Soph., 6-1, 170 (39-of-68, 838 yards, 13 TDs, 4 INTs; 26 carries, 89 yards, 3 TD)
• WR Carson Cox, Sr., 6-3, 185 (13 catches, 360 yards, 5 TDs)

Pittsburg

• WR/DB Keontae Burns, Jr., 6-3, 175 (24 catches, 464 yards, 5 TDs; 10 carries, 98 yards, 0 TDs; 49 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 INT, 5 PBUs)
• QB Jaylon Jimmerson, Jr., 5-11, 180 (68-of-106, 1,092 yards, 14 TDs, 4 INTs; 81 carries, 501 yards, 11 TDs)
• RB Jordan Turner, Jr., 5-9, 193 (185 carries, 802 yards, 5 TDs)
• DL Cody Jones, Sr., 6-2, 185 (63 tackles, 11 for loss, 4 sacks, 17 QB pressures)
• DB Braydon Pyron, Jr., 5-7, 140 (44 tackles, 2 INTs, 5 PBUs)
• LB Mason Monts, Jr., 5-10, 175 (65 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 QB pressure, 1 PBU)
• LB Martae Criss, Sr., 5-9, 160 (33 tackles, 5 for loss)
• LB Camryn Edney, Jr., 6-0, 200 (54 tackles, 9 for loss)

Just the facts

• Pittsburg is averaging 363.8 yards per game.
• The Pirates are riding a three-game winning streak entering the contest.
• Pittsburg's opponents are 25-26 this season (.490).
• Pleasant Grove's opponents are 19-32 this season (.373).
• The Hawks handed Gilmer its first home district loss since 2001 two weeks ago.
• The Hawks are averaging 319.9 yards rushing per game.
• Pleasant Grove has surpassed its win total of six from last season.
• Pittsburg is 6-4 against Pleasant Grove since 2006.
• The Hawks won last season's matchup, 31-18.

Key matchup: Pittsburg passing attack against the Pleasant Grove secondary. Pleasant Grove has done well at limiting scoring from its opponents this season. The Hawks haven't  given up more than 38 points in a game, and that was an anomaly against Gilmer.

If Pittsburg hopes to win, it not only needs to limit Pleasant Grove's offensive attack, but also have one of its own. That a large chunk of that could come through the air.

Although Pittsburg generally runs more than throws, it has shown a capability. Jaylon Jimmerson has more than 1,000 yards passing and 14 touchdowns this season. He has a reliable target in Keontae Burns, who accounts for nearly half of his passing yardage.

Meanwhile, Pleasant Grove has a solid group of defensive backs ready to capitalize on any mistakes from Jimmerson. The pressure will certainly be on him Friday night.

If he handles it well, perhaps Pittsburg is in position to hand the Hawks their first loss.

Don't be surprised if: Ben Harmon finished with about 100 passing yards or more. The Hawks may like to run the ball, but they aren't incapable of passing.

Harmon has already thrown for more than 800 yards, meaning he is averaging more than 100 per game. With Carson Cox to throw to, along with Xavier Benson, there will be plenty of options.

Pleasant Grove will run the ball and do so frequently. However, don't sleep on the passing game.