Spring Hill Defense Fuels 24-6 Season-Opening Win Against Pleasant Grove

[By Josh Richert, Special to ETSN.fm]

LONGVIEW -- Spring Hill started off new head coach Mark Sartain's tenure on a high note.

The Panthers turned three fumbles into 21 points and gave their new coach a 24-6 win over Pleasant Grove on Friday at Panther Stadium.

Despite struggling on offense and compiling just 150 total yards, Spring Hill's defense was up to the task and turned back four second-half fourth-down attempts by the Hawks.

Morgan Knight had a fumble recovery and sack, which forced a fumble that Hagen Tucker recovered in the end zone for Spring Hill's final score.

Ben Robinett scooped up a lateral that was mishandled by Pleasant Grove and raced 39 yards for a score, and quarterback Jacob Rooney connected with Michael Spurrier at the end of the first quarter after a fumble recovery set up a short field.

Spurrier got loose and was wide open for Rooney, who finished the game 8 of 12 passing for 86 yards, from 23 yards away with 2:58 left in the opening period.

Kentrun Pemberton-Haley raced four yards on a fourth-and-1 to cap Pleasant Grove's 10-play, 90-yard scoring drive.

The Panthers ate up nearly all of the final 8:10 of the first half on a 14-play drive, finished off by Troy Duran's 29-yard field goal.

Pleasant Grove had 285 yards of offense, including 153 through the air. Rooney threw for 86 yards, a touchdowns and an interception -- the only Spring Hill turnover.

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Spring Hill 24, Pleasant Grove 6

Panther Stadium, Longview

Pleasant Grove -- 0 6 0 0 -- 6
Spring Hill -- 7 3 7 7 -- 24

First Quarter
SH -- Michael Spurrier 23 pass from Jacob Rooney (Tony Duran kick), 2:58.
Second Quarter
PG -- Kentrun Pemberton-Haley 4 run (kick blocked), 8:12.
SH -- Duran 29 FG, 0:07.
Third Quarter
SH -- Ben Robinett 39 fumble return (Duran kick), 5:05.
SH -- Hagen Tucker recovered fumble in end zone (Duran kick), 1:47.

PG            SH

First Downs                17              9
Rushes-Yards       35-132          24-64
Passing Yards           153             86
Comp.-Att.-Int.      14-22-0        8-12-1
Fumbles                     6-3            2-0
Penalties                  7-33           6-38
Punts-Avg.             1-37.0         5-40.0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Pleasant Grove: Kayin Cooks 7-49, Pemberton 10-45, Dylan Silvey 8-12, Hunter Hatfield 5-9, Makale Hawkins 4-10, Jayland James 1-7. Spring Hill: Travis Garska 10-23, Rooney 7-9, Nick McKee 3-16, Eric Jimenez 3-12.
PASSING—Pleasant Grove: Silvey 10-18-0-106, Hatfield 4-4-0-47. Spring Hill: Rooney 8-12-1-86.
RECEIVING—Pleasant Grove: Ty Everett 3-62, Connor Lemmerhirt 5-29, Blake Roberts 2-15, Hawkins 2-13, Cooks 1-25, James 1-9. Spring Hill: Waylon McFadin 5-54, Jimenez 1-9, Spurrier 1-23, Garska 1-0.