ETSN.fm Preseason Class 4A Poll: No. 10, Pleasant Grove

Pleasant Grove made headlines earlier this summer with the best state 7-on-7 tournament outing among all local Class 4A schools in the competition.

Add that little tidbit to what has been a steady record of improvement under head coach Josh Gibson. The Hawks program is getting better and, for the first time ever, debuts in an ETSN.fm Preseason Class 4A Poll.

Tenth-ranked Pleasant Grove is coming off a regional semifinal appearance in the 4A Division II postseason. That followed a near upset of Gilmer in the first round of the 2015 playoffs, which followed a blowout loss to Gilmer in the same game of 2014.

Fourteen players will return to the starting Hawks lineup this season. Xavier Benson, a Texas Tech commit, headlines the group at linebacker.

Offensive line should be another strength and is the most critical aspect of the school's Wing-T offensive formation.

Sophomore Ben Harmon looked outstanding at the state 7-on-7 tournament.

Eight starters are back on the defensive side. The unit allowed 18.3 points per game in 2016.

District 7-4A Division II is no joke, though, and you can rest assured some of Pleasant Grove's district foes will be higher on the list. The district is rounded out by Atlanta, Gilmer, Gladewater, Spring Hill and Pittsburg.

The Hawks have good non-district games against Texarkana (Ark.) Arkansas High, Paris, Frisco and Liberty-Eylau to get ready for the challenge.