[Tony Kirk, Special to ETSN.fm]

TEXARKANA -- The Pleasant Grove defense came up with four interceptions on their way to a 38-20 win against Spring Hill at Hawk Field in Texarkana.

Two late interceptions by Hawks linebacker Jacob Smith in the fourth quarter ended a second half comeback effort by the Panthers.

Spring Hill trailed PG by four points with 2:50 left when Smith picked off a Garett Self pass and returned it 30 yards to the Panther 10-yard line. Smith then carried the ball in for six points on the next play from scrimmage.

On Spring Hill’s next possession, Smith recorded a 44-yard interception return to set up DeVuntay Walker’s one-yard score.

The Hawks jumped out to a 21-00 lead on Smith’s early passing success. Mark Ashby’s 17-yard reception got scoring started at the 6:08 mark of the first quarter.

Walker and Smith followed with touchdown runs of five and 14 yards, respectively. Dalton Hinton tacked on all three extra points and added a 26 yard-field goal before the half.

Spring Hill’s Garrett Self connected with Keavian Forman for a six yard touchdown reception for the Panther’s only first half score, 24 -7 Hawks lead at the intermission.

Self guided the Panthers on an 85-yard drive in the third quarter, finishing it off with two-yard run. Troy Duran added his second extra point of the night to close the gap to 24-14 with a 1:39 left in the third quarter.

A 65-yard touchdown pass from Self to Forman cut the Hawk lead to four, but Duran’s PAT was blocked with just under six minutes left in the game.

PG outgained Spring Hill 407 yards to 329 yards. Walker finished with 147 yards on 29 carries.

Both teams are 1-1in District 6-4A Division II play. The Hawks travel to Gladewater next Friday to take on the state-ranked Bears.

Spring Hill returns home to face Tatum.

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