Pleasant Grove Takes Advantage of Turnovers to Rout Rival Liberty-Eylau, 51-14
[By JOSH RICHERT, Special to ETSN.fm]
TEXARKANA — Pleasant Grove scored 24 points off turnovers and routed Liberty-Eylau, 51-14, to spoil the Leopards’ Homecoming Friday at Harris Field.
The Hawks came up with six takeaways—three interceptions and three fumble recoveries—with Chauncey Martin picking two balls off and recovering two fumbles for PG (4-0).
Martin also rushed nine times for 109 yards and two touchdowns. T.J. Cole added 126 yards on 20 carries and scored once, and Bruce garrett added a pair of TD runs.
Holding a 23-14 lead at halftime, after scoring 10 points off turnovers in the first half, the Hawks got a scoop-and-score from tackle Austin Toler on a strip-sack in the first minute of the third quarter.
Following a Leopard drive to the red zone before the Hawks halted the drive, Pleasant Grove went 80 yards in 10 plays with Martin scoring from the 5.
The ensuing kickoff was also fumbled away, Martin recovering at the 15. Cole ran twice, taking the second one in for the TD 18 seconds after Martin’s score, extending the Hawks’ lead to 44-14.
The Leopards drove to the PG 31 before turning the ball over on downs again. L-E was 0 for 3 on fourth-down attempts.
Martin broke free on a 48-yard TD run on the second play of the fourth quarter.
Pleasant Grove stopped the next Liberty-Eylau drive as Martin intercepted a pass in the end zone for a touchback. Aaron Harmon also had an interception late for the Hawks to help preserve the second-half shutout.
Josh Roberts ran for a 3-yard TD early in the game, and Bruce Garrett made it 14-0 with his 11-yard run after Martin’s first pick.
Isaiah Cross, who had four grabs for 105 yards, hauled in a 67-yard strike from Decorian Phillips for the Leopards’ first TD. Phillips finished with 68 yards rushing and 137 yards through the air on 9-of-19 passing. Phillips also had a 40-yard TD run where he switched directions two times in the backfield.
Pleasant Grove, which faces Krum next week at Royse City, finished with 478 yards of offense with 404 on the ground. Liberty-Eylau had 322 yards of offense, just 122 after halftime.