Tatum Takes Advantage of Pleasant Grove Turnovers in 31-7 Victory

[By Robert Galloway, Special to ETSN.fm]

TATUM -- Tatum took advantage of Pleasant Grove turnovers and cruised to a 31-7 victory in the final regular season game Friday night in their District 6-4A Division II matchup.

After the Hawks (6-4, 2-3) held the Eagles (5-5, 3-2) on downs at the 1, they fumbled it back and Josh Ivy darted over from 3 yards out for the score. The Jesus Sandoval PAT gave the Eagles a 7-0 with 8:35 left in the first quarter.

On the next series, the Eagles’ Marcus Thomas picked off a Jacob Smith pass and set the Eagles up in business at the Hawks 31. Eight plays later running back Antonio Shaw cashed in from the 2 and with the PAT Tatum led 14-0.

PG then went on a methodical 47-yard drive that took 11 plays, capped by a Jacob Smith 1-yard run for the score. With the Dalton Hinton PAT the score stood 14-7 halfway through the second quarter.

After a Tatum defensive stand, a 21-yard Chaston Brooks punt return set the Eagles up at the PG 33. The Eagles covered the distance in six plays, finished with a Brooks to Deyanta Roberson 18-yard pass for the score. Tatum led 21-7 at the half.

After holding the Hawks to three-and-out to start the third, Tatum marched 51 yards in 11 plays, but stalled, and called on Sandoval who converted the field goal from 26 yards out.

The Eagles would add another score at the end of the third when safety Jordan Nelson picked up a fumble and sped 64 yards for the score. The PAT produced the 31-7 final margin of victory.

The tentative playoff schedule has PG playing Gilmer on Friday at Marshall while the Eagles will take on Bullard on Saturday at Pine Tree.