TEXARKANA, Texas -The third ranked Pleasant Grove Hawks held on to an uncomfortable lead beating the crosstown rival Liberty-Eylau Leopards 42-27 in a 15-4A D-2 clash @ Hawks Stadium.
The Hawks exploded to an early 7-0 lead when “QB1” Ahkhari Johnson scored on a 3 yard TD scamper with 4:25 left in the first quarter. Johnson toted the pigskin 11 times for 84 yards and a TD.
The Leopards answered when Tavirous Neal returned the ensuing kickoff 85-yards for a touchdown. However, the point after kick attempt sailed wide right. The Hawks led 7-6 with 4:13 left in the first quarter.
Hawks Kaden McFadden attacked
Hawks scat back Kaden “K-Mac” McFadden, like the crack of the whip snap attacked. He took off on an 8-yard touchdown run. The Hawks led 14-6 with 2:08 left in the first quarter.
Neal struck again for LE, catching a 16-yard TD pass from Britain Pipes. Leopards running back Greg London scored the 2-point conversion and the game was tied at 14 with 11:04 left in the half.
McFadden scored his second TD of the battle on a 9-yard scoring run with 8:54 left in the first half putting the Hawks 21-14 lead.
McFadden Finished the game with 12 carries for 59 yards and two touchdowns. He also had some huge hits on defense.
The Leopards turned the ball over & Hawks QB Johnson made them pay with a 43-yard highlight reel TD run. Johnson’s score put PG up 28-14 with 6:15 remaining in the half.
Dequane Prevo had an interception for the Leopards. “The Blazin Asian” Ty Boozer, got a pick for the Hawks.
The Leopards made it interesting when Jaquan Johnson caught a Pipes screen pass and going 37 yards all the way for pay dirt. With 5:05 left in the third quarter, the Hawks led 28-21.
Hawks sophomore sensation running back Nick Bells extended PG’s lead to 35-21 by turning on his after burners on a 57-yard touchdown run with 1:34 left in the third quarter.
Bells rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown.
The horse wasn’t in the barn because LE’s Prevo had a pick 6. He plucked Johnson’s pass out of the air returning it 61 yards for the score. PG led 35-27 with 9:21 remaining in the contest.
BJ Rochelle put the icing on the cake for the Hawks when he blocked a Leopard punt and recovered it in the end zone with 4:43 left in the game. The Hawks won 42-27. The win was Pleasant Grove Hawks Head Coach Josh Gibson’s 98th career victory in his Hawks head coaching career.
Next up for #3 PG
Pleasant Grove will play on the road at North Lamar Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Hawks North Lamar game will be broadcast live on 94.1 FM ESPN-Texarkana.