Unlike last year, Gilmer had Pleasant Grove's number as the Buckeyes won, 31-10, in the District 7-4A opener for both teams Friday night at Hawk Stadium.
Gilmer (5-1), ranked No. 6 in the state Class 4A, finished with 431 yards of offense, while Pleasant Grove had 285 yards.
The Hawks hung with the Buckeyes in a first-round playoff game last season, but Gilmer pulled out a 40-36 win. At one point, PG was up 36-21.
"At times, I thought we looked like we were No. 6," Pleasant Grove head coach Josh Gibson said. "Our kids played hard tonight. They played together. I think it was the hardest and most together that we have played so far. We aren't just proud of our kids when they win. We are proud of them when they produce and show growth."
The fourth quarter belonged to the Buckeyes. After Gilmer stopped a Hawk fourth-and-goal play from the 3-yard line, the Buckeyes marched 99 yards for a touchdown.
Kelton Collier found the end zone from 3 yards out, and the 2-point conversion pass was good from Aaron Brown to Kameryn Cuevas.
Gilmer took a 24-10 lead.
The Hawks failed to hit paydirt on a fourth-and-goal from the 8-yard line, and Gilmer drove the length of the field.
Red Jones capped the drive on a 3-yard TD run to give the Buckeyes a 31-10 advantage.
In the third quarter, PG's Cameron Edwards tipped Brown's pass on a fourth-and-6 and the Hawks took over. Pleasant Grove drove down the field, but fell a yard short of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal.
Defensive standouts for the Hawks were Tyler Allen, who made an interception, Ryan Pickelman, Bobby Cooks and Xavier Benson.
The Buckeyes outgained the Hawks on offense in the first half, 233-152 yards, and took a 16-10 edge into the locker room.
Gilmer's Aaron Brown hit Desmond Jones for a 19-yard touchdown for the game's first score.
On the next possession, Pleasant Grove started from its 38 and drove to the Buckeye 15.
During the drive, Logan Wesley had five carries for 22 yards and a pair of first downs for the Hawks.
PG settled for a 32-yard Matt Day field goal.
Desmond Jones capped a 15-play, 68-yard Gilmer drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, and the Buckeyes went up, 14-3.
Keshawn Jones caught a pass from T.J. Cole, got to the sideline, broke a tackle at the Gilmer 20, and went in for a 50-yard Hawk touchdown. PG trailed 14-10.
The Buckeyes marched to PG's 17 on the next possession and were threatening to score when Tyler Allen made a big interception.
The Hawks, starting from their own 3, mistakenly snapped the ball out of the end zone, and Gilmer received a safety.
On the Buckeyes' ensuing drive, the Hawks' Cameron Edwards put a hard lick on Gilmer receiver LaMarcus Morton to force a fumble. PG recovered.
Day attempted a 41-yard field goal for the Hawks, but the ball was tipped at the line and fell short of the posts.
Jones was the Hawks' leading rusher with 105 yards on seven totes.
Pleasant Grove (1-5, 0-1) plays at Atlanta Friday.
#
Gilmer 7 9 0 15 - 31
Pleasant Grove 3 7 0 0 - 10
First Quarter
G-Desmond Jones 19 pass from Aaron Brown (Adan Ibarra kick), 6:49.
PG-Matt Day 32 field goal, 0:38.
Second Quarter
G-Jones 3 run (Ibarra kick), 7:52.
PG-Keshawn Jones 50 pass from T.J. Cole (Day kick), 3:09.
G-Safety, ball snapped out of end zone, 0:51.
Fourth Quarter
G-Kelton Collier 4 run (Brown pass to Kameryn Cuevas), 8:51.
G-Red Jones 3 run (Ibarra kick), 7:52.
=Gilmer=P.Grove
First Downs=19=10
Yards Rushing=46-265=34-179
Yards Passing=166=106
Passes A-C-I=20-9-1=11-5-0
Fumbles-Lost=0-0=3-2
Penalties=6-39=2-10
Punts-Avg.=2-17.5=1-35.0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Gilmer, Kelton Collier 6-67, Desmond Jones 7-26, Rashaad Ward 7-54, Aaron Brown 9-44, Trendon Brooks 8-28, Kameryn Cuevas 6-33, Red Jones 3-13. Pleasant Grove, T.J. Cole 6-22, Logan Wesley 18-51, Chauncey Martin 1-1, Josh Roberts 1-9, Keshawn Jones 7-105, Ben Harmon 1- (minus 9).
PASSING-Gilmer, Brown 9-20-1-166. Pleasant Grove, Cole 5-11-0-106.
RECEIVING-Gilmer, Red Jones 3-53, Morton 3-88, Heath 1-6, Trendon Brooks 1-1, Desmond Jones 1-19. Pleasant Grove, Jones 2-55 , Xavier Benson 1-9, Carson Cox 1-30, Cameron Wells 1-12.