Area Football Previews: Hawks at Aubrey

FRISCO, Texas-Pleasant Grove will be in a battle of the Wing-T offenses today.

The Hawks (11-0) take on Aubrey (8-3) today at 4 p.m. at the Ford Center at The Star in a Class 4A Division II area round football playoff game.

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STAFF PHOTO ANDY SHUPE Skyler Johnson, Elkins senior, takes a shot in the lane over Cedarville sophomore Bailie Murphy, left, during the first half Wednesday at Dee Lee Gymnasium in Greenland.

Pleasant Grove is riding an 11-game win streak and looks to keep its state championship hopes alive.

"Aubrey has a good football team," Hawk head coach Josh Gibson said. "They also run the Wing-T, so you don't see that too often. They run what we do offensively, and they do a good job of doing it. Their head coach, Ivey, has been doing this for a long time. It will probably be a quick game, seeing how it's two teams that run the ball a lot facing off against each other."

The Hawks defeated Tatum 21-7 in the bi-district round, while the Chaparrals beat Canton, 35-24.

In 11 games, Pleasant Grove is averaging 46.5 points per game and has given up just 17.0. Aubrey averages 34.2 points per contest and has given up 22.3.

Senior running back TJ Cole leads the Hawks in rushing with 1,218 yards on 165 totes and 17 touchdowns. Sophomore wingback Bruce Garrett has 644 yards on 71 carries, and teammate senior tailback Chauncey Martin has rushed for 610 yards on just 65 totes.

Sophomore quarterback Ben Harmon has hit on 57 of 91 passes for 1,356 yards and 20 TDs, and senior receiver Carson Cox leads the team in catches with 19 for 585 yards and eight scores. Cox averages 30.1 yards per catch.

Senior inside linebacker Caleb Porchia leads the Pleasant Grove defense with 135 tackles.

"Aubrey runs a few things that we don't, so we are preparing for the scheme that they run," Gibson said. "We are excited to play at the Star; it's the best venue in the nation to play a high school game. This stadium was built for high school teams, and they did things for the kids in the locker room. We feel blessed to play there."

The winner will play either Jasper (8-2) or Celina (8-3) in the regional semifinals round next week.

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RADIO: KTRG 94.1 FM, 4 p.m.

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TONIGHT'S LINEUPS

(Numbers in parentheses)

Aubrey lineups unavailable.

PLEASANT GROVE OFFENSE: WB-Bruce Garrett (2), TE-Xavier Benson (3), TE-Austin Toler (90), WR-Carson Cox (4) , QB-Ben Harmon (10), FB-TJ Cole (15), TB-Chauncey Martin (21), LG-Brock Bingham (55), RG-Hunter Druhan (59), C-Zach Wrinkle (74), OT-Nick Gavriel (77), OT-Drake Fowler (79), PK-Dillon Williams (9).

PLEASANT GROVE DEFENSE: CB-Cameron Wells (1), OLB-Xavier Benson (3), ILB-Caleb Porchia (5), FS-Ryan Pickelman (7), SS-Caleb Hemphill (8), CB-Tyler Kelley (13), FS-Chauncey Martin (21), OLB-Jacob Barbour (42), DE-Landon Jackson (40), NG-Drake Fowler (79), DT-Austin Toler (90), P-Ben Harmon (10).

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