MARSHALL, Texas -- Pleasant Grove faces its toughest challenge to date when the Hawks clash with Carthage for the regional title.
The third-ranked Hawks (11-2) face the No. 1 Bulldogs (13-0) in the Region II-4A, Division II championship/state quarterfinal game, set for 7 p.m. today at Marshall's Maverick Stadium.
"With as many state titles and the success they've had, people still see Carthage as the favorite, and they should be until we knock them off," PG head coach Josh Gibson said. "What people think outside doesn't matter; our big thing is that our kids in our locker room believe that we're going to go win that game.
"If they have that belief, then we have a shot. We've had some big upsets before that we've been a part of, and this would be one that would probably shock the state."
The Hawks, winners of seven straight, have averaged 40.4 points per game on offense and 16.1 points on defense this season. In three playoff games, Pleasant Grove has outscored its opponents 140-48, including last week's 37-14 win over Aubrey.
Carthage scores 49.1 points and gives up 10.7 points per game on the year. The Bulldogs have scored 131 points and allowed 44 in their three playoff games, with a 28-7 win over Gilmer last week in the regional semifinals.
"To beat the best, we're going to have to play our best game," Gibson said. "We can't have mistakes. It's the same keys as it's been the last couple of weeks in the playoffs, when you're playing great teams you can't beat yourself with mistakes, with turnovers, with penalties, busted coverages where you give up easy scores.
"We're going to have to play extremely fast and physical, play confident and not cautious, and go make plays. We need to win the physicality battle, and that's a tall task against those guys."
The winner advances to the Class 4A, Division II state semifinals to play either Monahans (10-3) or Glen Rose (12-1), who meet for the Region I championship.
The game will be broadcast on FOX Sports Radio 1400 AM and 97.1 FM.