With devastating offensive line surge, a bevy of speed backs and a defense that doesn't yield the end zone easily, the Pleasant Grove Eagles continue to grind teams away.
Today at Loyola Field, the top-ranked Eagles raced past host Jesuit 48-10 in a Delta River League contest in maintaining superb play in all facets to move to 6-1.
Mark Jenkins rushed for 196 yards and scored three of his four touchdowns in the first half. The diminutive and explosive senior scored on runs of 27, 2, 2 and 8 yards. He also had a 65-yard scoring run called back due to a penalty. Jenkins has 926 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season.
In addition, Pleasant Grove received rushing contributions from Isaiah Saunders (128 yards and a score), Brandon Lewis (83 and a score), Desmond Lewis (38), Cody Demps (16) and Colin Serne (26). Demps passed for 112 yards and hit his brother Wyatt for a 19-yard first-half touchdown for a 27-3 lead.
The surplus of runners is something of a new twist for Joe Cattolico. The coach in recent Pleasant Grove seasons has primarily featured one lead runner who took the bulk of the carries and scored the majority of the touchdowns, including Jenkins, who scooted for 2,739 yards and 41 scores last fall. This season, the Eagles have more options, and all are fast and skilled. By using so many backs, the Eagles have fresh runners and keep defenses guessing.
All told, eight Pleasant Grove runners have scored on the ground this season.
"It's a nice luxury for us," Cattolico said. "It's allowed us to use some of these kids on defense, too. We're fortunate because we have a bunch of kids who can run, and they're doing a great job. The line, it starts with them. Even the tight ends and receivers are blocking well."
Pleasant Grove has played championship football since its only setback, a one-point loss to Lincoln of Stockton, a team that also has Sac-Joaquin Section Division I title hopes.
Since that setback in Week 2, Pleasant Grove has outscored teams 309-46. It promises to get more challenging now, however, with games against ranked foes in Oak Ridge, Folsom and Sheldon to conclude the regular season.
Jesuit received a 43-yard field goal from Andrew Nave and an 11-yard touchdown pass from Mason Pigman to Cameron Todd. Pigman passed fro 162 yards and Thomas Sperbeck threw for 121 for Jesuit. Parker Abercrombie blocked a point-after-touchdown and had a sack for Jesuit.
Also for Pleasant Grove, brothers Brandon and Desmond Lewis had interceptions.
Follow Joe Davidson on Twitter: sb_jdavidson
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.