Story By Heath Hambrick
The Plainview Bears came into Friday night's match up with No.2 Pisgah looking to make a statement. It's safe to say that they did just that, defeating the Eagles 61-30. With the victory, the Bears move to 4-0 (3-0) on the season. Plainview is 4-0 for the first time since 2020.
Pisgah opened the game with an onside kick that they recovered at the Plainview 41-yard line. After converting a fourth down and driving the ball to the Bear 2-yard line, Pisgah fumbled the ball, and was recovered by Plainview.
The Bears' offense went to work and quickly scored in six plays, thanks in part to a 55-yard run from quarterback Owen Hope that gave the Bears a first down and a goal from the six yard line. Brody Hodges capped the drive with a six-yard touchdown run. Plainview took a 7-0 lead with 7:58 to go in the first quarter.
The defense for the Bears forced a three-and-out, forcing Pisgah to punt. With 7:02 left in the first quarter, Plainview began its second drive from its own 32-yard line. From that point, the offensive line for Plainview went to work, coming off the ball and making holes for the Bears' running backs to run through. Plainview went 11 plays in just under six minutes to score as Hodges added his second touchdown of the night, this time from nine yards out. The Bears took a 14-0 lead with 1:32 to go in the first quarter.
The Eagles responded with an 85-yard kickoff return from Landon Watkins, and after a 2-point conversion, Pisgah cut the lead to 14-8 with 1:17 to go in the first quarter.
Plainview took just one play on its next drive to put another six points on the board when Rylan Guess went 62 yards to the house for another Bear touchdown.
Pisgah took over with 1:02 left in the first quarter. The Bears forced a punt, and the Eagles' punt reached the Pisgah 43-yard line. On the first play of the next drive, Hope found Wilborn for a 43-yard touchdown pass. The score extended the Bears' lead to 28-8 with 11:08 to go in the first half.
The Eagles added a touchdown when Cutter Mayes connected with Jackson Smalley for 40 yards. With the 2-point conversion, Pisgah cut the lead to 28-16.
After a good kickoff return, the Bears were set up with good field position. The Plainview coaches called five straight runs and Hodges scored from 6-yards out for the third time in the game. Hodges also made the 2-point conversion to give Plainview a 36-16 lead with 8:19 to go in the half.
Pisgah’s Mayes threw for another Touchdown just three plays later and converted the 2-point play to cut the lead to 36-24 with 6:24 left until half.
Pisgah finally was able to force a punt, but it was not a good punt. It ended up taking a Plainview bounce and went for negative yards, moving the Bears down to the 18-yard line. Plainview was unable to put any points on the board with that drive as Pisgah stopped the Bears on fourth down.
At halftime, Plainview led 36-24.
To open the second half, Pisgah on its first play tried to pitch the ball and ended up putting the ball on the ground, which was picked up by Plainview’s Janzen Currie and went for a 40-yard touchdown, making the score 43-24 with 10:50 left in the third quarter.
After another Eagle turnover, Plainview’s Hodges scored from six yards out for the fourth time in the game. Bears led 49-24 with 6:46 left in the third.
Plainview shut down the Pisgah offense and forced another punt. With 3:17 left in the third quarter, Hodges scored for the fifth time on the night, this time from 25 yards out. Plainview led 55-24.
Hodges capped his night with a final touchdown in the fourth quarter, giving him six touchdowns on the night.
Plainview racked up 467 yards of offense, 390 on the ground.
Owen Hope finished (3-4 for 77 yards, TD passing, and had 16 carries for 96 yards).
Brody Hodges finished (15 carries for 134 yards and 6-TDs)
Rylan Guess finished (12 carries for 108 yards and a TD).
The Bears' defense forced four Pisgah turnovers.
