Rabbs fall to Hawks in season opener

Atlanta opened its 2024 football campaign against a tough Pleasant Grove team last Friday night.

The Rabbs moved the ball at will and recovered a few Hawk fumbles but was unable to capitalize and fell to the Hawks 33-3.

First Quarter

The Hawks won the toss and elected to receive the ball first.

PG runs the Wing-T which has brought them plenty of success in the past, but on the first set of downs they had to deal with senior bruiser Landon Johnson and freshman Dailen Collins.

Johnson limited the Hawks running back to a 1-yard gain to open the game and Collins sacked the QB for a 6-yard loss which helped force the Hawks to punt the ball away after a quick three-and-out.

Atlanta had perfect field position to open its drive at their own 49-yard line.

Rabbit quarterback Peyton Harrison connected with Bralyn Rowe for 12 yards on the drive before Pleasant Grove was flagged for pass interference a couple of plays later.

A personal foul against PG set the Rabbs up at the 8-yard line, but a stout stand by PG’s defense and a penalty against Atlanta kept the Rabbits out of the endzone.

Whaley connected on a 21-yard field goal with 5:31 left on the clock and Atlanta was up 3-0.

The Hawks scored four minutes later after an 8-play drive but missed the point after.

With 1:33 left in the first frame PG was up 6-3. Atlanta began its next drive from the 36 and promptly moved the rock after Harrison connected with Jayden Riley on a 13-yard pass play.

The opening quarter ended with Harrison passing the ball to Markeylin Batton for five yards.

Second Quarter

Just one play into the new quarter and Atlanta was facing fourth-down-and-five.

Harrison hit Riley for a big 24-yard play and the Rabbs were back in the redzone at the Hawk 7-yard line.

The next play was controversial as Batton took the handoff, hit the corner and was stood up with no whistle for forward progress. As the play began to slow the ball was ripped from his hands by a PG player and returned for a touchdown.

The PAT was good and PG was up 13-3 with 10:57 left in the first half.

A three-and-out for the Rabbs gave PG the ball back with 10:00 left in the second quarter, and the Hawks scored at the 6:55 mark after a 8-play drive.

The PAT was good and PG was up 20-3.

Again, the Rabbits came out swinging on its next drive as Harrison hit Batton for 17 yards, Riley for nine yards, Decarvea Range for 10 yards and Rowe for 17 yards.

Harrison ran for a 9-yard gain and Batton picked up nine yards of his own on the drive which eventually set the Rabbs up at the Hawk 6-yard line.

Mind you this was the third time Atlanta was in the redzone and with a questionable placement of the ball on fourth down, the Rabbs came up short after a measurement and PG took over at its own 2-yard line.

The Hawks only took six plays to score on big runs and punched the ball into the endzone at the 1:25 mark.

The PAT was no good but PG was up 26-3. Atlanta’s next drive started out well as Batton sliced through the PG defense for 23 yards, but three plays later the Rabbs were in punt formation.

PG fumbled the ball away to the Rabbs on its second play of the new drive, but with nine seconds Atlanta was only able to run one play.

Third Quarter

Atlanta opened the second half with the ball and went to work.

Harrison hit back-to-back passes to Riley for nine yards and Rowe for 10, but a few plays later the Rabbs were back in punt formation.

A solid stand by the Rabbit defense forced a PG punt on its next drive and Atlanta received the ball at its own 37.

Jamarion Austin came in to get some reps and gained eight yards on his first carry.

A facemask penalty against PG and a nice 12-yard pass play from Harrison to Range put the Rabbits in striking distance at the 28.

A fumble on the next play ended the drive abruptly and PG took over at the 40-yard line.

Seven plays later and the Hawks were back in the endzone with 2:14 left in the third stanza.

The PAT was good and PG was up 33-3. Both teams traded possessions as the quarter ended.

Fourth Quarter

The final frame opened with the Hawks facing a long third down.

A big run by the running back gave PG a first down but he dropped the rock and the Rabbs recovered at the PG 48.

The Hawks fumbled twice more but the Rabbs were unable to take advantage.

Pleasant Grove ate up plenty of time off the clock on its last drive of the contest and won the game 333.

The Rabbs travel to Hooks this Friday night Sept. 6, with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m.