A go-ahead touchdown pass with less than two minutes to go and a last-minute defensive stand sent gave Pleasant Grove a 16-14 win over Briarwood Christian and a trip back to the state title game for the first time since 2014.
The Spartans (13-1, 6-1 Class 5A, Region 4) allowed the Lions to take their only lead of the game on the opening possession of the second half but rallied in the final moments of the fourth quarter to secure the victory in the AHSAA Class 5A semifinals.
Both teams traded three-and-outs to start the game and Pleasant Grove got on the board first in the second quarter on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Zyquez Perryman to Xavier Hill with 5:25 to go in the half.
After forcing a fourth straight three-and-out of the Briarwood offense, the Spartans added a 22-yard field goal from LJ Rodriguez with 40 seconds remaining in the first half to put Pleasant Grove up 10-0.
Briarwood, however, got a 6-yard pass from Christopher Vizzina to Blake McKenna on the first play of its ensuing possession, an offsides call on the Spartans to give the Lions a first down, and then another Vizzina-to-McKenna connection for a 24-yard touchdown pass to cut the Pleasant Grove lead to 10-7 as the half ended.
The Lions opened the second half with a three-play scoring drive capped with a 26-yard run from Luke Prewett, but were unable to muster any more offense the rest of the way.
Pleasant Grove was held to its side of the field for the majority of the second half but put together a final 13-play scoring drive that saw the Spartans ride the legs of senior running back Tyler Christopher. Perryman also rebounded from a fumbled snap to throw the go-ahead 11-yard touchdown pass to Chris Lewis with 1:56 to go.
Briarwood (12-2, 6-1 Class 5A, Region 4) managed to cross midfield on its final drive but two straight incompletions and a false start gave the Lions a 4th-and-14 at the Spartans’ 47-yard line. Vizzina last-ditch effort fell incomplete and Pleasant Grove took the victory formation for the final snap of the game.
Star of the game: Perryman. The junior quarterback finished 14-of-20 for 206 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead scoring pass to Lewis.
“I’ve been starting since ninth grade, but I also improved in being a leader for my team the last couple of years. That’s what it takes to shake off a play like I had, then throw a touchdown the next play,” he said.
Stat sheet: Christopher was a workhorse for the Spartans and finished with 128 yards on 20 rushing attempts and 26 yards on three receptions. Lewis was the leading receiver for Pleasant Grove with seven catches for 83 yards and the go-ahead score, while Hill finished with three receptions for 79 yards and a score.
Vizzina was an efficient 7-of-14 for 73 yards but had a late third-quarter interception and was sacked three times. McKenna led the receiving game with three catches for 37 yards and a score, and Luke Reebals had 44 yards on 14 carries. Prewett finished 68 total yards and a score on seven touches.
By the numbers: 7, total number of sacks combined by both teams. … 4, number of consecutive three-and-outs for Briarwood to start the game. ... 2, number of wins in a row for Pleasant Grove over Briarwood since dropping nine straight games from 1995-2018.
Coachspeak: “I’m proud of our team, proud of how hard they fought. We knew Pleasant Grove has a good team. I’m proud of how we stepped up and played hard tonight.” -- Briarwood Christian’s Matthew Forester
“Went into halftime, and even before the game, and we told the boys this was a tough football team. Those kids over there at Briarwood, they’re going to fight four quarters. That last drive for us was a championship drive and I’m just so proud of my guys up front, the way they battled and battled and battled, and leaned on them a little bit and got down here and got a touchdown.” -- Pleasant Grove coach Darrell LeBeaux
“It’s a blessing and I give all glory to God. This position that I’m in, if you’d asked me three years ago when I was offensive coordinator at Munford High School, I tell you, I’d bet my house on it. It’s awesome to not only bring back an opportunity to go to state for Pleasant Grove, but for the Pleasant Grove community.” -- LeBeaux on leading his alma mater to the state title game
They said it: “It felt good, man. Coach told me they were going to put me in, put the team on my back and let me run the ball all game. So I had to do it for my team.” -- Christopher
“We came out ready to play. We trusted the coaching, trusted the defense to put us back on the field and we made the plays we had to win the game.” -- Perryman
What’s next?: The Spartans advance to face defending 5A champ Clay-Central in the Class 5A title game, Thursday, Dec. 5, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn.