Elk Grove beats Pleasant Grove 13-7

The Thundering Herd scored on their first possession Friday night and used a ball-control, running strategy to grind out a 13-7 victory over cross-town rival Pleasant Grove. The Herd improved to 4-0 while the Eagles fell to 3-1.
Both teams entered the game undefeated and ranked in the area's top five; each riding offensive explosions to big wins. But Friday night was good old fall football, as a light drizzle developed and things got a bit slippery and both teams relied on the ground game.
The Thundering Herd ran the ball with a combination of several different players, including RB Bryce Harper and and QB Zach Miller; while Pleasant Grove moved the ball on the ground primarily behind Michael Madkins and somewhat through the air to WR Drew Ahmann.
Harper gave the Herd the lead on their first drive with a 7-yard score on third down; while Miller scored with a sneak from 1-yard out on Elk Grove's first possession of the third quarter. The Herd controlled the clock much of the game, including their two scoring drives, the first a 14-play series and the second, an 11-play drive, both for touchdowns. Elk Grove could have padded their lead late in the fourth after the Eagles had closed within six points, but missed a 31-yard field goal after a 13-play drive that began at their own 20-yard line and ate up more than five minutes on the clock.
The Eagles got the ball back with 3:22 on the clock at their own 20 yard line and adeptly moved the ball to the Herd 41-yard line.
On first down, QB Taylor Congdon threw incomplete. On second down, Congdon hit TE Kevin Harris for six yards to the 35. On the next play, Congdon threw imcomplete to WR Russell Vonschoech. The Eagles called time-out to discuss their fourth down play.
Looking at fourth and four from the Elk Grove 35-yard line, Congdon scrambled to his right and tossed an easy pass to Obadiah Johnson, but the Eagles hopes were dashed when Johnson couldn't hold on to the pass and dropped a sure first down.
Elk Grove took over on downs and ran out the remaining 1:15 off the clock to remain undefeated.
Look for a full report with player and coach reaction in Wednesday's Citizen.
Jeff Forward