No. 1 Pleasant Grove gets past No. 6 Folsom

October 29 2011 by Taylah Cosgrove in Education Sport Tips |No Comments

In a Delta River League showdown headlined by star-studded talents, the game-turning play was delivered by a senior best known for his grunt work at linebacker.

Turns out, Marquest Bibbs has good hands and can run a little, too.

With the No. 6 Folsom Bulldogs charging back behind Tanner Trosin, the state’s total offense leader, Bibbs didn’t just recover an onside kick with 5:16 to play Friday night, he also returned it 69 yards down for a breather touchdown, and top-ranked Pleasant Grove held on for a 48-34 triumph at Sheldon.

It was the fifth consecutive season the DRL race came down to these teams, and for the fourth time in that stretch, the Eagles of Elk Grove prevailed.

“They’re pretty phenomenal again,” Folsom coach Kris Richardson said in sizing up his rivals before the game.

The Eagles (8-1, 4-0) were certifiably phenomenal in the first half, storming to a 35-12 lead behind line dominance and touchdown drives on all five possessions. Mark Jenkins rushed for scores of 34 and 43 yards in the half and had 165 rushing yards and three touchdowns total.

But when All-America two-way lineman Arik Armstead suffered a shoulder injury on the last play of the half and sat out the second, Folsom was no longer confronted with a 6-foot-8, 285-pound pile mover with mobility.

Armstead sat out the second half as a precautionary measure.

Pleasant Grove then received a full dose of the skills and desire of Trosin, the senior who was rocked a few times, was chased and hurried, but kept pushing the tempo.

Trosin passed for 369 yards and had touchdown strikes of 15 yards to J’Juan Muldrow, 22 to Carson McMurtrey and 22 to Doug Vernon. He also scored on runs of four and two yards for the Bulldogs (7-2, 3-1).

Trosin reached 3,000 passing yards in a single season faster than any player in regional history. He now has 3,302 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also has 14 rushing scores this season.

But few of his drives were easy. Superb Pleasant Grove corners Desmond and Brandon Lewis yes, brothers combined to break up six passes. Pleasant Grove also recorded six sacks, two by D.J. Dunn.

Pleasant Grove also has another set of brothers in quarterback Cody Demps and receiver Wyatt Demps. Fittingly, they hooked up on a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

“The two pairs of brothers are outstanding athletes, students, and people,” Pleasant Grove coach Joe Cattolico said. “I think it’s fun for them to play a year of varsity football together.”

Pleasant Grove has lost only to Lincoln of Stockton this season, by a point in double overtime. Armstead missed chunks of that game with a shoulder.

Folsom’s only other loss was in the season opener, at Grant.

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