PLEASANT PLAINS — Call Athens old-fashioned.
The Warriors gained more and more command with each first down and ultimately killed off more than 17 minutes in the second half to ward off Pleasant Plains in a 33-19 Sangamo Conference win on Friday, Sept. 12.
Athens (2-1) ushered 10 first downs over two possessions in the second half. That included three successful fourth-down conversions. Plains (1-2) could do little but just watch the clock and its chances tick away after an exhilarating first half.
“There’s no way we keep them from scoring if our offense doesn’t chew up yards,” Athens coach Ryan Knox said. “They got two really good receivers and the QB is tough as nails. They’re going to win some games.”
Athens senior running back Gage Honn totaled 260 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 43 carries.
“I had a big problem with cramping later in the game, but I can’t complain,” Honn said. “(Getting) 40 carries is pretty fun.”
Two Kenneth Baker passing touchdowns to junior tight end James Jones sparked the offense to begin the game, perhaps to everyone’s surprise out of the Wing-T. Baker, a junior, completed 3 of 4 passing attempts to Jones for 62 total yards.
“It surprised me, too,” Honn said of the passing TDs. “It was great. We’ll take them.”
Plains senior quarterback Xander Smith and senior wideout Grady Grisham put on a show in the first half. Smith finished 15 of 21 for 280 yards and two touchdowns. Grisham pulled down eight catches for 176 yards and two scores.
Grisham’s long interception return set up senior kicker Alli Shown’s second field goal from 25 yards out for a 27-19 halftime deficit.
“That was something we talked about all year, just the effort, the fight and not quitting,” Plains coach Logan Larson said. “It would be super easy when you’re kind of getting your face smashed in a little bit over and over again. That’s kind of what they do to you, that’s their philosophy. But I thought we fought. I didn’t have any complaints about our effort and our fight.”
Athens opened the second half with a 14-play, 8-minute-plus scoring drive from midfield and further neutralized Plains with an even longer 9-minute-plus possession that reached near the goal line.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Athens football neutralizes Pleasant Plains with Gage Honn and relentless run game
Reporting by Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal- Register / State Journal-Register
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