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Pleasant Grove controlled the game from beginning to end and picked up a 61-21 home win over Straughn in the first round of the 4A state football playoffs Friday night.

The Tigers finished their first season under head coach Garrett Windham with a record of 5-6. The Spartans improved to 9-1 and advanced to the second round against St. Michael next week.

Straughn began the game at the 27-yard line as Charlie Jordan picked up nine yards on the first play. Jordan earned a first down on second-and-1 before the defense tightened and forced a punt.

After an offside penalty, Collin Moore had a 6-yard carry for a first down. Kaleb Freeman then had back-to-back first-down completions to the visiting 25-yard line. Three plays later, Moore found an opening up the middle for a 14-yard touchdown run. The PAT was good and gave Pleasant Grove a 7-0 lead with 6:32 to go in the first quarter.

The Tigers went three-and-out on their next possession. Tremell Washington had a big punt return to set up first-and-goal at the 9-yard line. The Spartans struck again on just three plays when Moore found the end zone from 2 yards out. The point after doubled the lead to 14-0 at the 2:52 mark.

Straughn continued to be held in check and had to punt. Pleasant Grove finally suffered the same fate and had to punt. Hunter McBride delivered a big sack and 7-yard loss before the first quarter ended. The Tigers could not take advantage of the defensive stop despite moving the ball eight yards. Cade Pittman boomed a punt where the ball was downed at the 1-yard line.

The Spartans threw a pair of incomplete passes but made up for it on third down with a 99-yard touchdown pass from Freeman to Moore. The PAT was good and took the lead to 21-0 with 9:04 left until halftime.

The home defense forced another three-and-out as the offense took over in opposing territory at the 41-yard line. Following a holding penalty, Freeman connected with Washington for a 38-yard touchdown pass. The point after was good and pushed the margin out to 28-0.

Starting at the 29-yard line, Tate Watson moved the chains with an 11-yard strike to Eli Grissett. Pleasant Grove ultimately forced fourth down but muffed the punt and gave Straughn new life with a first-and-goal. It took three plays, but Jordan rolled around the right side and hit pay dirt from four yards out. Brenden Bartholomew tacked on the PAT and drew the Tigers within 28-7 at the 2:41 point of the second.

The Spartans wasted no time as a 55-yard pass on the first play of the next series put the ball at the 18-yard line. Three plays later, Morgan Harris caught a 13-yard touchdown pass and widened the margin again to 35-7 with 1:07 left in the first half.

Straughn put together a nifty drive and reached the home 34-yard line before a fumble turned the ball back over with 20 seconds to go. Pleasant Grove broke free on a short pass and scored yet another touchdown on the final play for a 42-7 lead at halftime.

Bartholomew began the second half with a successful onside kick. Jordan gained three yards on second down before the drive stalled just across midfield.

Moore got the majority of the plays on the first home second-half possession with 19 yards on three carries and a first down. After Freeman passed to Jadan Walton for a 12-yard gain, an offside penalty moved the ball across midfield. The Spartans went back to Moore who capped the drive with a 34-yard touchdown run. The PAT was true and took the score to 49-7.

The Tigers only mustered two yards on their next series before Jacobie Jones intercepted a pass from Watson. It only took four plays as a 9-yard touchdown run widened the lead to 55-7 following a missed extra point.

A fumble on the ensuing kickoff gave Pleasant Grove the ball right back at the 11-yard line. The Spartans showed no mercy and found the end zone again on fourth-and-goal for a 61-7 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Mack McIntyre scored a late touchdown in the fourth quarter. Bartholomew was true and made the score 61-14 with a little over two minutes left in the game. The Tigers made a fourth-down stand and regained possession with a minute remaining. Pittman went in as running back and scored on a 15-yard touchdown run, and Bartholomew’s extra point took the final score to 61-21.